Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1905-08-24

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ing to the higher possibilities OF III
manity. and never such wide and ear
nest seeking for the means of this
realization as today. Now and then
. have appeared prophets, seers and
masters, with their illuminated spir-
its, to whom, because the door Ofthefr
minds was open, God revealed Him.
self.
OF these, there was one who lived
in consciousness, so near to God, and
through this consciousness, so fully
shared the Deific powers, that he has
been Justly termed, The Master.
The teachings OF Jesus have mean.
ing for all people and all time, but
many of them, severed from the con-
nection in which they were uttered,
misrepresent him.
The conditions of the times, the par
ticular circumstances under which
words are spoken must always be
taken into consideration. Many Of
his hearers then failed to understand
the lessons He would teach, and, so
il has been in later times; for, beau
tiful allegories. through which Jesus
sought to convey deep spiritual truths.
. have sometimes been taken, as histori-
cal accounts of literal occurrences,
the truth has been perverted, and we
many times missed the lessons He
wouli teach.
Looking back through the mists OF
time, il is frequently impossible to
determine whether we are dealing
with history; with the dramatic elab
grafton of popular tradition, or, with
allegory pure and simple.
Such was the richness of the color
ing of oriental language. that IL is
often difficult in the light of the rip
est scholarship, to discriminate be-
tween symbolism and actual facts.
But we need not fear the most critical
searchlieht of honest investigation
Where the spirit of truth is, there is
liberty"
Such are the teachings. such is the
Character, and such has been the
divine influence of Jesus. down through
the centuries since he lived. that
nauSht can dim the beauty. the sweet
ness. the nobility and power OF Him,
who was truly Gods anointed.
In the beautiful village of Nazareth
lying among the hills. Jesus passed
His bOyhood, remaining obscure and
unknown until in early manhood, He
comes forward as a teacher.
All the later sayings of Jesus tell
how the, fair living earth spoke TO
Hin of God.
The mountain-top was His habitual
place of prayer. There in the silence
of the night, above the sleeping viii
lage by the lake. when the stars came
out and the eternal was about Him,
God seemed near.
The fields. the seed, the soft wind.
were the things which He made use
of TO tell the message of glad tidings
TO men. Can we doubt. that, even as a
child He had an eye and a heart for
IL all?
IL is not the imparting of informa-
tion alone that educates. for to edu-
cate is TO draw out the capacities Of
mans nature. The common things
about us, far more than our schools
may lead Us as they did Jesus to our
highest. Without this education of
heart and character, all outward train
ing and culture, avail us but little to-
wards realizing our best possibilities.
The sayings Of the scribes were
quotations; the words OF Jesus ex.
pressed living, personal experience.
Ii was through the living common
things OF everyday life that truth
came to- Him. Just as IL came. He
gave IL out, and, because Jesus was
what He taught He. spake as never
man spake before" He spake. NOT
as the scribes, but as one having au.
tlority"
And the final authority must always
be human experience. human con-
seriousness. The truth which one A.
sents to, on the authority of another
Is never TO him a iivina truth, and
may be displaced by any adverse cir.
cumstance; but, IL by living. we find
out that certain things are true. then
we. too, may speak with authority.
Jesus had found the power that
leading the nobler life brings. He
1onged to inspire those who most need
ed help. with the hope OF that life
whose possibility He saw I'm every
one. They were 90 Him. all children
OF His Heavenly Father.
He taught the love Of God for His
children, and His own heart went out
in genuine love and compassion for
all humanity. The man or woman.
who was a social outcast. found I'm
Him friend: never too engrossed for
the word Of comfort. Kindness and I'm.
spiration, for which human beings
hunger and thirst today. He did no,
condone the wrongdoing. but, He ever
wished, not TO thrust the sinner into
still lower depths. but TO lend a help
Ing hand. and once when those who
called themselves righteous would
have stoned an outcast, He looked at
them with the eyes which. though
tender. could be so piercing, and said.
Let him who Is without sin among
you cast the first stone" and then
TO her. Thy sins are forgiven thee.
Go. and sin no more"
Jesus said II was not sufficient to
love ones friends. But 7 say unto
you, love your enemies, do good 10
them that hate you. and pray for them