The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-02-09

slowly moves, ana that tnis paInrui
sower called man needs, like every
sower to count on the morrow. The
history Of humanity is the history Of
indomltable hope; otherwise everything
would have been over long ago. To
press forward under his burdens, to
guide himself in the night, to retrieve
his falls and his failures, to escape de-
spaIr even in death, man has need OF
hoping always, and sometimes against
all hope. Here is the cordial that sus-
tains him. Had we only logic we
should have long ago drawn the con-
clusion, Death has everywhere the last
word and we should be dead of the
idea. But we have hope, and that Is
why we live and believe in life.
Suso, the great monk and mystic,
one Of the simplest and best men that
ever lived, had touching custom.
. Whenever he encountered a woman,
were she the poorest and Oldest, he
stepped respectfully aside, though his
Dare lttL llNbl lIthu hluOhb VI
in the gutter. 81 do that" he said, ito
render homage to our holy lady the
Virgin Mary" Let us offer to hope a
like reverence. If we meet 1t in the
shape Of blade Of wheat piercing the
furrow, a bird brooding on its nest,
poor wounded beast, recovering itself,
/ rising and continuing its way; a peas
/ ant blowing and sowing q field that
has been ravaged by food or hail,
nation slowly repairing its losses and
I healing its wounds - under whatever
guise of humanity or suffering 1t ap-
pears 10 US, let us salute it, When we
encounter 1t In legends, in untutOred
songs, IN simple creeds, let us still sa-
Iutc it, for 1t is always the same, inde-
structible, the immortal daughter OF
God
We do not dare hope enough. The
men of our day have developed strange
timiditles. 'rhe apprehension that the
sky will faIl-that acme Of absurdity
among the fears of our Gallo forefa-
theirs has entered our own hearts.
Does the raindrop doubt the ocean,
the ray mistrust the SUM- Our senile
wisdom has arrived at this prodigy. 1t
resembles those testy old pedagogues
whose chief office is to rail at the mer-
ry pranks or the youthful enthusiasms
Of their pupils, 1t is time to become
little children once more, to learn
again to stand with clasped hands and
wide eyes before the mystery around
u.s. to remember that, in spite Of our
knowledge, what we know Is but
trihe, and that the world is greater
than our mind, which is well, for, be-
Ing so prodigious, it must hold In re-
serve untold resources, and we may
allow it some credit without accusing
ourselves Of improvidence. Let us not
treat 1t as creditors do an insolvent
debtor; we should fire its courage, re-
light the sacred flame Of hope. Since
the sun still rises, since earth puts
forth her blossoms anew, since the bird
builds its nest and the mother smiles
at her child, let us have the courage to
be men and commit the rest to him
who has numbered the stars. For my
part | would ! might find glowing
words to say to whomsoever has lost
heart In these times of disillusl0n:
Rouse your courage; hope on. He Is
sure of being least deluded who has the
daring to do that. The most ingenious
hope is nearer truth than the most ra-
tional despair.
Another source of light on the path
of human life Is goodness. am not Of
those who believe in the natural per-
fectlon Of man and teach that society
corrupts him. On the contrary, Of all
| forms of evil the one which most dis
mays me is heredity. But | sometimes
ask myself how 1t is that this effete
and deadly virus of low instincts, Of
vices inoculated in the blood, the whole
assemblage Of disabilities imposed up
on us by the past-how all this has
not got the better of us. 1t must be
because of something else. This other
thing Is love.
Given the unknown brooding above
our heads, our limited intelligence, the
grievous and contradictory enigma Of
human destiny t8le~hood, hatred, cor
ruption, suffering, death-what can we
think, what do2 To all these questions
a sublime and mysterious voice has an.
swered, Love your fellow men. Love
must indeed be divine, like faith and
hope, since she cannot die when so
many powers are arrayed against her.
She has to combat the natural ferocity
of what may be called the beast In man.
she has to meet ruse force, self inter.
est, above all, lngratltude. How Is Il
that she passes pure and scathless In
the midst OF these dark enemies, like
the prophet of the sacred legend among
the roaring beasts2 1t is because her
enemies are Of the earth and love Ia
from above. Horns, teeth, claws, eyes
full OF murderous fire, are powerless
against the swift wing that scars to.
ward the heights and eludes them.
| Ahh' i'NN N9NdIth lLc uliltIldhluSb VI
her foes, She does even better-she
has sometimes known the fine triumph
Of winning over her prosecutors. She
has seen the wild beasts grow calm,
lie down at her feet obey her law.
AT the very heart of the Christian
faith, the most sublime of its teach.
ings, and to him who penetrates its
deepest sense the most human, Is this
To save lost humanity the invisible
God came to dwell among us In the
form Of a man and willed to make
himself known by this single sign
love.
Healing, consolng, tender to the un.
fortunate, even to the evil, love engen-
ders light beneath her feet She clari-
lics, she simpllhes. She has chosen the
humblest part-to bind up wounds,
wipe away tears, relieve distress,
| soothe aching hearts, pardon, make
peace. Yet It is of love that we have
the greatest need And as we mediate
on the best way to render thought fruit.