The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-02-23
WHAT HOLDS SOCIETY ToeETH-
Err?

What is it that holds society togeth-
err? When we look out over the Worlu
as il exists now and see the corrup-
ton in high places that is pelhs
brought to the surface in full view
ne the nublic eve, we are almost con-
strained to give up the battle and Tor
ever quit contending that there is real
ly any virtue in man. In the very
place where the strongest characters
should be found we find the baser ele-
ments of the human kind predominant.
But despite all this there must De
cord somewhere in the soclal 1aDrlc
thai partakes of a divine texture or
else society would collapse, and Tor
its sake we cannot altogether give up
the idea that the future of the race Is
a hopeful one.-Florence Vidette.
OF course it is a hopeful one. The
world is growing better each year and
each day. The world has rot lost one
inch of its gain in civilization. Life is
progression If the world has been
going back we would have been worse
than barbarians, from which ii is
question if we did not start. and it is
dead moral certainty that the world
has advanced along material lines 10
f1attering degree.
If we accept the religious and moral
destiny of man this world is the school
ground for education of the soul and
, character of man. 1t is the field In
which we must grow and bear fruit
for eternity. Into the animal life was
planted the soul spark which is mans
duty and Gods destiny for him to Gull
tivate and improve that it may become
valuable and useful
1t was not Gods destiny to make
perfect being, but give the opportuni-
ty for making millions. 1t not being
the plan of the Great Creator to make
perfection except by the physical law
of growth and Improvement, men are
not born perfect, but each life starts
from the beginning and must grow
and improve as the individual strives
or uses the material that is furnished
by the Master hand. Good or evil in
clinations are inherited, but the Guilt
walton is the duty of man, and he inn
proves and progresses according to his
ability and desire to use the emporium
tiles.
Genius can not be inhirited or
transmitted, though to some greater
capabilities or talents may be given,
but to each is given life and oppOr-
tunity. 1t is not for this reason we
see great material development and
progression and almost individual re-
progression in many instances. The
world or society is not to blame, but
the individual.
Struggle and battle is the cultiva-
ton of the soul. From it the spiritual
life, strong and victorious by the con-
test, develop The world is the cru
chile through which the soul must
pass in it's development. .
The good must war against the evil.
The good intentions must struggle for
mastery over the evil inclinations and
from this struggle energies the beau
tiful soul character that all men love
and admire and the angels in heaven
reward as a good anu faithful servant.
God never made a soul. He gives
man the tools and he must make it.
To each man He gives a sufficiency
of every perfect attribute to work out.
If it is not worked out it is mans
fault 1t is Gods destiny 1t is Gods
way.
Some men are better. grander today
than in the worlds history. Some
men are bad, worse than ten thousand
years ago. Who is to blame? Not
God. Not opportunity. Not condition.
Soul development and cultivation is
or has been neglected by those first
given the field.
Life is struggle and progression.
Inertia and Indifference death and re-
progression.
Let the struggle go on, brother, and
thank God we have it. 80 Gonzales
CTeX) Inquirer.