Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-06-28
ParadoxicaI Philosophy

While travelling about the country
in a covered wagon some years ago,
became bewildered one misty after
noon among the bluffs of the Mime.
sofa river. [ was not sure of my di.
rection. A hideous uncertainty haunt
ed my wagon, and was fretful and
anxious. AS made short curve q.
round the spur of q wooded hill 1 came
suddenly upon guide post. With
what delight / hailed it,. All dark
doubts.fled from my mind az I paused
and read, Ten miles to New Ulm,"
and noted in which direction the hand
pointed. A knowledge of this truth
made me contented and happy and I
went on my way rejoicing. The read
ing of the guide board did not take
me to New Ulm. 1t only made the
way clear. 1t is 80 with the Bible.
The reading of it does not take us to
heaven, but it will make the way
clear. Weary and bewildered we
grope about, weighed down by the
chains of deadly habits. We pine for
freedom and in the gathering gloom
of despair we cry out. "Jesus, which
way?" Oh, what q sweet calm creeps
over our turbulent souls as we turn to
the gospel of St. John 1882, And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you tree" Here is the in
scription on our guide board. All
that was left for me to do after read
ing the guide board in Minnesota was
to 60 ahead and overcome the ten
miles.that interviewed between me and
New Ulm. All that is left for US to
do after reading this beautiful pas
sage of scripture IL to set to work and
search with patience and undated
diligence for those truths knowledge
of which is necessary to correct our
conduct. They are hidden away in
our environment just deep enough so
that the efforts required to get them
are such as will fit US to appreciate
and apply them properly. Jesus tells
us to consider the lilies of the field.
Why? Because they bring message
to US from God. Who, after studying
the structure ola flower and meditat-
ing on the functions and beauty of its
various parts does not secretly say {"
There is God, oh! 1 know. there is
Code" Who is it that can spend a few
weeks In serious study in q chemical
labratory among the mysterious ca
pers of the elements without being
conscious of supreme force before
which he stands awed, and humbled
by the discovery that he is but frail
little part of creation? Once we
thought that the world was made for
US and in our childish ignorance we
even reached out our little arms and
cried for the moon. Now we know
that we were made for the earth;
made, perhaps, to play some humble
little part in obscurity and at last go
to sleep in nameless grave beneath
the wild flowers. After all, the per-
sistent scientific Investigators are
men of God. They are obeying q di-
vine command. 1t is the truths that
they discover that are correcting our
lives, and will ultimately enable US to
subdue the earth and go free. James
Watt discovered truth and with it
harnessed steam. when 10! commerce
rose unclaimed and roved the world
at will, distributing the necessaries of
life, and the beautiful story of Christ
was told to far away isolated peoples.
10 take q microscope and spend
day among the flowers of the field is
to spend day alone with God, and
the evening will bring you holy med
itations upon newly discovered truths
and the beautiful wonders beyond the
reach of the unaided eye Christ says
II am the way the truth, and the
life" He was the embodiment of
the truth. And weshall be free when
we become like him by continually
embodying and assimilating the
truth that we find as we toll along
the pathway of duty. Religion and
Science go hand in hand. The Bible
and Science are cooperating in
Outstanding the world, and the
minister who does not recognize this
fact and persists in being hos tile to
Science is a disgusting failure. His
attitude is at variance with the
teachings of the Scriptures and the
direct command of God.
AT the NJ. w. A. Picnic held in
Clarion, Iowa, June 81, large
crowd was present, there being
forty-seven camps represented. The
Royal Neighbor Team did fine wo, k
taking first prize. II consisted OF
sixteen ladies'. A large number or
bands took part in the contest. The
one that took first prize consisted
of twenty two boys mostly all of
whom are under eighteen years of
age, the leader being about forty
five. They were from Woodstock,
Iowa: The Heavy Weight Wrestler
Frank Gotch, was present. He did
not wrestle but ran in the fat mans
race taking first prize. The Orator
of the day was Bradford Knapp.