Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-01-05
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with that power.
At some time every man sees the
vision of the better times coming. No
matter how dark to-day may be to-
morrow dawns brighter, with some an
cient wrong righted, some old abuse
gone forever, some tyrant dead. and
some new and fairer, holier things be-
gun. 10 the normal heart each day
seems to bring at least a little lift in
the great life of this old world. The
past proves it. The dreams of our
Iathers have come true; better things
than they even dared to hope have
been accomplished. An honest review
of history is a decided antidote for
pessimism.
NO longer can we be content to be-
lieve that the universe is the play
thlng of the devil, or hold a doubt as
10 the ultimate issue of the conflict of
the ages. To world stepped in the
cyhlclsm that said the gods are dead
ana nope is but folly, Jesus came with
the good news of a God still on his
throne, of a great Father of us all
loving and working for the good of
all. He has taught the ages the etern-
al and unconquerable might of the
good. He was the apostle of hope;
hungry hearts turned to him and he
fed them with happiness.
He did not talk of better things in
some other world, of a good time COM
ing In the days we might not see be-
yond the grave. This kingdom of heav-
en- was something real, immediate. sim
pie, substantial. So practical and
present was it that the people who
preferred to postpone the realization
Of their religion to some other world
were shocked, offended, and aroused
to opposition.
But to men then and to men TODAY
there come times, many and often.
when we most of all need to be as
sured that this is right world; that
this Kingdom of the good, where right
truth, justice, and mercy reign is COM
ing and Is becoming more and more
effective right here. 1t may seem as
though God had forgotten, as though
the only law was that of the fist, as
though justice and mercy had fallen.
IN that time of struggle they are help
less who are hopeless. They are in
vincible who cling to the assurance
OF the reign Of Righteousness, who see
the good being wrought out of the
seeming i'll and the peace coming from
the pain.
Men learning to read the record of
nature have found there the indorse-
ment of the message of the great teach
er; she shows the long process of all
things working together for good. TO
bring In the reign of the best. Con-
slider the lilies; their perfection is the
product of the ages. If God so clothe
the grass of the field, shall he not much
more you? The hand of love that fash
ions flower with so much care in Or
der that it might minister to man will
not move with less skill where the
making of man Is concerned.
The trouble full often is that we are
looking for that coming golden age to
consist in golden things; the good time
coming means to many but more meat
and drink, clothes, furniture, and fol-
lies. But golden streets do not make
a golden age; warehouses of parlor
suits do not make one single home.
There will be plenty of every good
thing when the wrongs within are
righted, when the old greed, malice.
and bitterness are gone. New hearts
make the new age.
Yet the new heart and the new age
shall be ours If we but believe in its
possibility. Faith in its coming brings
1t. Believe in the better day, work.
pray for it, be fit for it. 1t dawns ev-
cry day; every breath brings it nearer.
This Is the good news, that man moves
into the light
II ~