Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
SPIRITUALITY A PART
OF MANS MAKEUP

Spirituality" was the subject Of q lee
ture by Capt. Theodore Valiant at the
Homeward-Bound Mission Friday evening.
At the conclusion Of the service he was
congratulated upon his Interpretation of
the important subject. which, It was said.
means SO much to real Christian effort and
success. In part Capt. Valiant said:
This Is a term that has frequently been
used In the pulpit and in religious literature
as well in mission work. Men are said
to be spiritual when by that Is meant mainly
that they are prompt and active in the du-
ties of the church. Churches are called
spiritual when they are wide awake, alert,
active and progressive; but it is possible for
men to be active and Industrious in church
work without being spiritual, and churches
may have a certain measure of aggressive
ness and success without being entitled to
the credit of spirituality.
Man Is a material being, a corporate ex-
istence like any other animal, Of more deli
cate construction and a more highly or
gained nervous system. but still in his out
ward or living substance he Is simply an
| animal of a higher order. But he has also
an Intelligent, immaterial and immortal
part. which we call the soul or spirit, which
Is something more than breath. There is
rational sou, which animates the body and
preserves its being after the body is dead
1t has the power to reason and choose
Locke says. Spirit is the substance wherein
thinking, knowing, doubling and the power
a spirit in man, and the inspiration Of the
Almighty giveth him understanding" The
Holy Spirit Is the third person of the Holy
Trinity, who inspired the prophets. who ami
mates good men, pours his JUNCTION into
their heads and mparts hope, comfort and
peace. 1t is the office of that spirit to con-
vince men of sin, of righteousness and of
judgment; to influence and direct the reig-
ious life of men so as to bring them into
harmony with the will of God. When the
Holy Spirit comes into the consciousness of
men so that they forsake sin and cease
to love it; so that they seek to know the
will of God and earnestly try to do 1t; 80
that they desire only that which is good and
rejoice in It, then they are becoming spir-
itual, the spirit beareth witness with our
spirits that we are the children of God; but
q man can only become a child Of God by
loving obedience to the will Of God. When
Jesus resisted the temptations Of Satan
the will of His Father the clouds opened
and the voice said: This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am we'll pleased God, through
His spirit, was to say the same thing to all
men. No labor can be regarded too oner-
GUS, no sacrifice as too severe, no service as
too exacting when God wills 1t.
THE first evidence Of spirituality in man,
church or mission. then, is to learn the will
of the spirit, and do 1t at any cost or any
sacrifice. If there be any lack of obedience,
any hesitation to follow the leadings of the
Spirit. there is by SO much a deficiency In
the spiritual life. OF course, this precludes
any dallying with sin and with all sorts
of questionable enterprises or pleasures.
When men interrogate themselves as to
how near they can go to the line that d.
vides wrong from right without shining
they already evince a love for the sinful
that is fatal to a consistent spiritual life.
There must be degree of responsive
ness in the spirit of man to the spirit of
God will make the love lovingly active
in everything that is pleasing to God and
scrupulously cautious In avoiding every
thing that would displease Him. To live
nd thQ ia mi fnfl Of ha
of God, to seek His guidance and direction
in reading, prayer. church or mission work.
secular life family relations, everywhere
all the time-that is spirituality. May we
devoutly pray for this spirituality and the
work of the Lord will go on and the gates
of hell cannot prevail against it,
The service was opene- by congrega-
tional singing. Then followed prayer by
Mrs Haslam, commander of the mission.
There was a solo by Miss Katie Wells,
Keep in Touch with Jesus a duet by
Miss Wells and Lieut. Nellie Haslam, LAS
the Day Breaks" the lesson by Geo. Lau-
terbach and testimonies.