Evening journal., 1907-05-25

peace or happiness. unless we arc
about the Fathers business. Our very
self-respect compels us to put forth
every effort possible to be worthy OF
the divine lineage and companionship.
The light and heat OF the sun can
only quicken the life OF the seed: they
cannot create that life. Nor can the
various activities Of organized religion
produce any lasting enthusiasm or
enduring fervor, If the soul itself be
not aroused to use and cultivate its
own God-given powers. AS DR. Ames
once said: f-discovery, when Il goes
deep enough, is God-discovery. Spirit
ual life in man testifes TO Gods life,
since without Him spiritual life could
not be. Our own consciousness bears
witness TO the deeper cause which
make consciousness possible. This Is
the one miracle affirming the presence
and power OF the unsearchable. To
share the life Of God and to know that
we share IL, to perceive its divine quail
ity, is TO be placed beyond doubt 70
know that you are not giving It to
yourself, but are continually receiving
1t, is the same as 10 know that there
is a gracious Giver.
II we mean TO do riaht-imperfect
though we be-we are. so far led by
the Holy Spirit The deliberate choice
Of right principles comes from the dis
covery Of the purity that IS only seen
by the pure heart. Here is the foun-
dalton of good society, or Of true
democracy. IL IS not in the party
platform; not I'm the bill Of rights; not
In the Constitution of the United
States; not in the grand Declaration
OF Independence. The foundation of
true democracy and OF social order Is
more deeply and broadly laid; it rests
on our faith in the dignity Of human
nature as the offspring Of God. A
great writer has said that It IS the
task Of democracy to secure a patent
Of nobility for every man. Where
shall the common man look for his
title TO nobility, or justify his claim
to an honorable rank In the universe,
unless he finds the elements Of noble-
ness in His own being2 And how can
he be sure that he is high-born and
well-descended unless he can trace his
lineage and origin up to the throne Of
God? Then he knows that he IS Of
noble stock: then he feels the royal
blood pulsating in his veins; and then,
too, underneath all the disguises OF
poverty. meanness and sin. he salutes
a prlnce-a son OF the living God-in
every other man. As the sculptor's 8
eye sees IN the block of marble the
waiting statue. even so does our faith
teach us to see IN each soul OF man,
however dishgured by sin and shame,
an undeveloped picture or image Of
the divine personality. This IL the
gospel message Jesus, the great Son
or Man. who knew himself also as the
well-beloved Son OF God. is not Gods
only Son,-He Is our Elder Brother,
the first born among many brethren'
We are living in universe whose
moving force. whose vital principle, is
the spirit We know something Of its
power and glory. and we know that
Il is not for ourselves alone. The gift
Of the Spirit is public property. A
very sacred trust Is ours. We hold IN
our minds and hearts those truths and
powers which may uplift and renew
the world. II we believe In God ami
man. If we believe that God and muu
belong together, and should never be
thought Of as separated and apart
from each other. Not God away az
there in the glory. alone; not man
down here in the dust, alone; but God
and man right here In our present
sphere OF duty. one and inseparable,
now and forever
There are two things for us to do.
To set our lives to this music Of Divine
harmony. and TO sing it for the cheer
and charm OF mankind. Accepting the
Spirit OF Truth and Love as our teach
er, let us be continually learners. And
as we freely receive. let us freely give.
This Is the way to conquer the mater
iallsm of our time. Men and women
our friends and neghbors, those whom
we meet daily In business or society
will find Il easy 10 believe In the ever
present Spirit Of God when they feel
IT'S heavenly power in the inhuenc'
OF living men and women, their neigh
bors and friends whom they meet ever
day in society and in business. There
fore. let your light shine before Nor
that they. seeing your good works
shall glorify the Father who is in
heaven.