Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-19

S


n ~ NSeo - 1917
lNi and yet we know him as W.
know d familiar friend Of yesterday.
From his features not n line is lack
ing. His flower like childhood, the
purity Of his youth. the majesty and
Beauty of his increasing manhood, the
atmosphere of character that he car
ried-all. all are fully known. Stand.
ing on the hilltop, we look down upon
a populous valley holding in its lap
shining towns and cities. and from the
mount we look down across the career
of Jesus. bright with parallels, spark
ling with deeds of mercy, glorious with
wonder words and works. Once none
SO little but that Jesus was less in
honor; now, none SO exalted as singer,
scientist, reformer, artist, poet, but
that he seeks to borrow new fame by
linking his name with one whose star
has climbed zenithward into a solitary
prominence.
In the republic every citizen is n
eighty-miilionth of a king. In the civ
ilization of today every leader who
has conquered the love Of the genera
llOu He mas 10 ohS hheNhiSh "a
the Christ life, and has borrowed his
inspiration and ideal from the carpen-
ter's Son. More wonderful than all
else is his unfolding perfection. In
general perfection means the purga-
ton of i~mperfections. Slowly some
Thorwaldsen rubs of a speck Of mar
bic dust here and s~andpapers the MI
1910 .,,,nhnn5u tharn S1nW1v with
here a stroke and there a stroke, the
artist carries his canvas toward Ideal
beauty. With infinite erasures and In
ordinations the poet polishes his per-
feet verse. Success Is the residuum
left after a thousand artistic failures.
With God 1t is otherwise. All his
sweetbriar has to do is to unroll. So
it was with Jesus. He unfolded each
faculty as a rose its petals. Lo, there
was nothing to be added. and nothing
to be taken away. And yet he grew
in wisdom. BY experience. by work,
by travel, and conversation he gath
cred knowledge about the fields. the
woods, the sea, the sky, about men,
tools and events. Also. what we never
would have dared to say the word OF
God says. His memorabilia declare
he grew in favor with God ID
confidence and love were increasing
events, marching steadily toward the
day when the voice was beard whis
pering, Thou art my Beloved Son. II
whom am we'll pleased" And this
message falling on the inner ear was
the bliss of his solitude and the re
ward of his work.
II we can trust our analysis OF thu
Magnifcat of Mary, his mother wal
the most gifted intellect of her time
No spring rises higher than Its source
and Mary the singer explains tn
sweetness OF the song. In that far OF
era he Sabbath with its hours whit
ened by prayer and perfumed will
aspiration, lent richness to his mini
and heart.
Often Il is said that his handlcraf
was against Jesus. Not 80. HIS need
were few. His work was in the opel
air. Bending over the pillow, Cincir
natus meditated his laws. Tendin
his focks, David wrought out hi
songs. Moving slowly along the ful
row Burns found his music. In a
ages the crook and the pillow hav
united work and health to refectio
and genius.
Nor must we forget the infuenc
upon Jesus of the ~semi-annual proceI
sions to Jerusalem. Never was ther
such a college Of mortals as the tw
weeks in Jerusalem, where the grea
est teachers and singers and dreamer
out OF all the world we're assembled
} It is easy for the flower to bloom an
the fruit to ripen when the air of tn
l dollhouse Is made fervent. And rip
: ness for the intellect and growth Il
the heart were natural and spout'
neous in that hour, when the air WI
quick with spiritual life. Sitting
the open window, when the first sta
7, came out, while holding his motht
! Monica's hand, Augustine had his fri
u vision of the City Of God. and entere
: upon his career as a world teache
D When Christ first was q~uickened, whe
the vision became a hope, and the hoI
u a faith, and the faith a purpose. ar
y the purpose a plan to achieve the Me
y siahship, we do not know. That sacr'
y hour Is like the throne OF God. 81
, about with silence, clouds and my
IL terry.
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