The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-09-20
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Subject: Life.


some measure and manner the fact
of death. To-day we shall discuss
for the moments that We are together
the fact of life. The reality with
which We have more presently and
Immediately 10 deal.
Life is among the mightiest reali-
ties with which humanity is familiar.
II thrills and suffuses every living
one of us. IL energies all that is
active and moving and sentient
round about us. IL is at the source of
all that is: at the centre Of all crea-
ton. IL is divine. for IL is of God and
impaired from Him. II is real and
! the one thing in all the world OF
which We are conscious. For we see
ii outworking itself into the pulsat-
ing, throbbing universe about IL.
All nature sings the praise and mani
tests the force of life as IL chants the
glory and the might of God. In il
we live and move and have our being.
II is at the centre of humanity's eX-
istence.
All of which is trite and obvious
and old. There is not much that is
new that we can tell about concern
ing life. For the primal man knew
life in its fullness and its beauty as
do we. He heard the songs of the
feathered host and witnessed the
manifestations OF the majesty of Je-
hovah as He revealed IL in the heav-
enly galaXies and expressed il in the
varied forms and the diverse beauties
of nature. The primal man may not
have been so familiar with so many
of the actual laws operated in life
as we are. He may not have been so
conscious of the subtler forms OF life
that modern scientific investigation
the revealed 10 the world of to-
day. But taking in the broad we
may safely say that there is not much
that is new that We can say about
life.
In fact, life is so intangible that it
is in reality properly indefinable. We
cannot define life exactly. We may
appropriate a definition. but we cam
not compass in the forms of finite
speech the fullness of life itself. For
life is divine and limitless. Language
Is finite and circumscribed in its
scope and possibilities. Life knows
no bounds. Language is confined.
Life is the creation of God and is CO.
extensive with Him. Language is
the method of human intercommuni-
cation, and as such it is hemmed
within the horizons of humanity.
Life per Sc is intangible. IT is as in
tangible az it is ultimately indefin-
able. We may touch mans hand
that is sentient with life; we may
look into his eye that is alive with
life; we may hear the sound of his
voice and witness the exhibition of
his strength; we may see the various
expressions Of the life that vitalizes
him. But we do not see his life. We
may roam the fields and sail the seas
and climb the hills and till the pas
lures till God calls us home. We may
see the evidences Of life, but life it
self we do not see. Life is intangible.
! We may know il in its manifestations
and through them. Dut we shall not
know life-that mysterious, wonder
working energy that enlivens us
until We enter into the presence of
Divinity hereafter. For life is as in
tangible as God.
Life is indefinable. We may de-
fine life in the terms OF life's express
sions. Whether we see life in cloud
or tree or drop or bud, this is ever so.
For the beauty of the cloud is not the
life that brings the beauty into being.
/ The grace and dignity and charm that
is manifest in humanity is not the
Sife that animates humanity. We
HAY define human life in the terms
OF hfe's self-eXpression, through the
medium OF humanity as we may de-
scribe its manifestations in the nat
ural world about us. But when all
is said and done, to define life in the
terms OF its manifestations is not en-
tirely 10 define life. For life is more
than its manifestations, as is God.
Life is more than what we see and
know of the expressions of life.
And yet, for the sake of definition
and in the interest Of the culture
of the moral and spiritual life Of man,
il is not really necessary that we
shall be able to do more to-day than
define life in the terms Of its express
sions and relations. For IL is not
necessary 10 know all about the con-
stitution of the world in order 10
live happily within it. 1t is not need
ful that We shall know all about the
inner and hidden laws OF electricity
ia order TO ride on an electric car or
10 enjoy the Illuminating power OF
the electric light. II is not necessary
that we shall be able 10 define God
with mprehension and finality in
OIQer 10 draw near 10 MIN ana 10
enjoy the pleasures Of communion
with Him or enter into the realization
of the potency OF His love. Not 9TH
erwise is IL with life. We may not
understand IL all we may not be able
10 define ii with Lnality, we may not
be competent TO penetrate its mys-
terry. but We know that II is, that IL
IS central in ourselves and in our
society; we are aware that we are In
the midst Of IL; We view its mani
festations and experience its express
sions We may state our experiences
and the results OF our Investigations
and observations in the terms Of hu-
manly understandable speech. And
that IS enough. We shall know more.
But that Is enough for now.
We may. therefore. define life In
the terms OF opportunity, responsible
ity. possibility, divinity.
Life Is dehnable and 20 be grasped
in the terms Of opportunity. To be
alive 20 have a chance a chance
10 be a man, tn do a mans work, 20