Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-12-20
RELIGION OF A PRACTICAL MIND.

is there a faith for the practically
minded man and woman? Or is relig-
ion exclusively for the dreamers and
those who are contented with senti-
ment and feeling? These people of ac-
ton, who measure by results, who have
no life to waste on things not evident
ly useful; these who feel so intensely
the needs Of humanity that they have
no time to waste in anything other
than works there religion for
them?
If one looks to the churches for an
answer the encouraging replies are the
exceptional ones. The average church
is conducted on the theory that while
humanity needs much spiritual nOur-
ishment, mostly of water Cruel char
acter, it needs absolutely no spiritual
exercise, and therefore no provision
need be made for the practical express
sion of ones faith, at least in ways
other than paying the pew rents
But religion is not a form of life nor
alone; it is the spirit Of higher things
coming into the lives of all kinds of
people. It's expression will depend on
the temperament of the individual. 1t
may lead some to sing hymns, but it
will certainly compel others to build
houses and to care for the sick and
needy.
The truth is that in world of men
and affairs no man is actually relig-
ious unless his faith is 1nding some
practical expression and the greatest
need Of our day is that our hard head
ed men and women who do things shall
become inspired with the spirit and
ideals of religion and shall do those
things which religions spirit of love
and service would indicate as needing
to be done.
Pious people are deluding themselves
If they think that they are cultivating
the religious life and meriting the re-
wards of faith by simply sitting in
church and feeding themselves on beau
tiful sentiments and thrilling visions,
who dare to differ from them in mat
tiers of religious philosophy
Nor can religion find full expression
in barking back over the centuries and
calculating the mysteries of ancient
miracles or tracing the history of an
cient peoples. A man might as well
hope to cure the sick by a chemical
analysis of a book on medicine as to
serve and save the world by biblical
research.
If as much brain and energy had
been given to solving the problem Of
society and leading men into the way
of right living to-day as have been
given to digging into the historical and
pathological problems of Scripture this
world would be a better world by far.
We must let the dead past bury it's
dead Stay not weeping by the tomb
Of yesterday do the work of to-day.
There will be much more real relig-
ion in the intelligence, care and sacri-
fee applied to the problem presented
by the millions coming in at the gates
of our country than in the most pains
taking study Of the emigration of
horde of Israelites millenniums ago.
This is what the practical man feels:
there is so much to be done, why
waste things in dreaming of how things
once were done or in wishing for a
world where no need or sorrow exists?
Therefore, he is apt to say, in the bust
ness Of bringing things to pass religion
has no place; it is only for the dream
erS.
Yet no one needs religion more than
the man who would do any worthy
and lasting work in the world. Indeed,
the possibility of such a work will not
dawn upon him without some of the
spirit of religion, and the possession Of
desire to do great and worth while
things is evidence of the heavenly flame
within. Any work for the sake of hui
mainly needs a wider vision than that
of it's own field. Courage fails and
hope dies If we see only the dismal
problem if we have only the practical
outlook Some vision of the ideal must
enter into all great work; one must
learn to see humanity in the light of
divinity.
It Is a good thing to be able to see
the Divine in the commonplace the
hand of Providence In American his
tory. the work Of the Most High as re-
corded in the daily papers, as well as
in the gospels; to do our work, wheth-
er it be laying railroad track, selling
dry goods, making or teaching or trad
ing, as part of the service necessary to
bring in the better day.
Here is the religion of the practical
mind, to express by the service Of
heart and brain and hand the belief
that he has in the possibilities of hui
mainly. the hope that he has of fair
err. sweeter, nobler age than this, to
make real the worlds best ideals. So,
seeking to bring to earth the best that
heaven has dreamed, men have found
themselves lifted into the light Of in
finite truth and love.