Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-12-28
nm sEAncn FOR rEnrEcmoN.

could 1.-Two the highest and best life
By means OF selt-culture. without the
stimulus Of religious faith This view
has had its advocates since carly times.
but seems 90 be- especially prevalent
in our day. We think II a great mis-
take.
The most pretenuous form of the at
tempt % live the perfect life without
God. or at least without religion in it5
usual form, is exhibited in ancient
times by Epctetus. the prince OF
soucs. and in modern times by schleier-
macher vino furnishes the material
for most OF that philosophy of our day
known as the new thought" These
men sought TO hud perfection boy the
path Of philosophic righteousness. anu
are regarded as shining examples ol
those who aisnated from cor ignorant
of Christianity. have successfully ap
piled themselves 20 a purely human
morality. Those who practically at
tempt 90 pursue such an ideal are ana
always have been few IN number Theii
creed Is that u is enough TO md I'M
ternal satisfaction IN the conscious
ness OF having done ones duty as
man. schleiermacher' ideal OF life. rs
worth quoting: "WiJh proud JOY / stiu
think OF the time when / found the
consciousness of humanity. From with
in came the high revelation called
forth By no doctrines OF virtue ana
no syslems OF the wiseI dare say H.
nave never since lost myself. What
they call conscience 1 know as sucn
no more. Never has benefit gained ms
friendship, nor beauty my love
Ever shall sorrow and JOY and what
else the world designates as veal or
woe be alike welcome TO me. / have
felt JOY and pain, ! know every grief
and smile; and what is there amid all
that befel me since l began really
and truly 10 live, from which / have
not appropriated what Is new to my
being and have gained power that
nourishes the inner life"
A similar philosophy has In our day
seized upon this scriptural passage:
CAS- a man thinks IN his haart, SO is
ne" The text has been made 70 teach
that the thought and VIII OF the person
can bring about any state OF mind o.
body that is desired with sufficient
strength, even to the attainment OF
eternal youth and 10 staying iudefi-
nitely, perhaps forever, the hand OF
death. As TO this last point, We only
need to observe that the people keep on
dying In the good old-fashioned way,
while admitting with pleasure that TINS
philosophy often kindles a healthy en-
thusiasm Ina spite Of its eXaggeration
and its far too optimistic view of our
own power TO exait ourselves
OF those who thus emancipato them
selves from the law Of the Gospel, only
very few apply themselves 70 follow
their creeds practically, and OF these
few how many fail TO realize their
hopes. we may learn from Epictetus
the greatest stole. He concludes tha'
none become true disciples Of the
creed. He says, "show me a Stoicl
By the gods. I long 10 see one. But IL
is quite out OF your power 10 show me
one who as really well marked. SHOW
me. then at least one who lies In the
crucible in order 10 be cast Pray do
me this kindness. Pray do not refuse
10 am old man, from ill viii, the sigh,
Of a spectacle that have not seen tlD
now"
Others like Goethe and schiller have
sought perfection by means OF aesthet-
Sc education. only 10 find c0mpleta
lack OF satisfaction therein Men
like SHELLEY have searched for ez-
ternal perfection In an the gIories Of
nature, without finding it there. and
much less have they found that which
can permanently satisfy the longing.
OF the human heart. Mackay has
successfully depicted this fruitless
quest la his poem, 'The Inquiry H'
asks in vain the winged winds and
the mighty deep. Tor that which th'
awakened heart seeks when the "sou
l athlrst FOR COD
and thou. screnest moon. that witf
such lovely face
Dost look upon the earth aIsrop IN
nights embrace.
Tell me. in all thy round. hast thoJ
not seen some spot
Where miserable man might nud
happier lotf
some lone and plsaan. deu SOM.
valley in the Wet,
Where free from gr.ef and pain th
weary soul may rostt
Behind the cloud rhe moon with
drew BOO woe
And "a voice sweet but sad respond
ca "No."
on the other hand. be- tells us tha
"Tuth. hope and love best boons o.
mortala given
WaFrl their bright wings and au
sWefei. Yes in heaven.
Turning. Then, from nature Worship
some have thought to nnd in MON tb
divinity worthy of being exalted au
worsuluco under tho uamc of "hu
mainly now while lho religion
PERSON may think highly of MAN. w
A. mot SOC hoN the rrougious may a
ro. Asa Specimen Of natural histor
man iH not worth sincere admiration
"a little higher thm the brutea. 30
decd. but not little lower than M
angels n hH place ls n nature on
and NOT also in the realm of what
above naiure-thc supernatural I'D
religious man, however can new
think mranly of man believing in bol
hn divine parontage aud destiny. II
what oan THEY truly think who
"9' believe men 40 bo beings of /
NllnnanlD saorsgnfaa ~ t..f.. - "a.