The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-04
which man now deals. 1t is simply
different.


not suspend one of his laws without
stopping the universe. but doawe moi
suspend or overcome the law OF gray
itation every day: E:;cry time We
move foot or lift Il weight we TEN
porarily interiors With the operation
of Tie most universal of natural laws
and yet the world is not disturbed.
Science has taught us so MANY
t!!iu1S that we are tempted to CON
c!EL!a that we know everything, but
there is really il great unknown which
IS siili uncxpiured. ard that which we
have learned Oi;-!t 10 increase Oul
reverence rather than our cgOtiSm
Science has disclosed some of the ma
ciiinrry of the universe. but science
has not yct revealed TO us The great
Gecrct-thc secret OF life. IT is TO he
found In every blade of grass. in every
insect. in every bird and in every ami
nal. As we'll as in man. Six thousand
years OF recorded history. and yet we
know no more about the secret Of lie
than they knew in the beginning. We
live. we plan. We have our hopes, our
fears. and yet in y moment change
may come over any one of us. and this
body will l~cOme 4 mass NOf lifcless
clay What is ii that, having. we live
and, having not, we are as the clod!
We know not. and yet the progress OF
the race and the civilization which
we nuw behold arc the work Of men
and women who have not solved the
mystery OF their OWN lives.
And our food-inuSt We understand
II before we cat it? II we refused TO
cat anything until We could under.
stand the mystery Of its growth, we
would die Of starvation. But mystery
does not bother us In the dining room.
Only in the church iSsir an obstacle.
| was eating Il piece of watermelon
some months ago and was struck with
its beauty. took some the seed
and dried them and weighed them and
found that it would require some five
thousand seed 10 weigh i pound. And
then / applied mathematics to that
forty pound melon. One or these
seeds put into the ground when warmed
Dy the Sua and moistencd by the rain
goes to work. 1t gathers from some
where two hundred thousand times its
own weight and, forcing this raw ma,
tcrial through tiny stem. constructs
Il watermelon. 1t covers the outside
with 4 coating Of green. IuSldc or the
green II puts 4 layer of whItt- ana
Within the white 4 core Of red and al
through the rcd 1t scatters seeds. each
one capable Of continuing the work OF
reproduction. Where did that little
seed get its tremendous power? Where
did it find IFS coloring matter? How
did II collect IFS fIavoring eytraet!
How did it build Il watermelon: UlI-
ill YOU c;lIi explain i watermelon DO
not be too sure that YOU cam set limits
to the rowcr Of the Almighty OF say Just
what he would dc or how he would do
II. | cannot explain the watermelon.
but cat 1t and enjoy ii.
Power That Is Infinite and Divine.
Everv;hin" that grows tells ike
story OF infinite power. Why should
DENY that divine hand fed u multi.
tule with Il few loavcs and fishes
when see, hundreds Of millions fed
every relr by u han1l WHICH converts
The seeds scattered OYER the. field into
ali abundant harvcst:> We know that
food can he multiplied in Il few
time Shall we deny the pow
ei- OF The Creator to eliminate the e!e-
ment Of time when We have. gone so
far in eliminating the element of
space
But thcre is something even more
still, the mysterious change
that takes place in the human heart
When the man begins 10 hate the
things he loved aud to love the things
he hated. the marvellous transformation
that takes place in the man who be-
fore the change would have sacrificed
the world Tor his own advancement.
but who after the change would give
his life for i principle and esteem 1t
privilege TO make sacrifice fur his con-
yictions. What greater 'rliracle than
this that converts 4 selfish, self cen
tered human being into 4 center from
which good Influences flow out in
every direction. And yet this miracle
has been wrought in the heart of each
one OF. u.s. 5r may he wrought. and we
have seen 1t wrought in the hearts OF
those about us. No: living in the midst
OF mystery and miracles. | shall not
allow either to deprive me Of the bene-
fits OF the Christian religion.
Some of those who question the mir
acle also question The theory OF atone
ment. They assert that il does not ac-
cord with their idea Of justice for one
to die for others. Let each one brar
his own sins and 1he pGnlshlnentS due
for them, they say. The doctrine or
vicarious suffering is not 4 new one.
1t is as old as the race. That one
should suffer for others is one or the
most familiar of principles. and we see
the principle illustrated every day OF
our lives.
find nrunf that luan WAS made III
the image of his Creator in tho fact
that throughout the centuries man has
been willing TO die that blessings de-
MED to him might hc enjoyed hy his
children, his chlldrcn'> children and the
world.
The seeming paradox. He that say
9Th his lie shall lose 1t. and he that
I0scth his life for MY sake shall flnd
]. Il IN Ii