Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-27

Is impossible to read or listen to these
without being impressed by the thought
that they are the outpourings of gratl-
tude for priceless blessings which have
come from the great storehouse Of
divine Love, and that these blessings
may be possessed and realized to their
fullest extent by all Gods children. 1t
was when passing through period of
mental storm and stress that these at
testations of Gods absolute goodness,
of answers to prayer, of what God had
wrought for others, led him to q de-
termination never to cease the search
for truth until 1t had been found.
The story of the phases Of belief
through which SO many pass is lighte
up with CLEANS of hope. We look back
with surprise at our wanderings. Why
did we not see the light when 1t was
ever PRESENT. Why were we permitted,
as we thought, to remain in Doubling
Castle when the way to the shelter OF
faith and assurance was so plain?
Then we see that through all the years
Of search there must have been an
underlying consciousness that nothing
could hinder the goal being reached;
that 1t was never Gods purpose to
leave a single soul In darkness, and
that in proportion to the earnestness
and intensity Of the hungering and
thirsting, so would every obstacle be
vision of Truth fall away never to re-
trun.
Structure Was nsubstantial
But let personal experience speak for
itself Brought up on strictly orthodox
lines, and led in early life to take an
active part In Christian work, there fol-
lowed many years of activity, during
which there was a constant, most
ardent and prayerful desire for personal
holiness, as then understood. There
was much joy in those busy years, and
much encouragement to pursue to lite's
end the theological lines of belief that
had been accepted without demur.
There came, however, a time when the
mind was alert to newer phases of re-
ligious thought. What were believed
to be the fundamental truths of Chris
tianity came under review. About one
or two Of these, doubts had never been
absent; indeed, such teaching as was
embodied in the conception of eternal
punishment had never been accepted;
but there had been a tenacious hold on
other portions of church creeds, a some-
what intolerant condemnation of those
who held different views, and warm
advocacy of certain interpretations of
Scrinture which 1t was contended were
essential to salvation" 1t was per-
sonal crisis, period never to be for
gotten, when consciousness suddenly
awoke to the fact that the theological
structure which had apparently been
built upon solid foundations was in
substantial. There were manifest signs
of disintegration.
A wide and varied course of reading
a necessity in the journalistic profess
sion, which entails a daily alertness
with contemporary history and close
study of current events from the all
round standpoint Of public utility-led
to a reconsideration of religious doc
trines. To many this is period fraught
with peril to simple faith and homely
religion, and he who passes through 1t
into fuller light and clearer apprehen-
sion of Truth has taken his place
among those who should be eternally
grateful. How the whole structure Of
faith seems at one time to be crumb-
ling to dust The divinity of Christ,
the virgin birth, the resurrection, the
incarnation, the ascension, heaven and
hell. the authenticity OF the Scriptures
even the very existence Of God and
His relation to good and evil-these,
and every aspect of them. with all the
considerations involved and all the mo-
mentous consequences that follow their
rejection or acceptance, came under