The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-10-15

can be established between the Father
above and the child below. And who
will measure the consolation that has
been brought to troubled hearts by the
hour Of prayer7
Proof Of Immortality.
And immortality! Who will estimate
the peace which a belief In q future
life has brought tn the sorrowing? You
may talk to the young about death end
ing all, for life Is full, and hope is
strong, but preach not this doctrine to
the mother who stands by the death
bed of her babe or to one who is within
the shadow of great affllction.
Christ gave US proof of Immortality,
and yet 1t would hardly seem necessary
that one should rise from the dead to
convince us that the grave Is not the
end. To every created thing God has
given tongue that proclaims a resur-
rection.
If the Father deigns to touch with di-
vine power the cold and pulseless heart
of the buried acorn and to make It
burst forth from its prison walls, will
he leave neglected in the earth the soul
Of man, made In the image of his Gre
ator? II he stoops to give to the rose
bush whose withered blossoms float
upon the autumn breeze the sweet as
surance Of another sprlngtime, will he
refuse the words of hope to the sons OF
men when the frosts of winter come?
If matter mute and inanimate, though
changed by the forces of nature into a
multitude of forms, can never die, will
the spirit of man suffer annihilation
when 1t hGS paid brief visit like a
royal guest to this tenement of clay?
No; am as sure that there is another
life as / am that live today.
In Cairo / secured a few grains Of
wheat that had slumbered for more
than three thousand years in an Egyp-
tan tomb. AS looked at them this
thought came into my mind: II one OF
those grains had been planted on the
banks of the Nile the year after II
grew and all Its lineal descendants
planted and replanted from that time
until now, Its progeny would today be
sufficiently numerous to feed the teem-
ing millions of the world. If this in
visible germ Of life in the grain of
wheat can thus pass unimpaired
through three thousand resurrections,
I shall not doubt that my soul has
power to clothe itself with a body
suited to its new existence when this
earthly frame has crumbled into dust.
A belief in Immortality not only con-
soles the individual, but It exerts a
powerful influence In bringing peace
between individuals. If one really
thinks that man dies as the brute dies,
he may yield to the temptation to do
injustice to his neighbor when the cir
cumstances are such as to promise Sc
curity from detection. But If one real
ly expects to meet again and live eter-
naliy with those whom he knows to-
day he is restrained from eva deeds
by the fear of endless remorse.
Again, Christ deserves to be called
the Prince Of Peace because he has
given US a measure Of greatness which
promotes peace. When his disciples
disputed among themselves as to
which should be greatest in the
]
and said, LET him who would be
chiefest among you be the servant OF
all" Service Is the measure of great
ness. 1t always has been true. 1t is
true today and IT always will be true
that he is greatest who does the most
of good. And yet what a revolution 1t
] will work in this old world when this
cfon orI fhn efo nt.I 80 al
Nearly all of our controversies and
J combats arise from the fact that we
| are trying to get something from each
other. There will be peace when our
aim is to do something for each other
| Our enmities and animosities arise
/ from our efforts to get as much as
! possible out of the world. There will
be peace when our endeavor is to put
as much as possible into the world.
Society will take an immeasurable step
| toward peace when 1t estimates q citi-
zen by his output rather than by his
| income and gives the crown of itE ap-
| proval to the one who makes the lar
| gest contribution to the welfare of all.
| Christ has also led the way to peace
by giving us formula for the propa-
cation OF good. Not all of those who
have really desired to do good have
employed the Christian method-not
all Christians even. In all the history
OF the human race but two methods
have been emF,oyed
The first Ii the forcible method
The other Is the Bible plan-be moi
overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good And there lis no other way
OF overcoming evil. ! am not much OF
a farmer l get more credit for my
farming than / deserve, and my little
| farm receives more advertising than II
is entitled to. But l am farmer enough
to know that If cut down weeds they
win spring up again. and know that
| if plant something there which has
more vitality than the weeds | shall
not only get rid Of the constant cut
ting, but have the benefit OF the croI
besides.
In order that there might be no mis-
take about his plan of propagatinl
good Christ went into detail and laid
emphasis upon the value Of example
$50 live that others seeing your goot
works may be constrained to glorify
your Father which is In heaven.
There is no human influence 80 poten