Evening star., 1909-06-27

It has been easy to parallel each OF
the sharply etched phrases Of the rest
OF Newman's hymn, Lead, Kindly
Light" with some familiar experience
OF our own: but the last phrase. And
with the morn those angel faces smile. ;"
docs not readily suggest its counterpart
in ordinary life. says writer In the
Sunday School Times. Up to the pres
ent time explanations continue to DO
offered about this most mysterious OF all
its expressions, yet strangely enough II
Is this very line which is least under
stood, that has most determined the pre-
vaiiing use OF the hymn. Newman him.
self, as Is well known. refused to put any
Interpretation upon 1t. and pleaded the
poets privilege OF mystical glimpse
here and there which he himself did not
fully understand or follow. But the gen.
erai mind fastened most readily upon the
experience Of bereavement and tho future
reunion Of friends. Yet death Is the
refers. Newman's friends were still
around him In almost unbroken circle.
Those inspirers Of his life Of whom
with their special gifts he has given such
in the full tide Of their strength. Men
coveted his company and sought his IN
huence. He had more than heart could
wish. What. then, could he mean oy
the faces loved long since and iost
while?
We are left to our own explanation,
and tho most familiar one is the best.
It 10 that which connects the phrase
with Christ's word about the children
whose angels do always behold the face
Of my Father who is in heaven: The
idea was long . fayorite one, and espe-
cially with minds like Keble, who
drew mueh OF his poetry from the in
nuences Of children-that In infancy
It by their smiles. In after years the
visions disappear. and fade Tor while
into the light OF common day. Thon
comes on a space like that which In
tervened between jacobs first vision
at Bethel and the day when his hrss
and best ambitions stirred again and
drew him toward home. In that inter-
mediate time he seemed to have lost
all sense OF his frst high motive. which
OF his race: but when he returned, the
angels met him again. The morn on
which they met him was followed by .
night when he felt the grip of the angel 9
again; Jacob answered once more. after
all the misspent years. to the purpose
which had controlled him first. and found
that through all his changes the purpose
was unchanged.
which we thought had only to do with
the future lite has everything to do with
one of the most pressing Questions OF our
daily life. Everybody who has q vestige
Of a gospel left may tell US that sins may
be forgiven. but what we long to know
almost as much 10 whether visions may be
given back. When 80 much OF life has
been misspenf. can the influences which
once moved them to all that Is noblest
return and do their old work again?
Yes, even that sense of mission. which
was the brightest OF the faces that we
loved long since. may be given back
Mark Rutherford calls II 'the dogma OF
q personal calling" ana that is the dosmd
whose disappearance means that with y
goes one after another Of the beliefs
which made youth the inspiring thing II
was Gods forgiveness must Do moi
simply q biotting out Of what has been.
but writing In Of some better thing
There IL no gospel uniees life msy ot
seized again By its earlier purpose. ever
after that purpose seems quito gone
astray and as II our Father had repentet
him OF II. 1t comes again: In mos
lives II has to come again Sins may ot
forgiven and visions may come back
And therefore what seems like th