Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-10-29
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THE TREE OF LIFE.

ALL IhtG OE LAG H.
By Rev. Andrew z. Underhi1l.
And the leaves of the tree were for
the healing of the nations.-Rev. xii:
g.
The vision of the prophets, while
often pessimistic Of present conditions,
has always eliminated in the hope Of
a final realization of the text. Men
In every age have looked forward
through difficulty and Encouragement
to the time when the jealousies, the
rivalries, the selishness of individuals
and nations should pass away and man
kind should live in one common bond
of brotherhood and peace together.
ST. John, in the record of the beatif1c
vision given him, foreshadows the
reign of final peace on earth and an
eternal conscious communion with
God in the life beyond The fruit of
the tree of life Is to be won through
labor and service Mans effort of self
development Is to result in his finding
the larger life. In his finding of the
larger life for himself he Is to bring
to it the whole family of mankind.
The leaves of the tree" are for the
healing of the nations, for the bringing
Of them together through the removal
Of their sin and self1shness.
Christianity as religious force has
given the principles of reaching out
ward and of seeking contracts with
other men. 1t has inspired the cour-
age for discovery and exploration and
the impetus to treat for a mutual I'M
derstanding None but the nations pro-
Tossing Christianity, who have been
the pioneers in discovery, have had an
appreciable share in bringing the ends
Of the earth together or in creating
what is known as the family of ma
lions" where an international law in
stead Of brute force has found field for
operation.
We are celebrating now the ami
versary Of two great discoveries. On
our shores are gathered representa-
tives of every cline to do honor to
Hudson and Fulton and to cement the
friendships of an international peace.
In this we are acknowledging that
there is a common bond between us all
and our meeting together now Is a fact
that goes to make that bond stronger.
Discovery has located the far lands,
invention has brought them closer to-
gether in time and distance; travel
and ntercommunication have made
possible mutual acquaintanceship,
and the spirit of Christianity, which
has created the conditions of life favor
able for these achievements, If we are
willing to live it, will carry US further
to the realization Of that peaceful
understanding to which all men look
with eager longing.
Cooperation is the outcome of the
great law of love which Christ died to
Vlnd1cate = the cooperation which
means consideration for the true
welfare Of one another Your life and
my life banded together in this spirit
means an uplift for the lives of all
other men, Let us foster this spirit.
under the inspiration of Jesus, in all
our personal relationships, substitute
ing kindness for strife, helpfulness
for ruthless struggle, service for self
1shness. The victory of achievement
at the expense Of our fellow men
means but a repetition Of the old and
oft-repeated ruin of civilization
through misery and sin. We rise to a
height only to be cast down. But
progress through the refusal to bene-
fit at the expense of one another means
an achievement that holds for the
generations to come. Mankind work
ing as a united whole, unthreatened by
personal discussions, giving itself IN
stead OF combatively trying to save
Itself must achieve victories to stagger
the imagination. To such striving the
tree Of life shall yield her leaves for
the healing Of the nations and bring
the balm Of peace the foretaste of
the peace Of the life eternal.