Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-16
he moral progress of the world. Once

the moral progress of the world. Once
the emphasis was upon philosophical
forms, upon statements as to the D.
ity or as to human destiny; later il
shifted to forms Of religious organiza'
lions. In our own day it became NOR
al and ethical, insisting that religion
is valueless unless it produces virtu-
Gus lives, demanding character as the
proof of creed
Just as psychology knows no indi-
vidual, SO does religion, for none of
US liveth to himself. Men come to
social realization Of themselves. The
study solitude gives place to the hui
man fellowship, the brooding over per-
sonal faults and the lonely struggle
for individual projections passes and
its high passion is satisfied in banding
ourselves with our fellows for the sal
walton of the world.
There is one voice to which every
free soul responds to-day; 1t Is that
which insists on the claim Of all the
lives about US on our own lives, the
sense of common responsibility. All
who live in any large sense, who lift
up the eyes and know the world as 1t
is know that they live in a society as
living parts Of society.
Such living involves religious obli-
cations. It means that the higher life
must find expression through these re-
lations to all other lives. Social living
means the death of selfishness, Of the
old soul-dwarfing Individuality 1t
takes the I from the old-time throne
and sets the All there.
Faith nowhere finds finer expression
than in the life that forsakes self
seeking in order to serve another, that
thus says, l believe so firmly in the
eternal goodness, in the rightness Of
this world l dare cease to think of my
self and even seem to neglect my own
prosperity in order to make sure of
the well-being of my fellows.
Piety need never fear that it will
suffer from too great practical mind
edness Of this type. The people who
warn us of the danger of the spiritual
life decaying in our interest in social
welfare are usually those who dread
the necessity of making practical
proof of their professions Of religion,
of expressing their spirituality in any
serviceable manner.
The social Interpretations of religion
do not mean the adoption of any par
ticular theory of society; they do
mean living the life that is ours as
children of the infinite in full con-
seriousness Of all other lives, In rela-
tons of love and service toward them,
in recognition Of all their rights, in
the Joy Of living with others and low
ing them.
The creeds of religion may lie be-
yond our comprehension; its forms
may seem meaningless to us and it's
emotional expressions repellent, but
here is a form of religion that all may
understand and practice; here are re-
ligious acts that all may do; they lie
next to us in daily living, simple, usu-
ally easy done and yet far-reaching in
their potency. The mystery Of the
love Of the Most High will solve itself
as man gives himself to the loving
service of his brother man.
If only for while we might learn
this way of living, the way shown by
the life that gave itself in services for
all lives; if only we might see life
inst as the chance to love and help,
us seeking the highest good for all,
the wonder would not be so much In
the good that would come to us as In
the new joy and fullness in living we
ourselves would find