Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-02-25
Edgerton's
IF arm

copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
citation. This matter must not be re-
printed without special permission.]
Seed Sowing.
like to think of all the world as
soil for good seed. To sow such seed
would be farming worth while.
After thought germ leaves us we
know not where the winds will blow
1t nor where 1t will take root. Our
only concern is that it be right
thought, helpful suggestion. Then
we can rest In the confidence that
somewhere in the wide fields of hui
man hearts it will find lodgment, grow.
blossom and bear fruit.
To sow such seed only for the good
of others, without hope or possibility
of any return for self, it seems to me,
is the most satisfying work a soul can
do 1t may be that the writing of
humble column like this may furnish
an opportunity for such seed sowing.
What l long to do above all other
things is to scatter abroad sugges-
tions of the Christ life. To fill all ma
tions with peace, with health. with
light, with brotherhood, with beauty
and with higher, sweeter and gentler
civilization would be a work worth
while. 1t is to such ends that would
have my life work directed. There is
so little can do, and yet no one could
work with more of love and earnest
ness. Then feel that God also moves
toward these goals, and with his help
even l may do something. To be
through with petty aims. with tempo
rary causes, with narrow or selfish
plans, and to devote all ones thought,
heart and soul to this larger effort
can conceive no happiness higher than
this. To go forth as the husbandman,
spreading broadcast such sentiments.
were a seed sowing indeed.
/ have LETT behind me all hopes ex
cept that of bringing the Christ dream
on the earth. This is my single desire,
my only goal, my one aspiration. God
has made it so that through page like
this l may work to such ends and yet
|. may receive enough so that the souls
given into my care may not suffer. 1t
is enough He has done it, and it is
but a small return on my part to dedi-
cate my life to him and his work. 1t is
poor enough offering; but, such as it
is, all of it is his. There is nothing
new in saying such a thing. only
mean it. The world is hungering for
the bread of the spirit, for the water
of truth. Long enough has it been
given husks of form and empty COB
let's. The cups were beautiful, inlaid
with silver and gold and rich with
Jewels, but there was in them no wa
ter. Better a gourd, better a followed
hand, better a flowing stream with no
vessel of form at all, than such empty
cups Water is the symbol of Gods
pure. truth 1t is that for which the
world is thirsting. A cup of cold wa
ter is the most precious gift we can
bestow. But to be cold it must be
freshly drawn from the spirit. Not
truth drawn ages ago, not secondhand
truth, but truth of today-that is what
the famished souls need. l can give
but little, but such as l am able to
give goes with a good will.
The spirit must be free. 1t cannot be
subject to any man-made form or ma
terial bondage whatsoever. We must
follow truth utterly without regard to
the effect on self and with no lower
consideration or motive. There is
naught in my soul except the desire
for this. God knows the hearts of
men, For reasons l know not he has
implanted the impulse in me, and | go
to the work-only to teach the simple
truth as l see it-that is all; only to-
love God and man purely and to seek
the advancement of every good cause:
only to desire the progress of every
land and of every soul in that land
only to have no selfish purpose in my
life or my heart; only to leave behind
every unworthy habit, every form of
sense qualification, every aspiration
except for that which God may give
me- And l do it, no one knows how
gladly. Never a child ran to his play
never a lover went to his sweetheart
with more Joy than go to the simple,
inconspicuous and unrewarded work
of the spirit. | can only scatter the
seed. Others may reap the harvest.