The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-31

.----s--....--.-----...-.u-.... ures of the planet to the seeker after | the things of sense-all these are good enough in their place. but they are no part no necessary part of our life. Plain living and high thinking far ex- cells high living and no thinking.
 A Woman and Man.
 When President Eliot was in New in the Athenaeum. He walked down the aisle at the head of a long pro- cession. tall erect, slender, plainly clad, noble specimen of the simple, catholic man, who Is a citizen of all climes, at home in all ages, the broth CT of all thinkers. our greatest apostle of culture. At the other end of the procession there came a pale woman of 70, arrayed in all the finest products of the French art, her lips and cheeks painted, dazzling diamonds flashing from a gorgeous necklace and from aI- most every finger, her every bearing that of one whose life consisted not only in the abundance but also in the display of the things she possessed. Here were the two extremes-the one living In the things that are seen. the other in the things that are hidden from the vulgar gaze. The things that are seen are but an infinitesimal part of the whole.
 "rhe five thousand stars that Abra- ham thought innumerable are now multiplied into tens of hundreds or thousands and twenty to thirty mil- Hon of suns besides. Beyond thee con- fines of what we know as matter there are said to be countless particles bombarding space and it's contents with unthinkable rapidity. The elements of the dew drop hitherto thought to be at rest are now found to be moving with more than eaVnou-balI speed. The world of sense has been expanded by scientific apparatus into marvellous reaches. And yet all that is seen is but a tiny cluster of stone floating on the bosom of an infinite invisible, si- lent sea. And the quest for the mas. tery of all that can be reached by our senses Is doomed to three vanittes-- disappointment in pursuit, uncertainty in possession, dissatisfaction in enjoy ment. ...
 Therefore, the soul that is without access to the hidden world is as poor as lone millionaire stranded on bar ren rocks in unknown seas. forsaken and forgotten. The mightiest factor in this hidden world Is the spiritual, and the mightiest factor in the interpreta- ton of the spiritual Is the Christ. Apart from all theories of his match less Personality, none can escape the feeling that He lived, moved and had Ills being among ultimate things. His teachings are unique in the literature of the world in that they bring us a sense of God as a Person, here present In the world actually bringing things to pass, having constant dealings with us and reacting in personal love when we respond to His appeal, in that they bring us also the sense of the eternal, the universal and the absolute; in that they bring us the sense of certainty; in that their perspective is perfect, never falling below and missing exact pro- portion, emphasis, and relations. sweep ing the whole horizon and touching on- ly the vital and that with exquisite precision in that they look down upon the whole world from the viewpoint of l the highest parallels and out of heart that neither repented nor aspired; in that they are fontal. only few drops l out of boundless abyss; In that they bring us the satisfying sense of fpali- ty. beyond which there Is nothing; in that they appeal to all there Is in us, sounding the souls awful deeps, pene- | trating its sacred mysteries, catches It's shifting moods. compasses its meas ureless areas, and turns It's restless l tides homeward; in that they are self | authenticating, finding us, not with an
 
 forth the splendors of the hidden life with such enchanting beauty that the | dead in spirit come out of their graves | to listen. But back of the Teacher Is | the most tremendous Personality that evor touched the planet. still living among men though centered in God and therefore out of sight of the "'Closer Is He than breathing. and nearer than hands and feet
 And with Him they too are centered in God and value all things from the standpoint of His will. as interpreted to them by the Master.
 "This Ascended Life which Is reach ed by a resurrection, surrenders to the highest Ideals, creates congenial world, and belongs to the invisible or- der, appropriates and uses the Living Christ. Christ Is the noblest asset of the Christian. His constant cry is:
 Rock of ages, cleft for Me,
 Let me hide myself in Thee" Other religions might glean from the literature of mankind enough truth to show them the way. They might work out theory of life, a system of eth- ics, even a method of worship, and find the way to the Father, but none actu- ally can come to Him /who leave the Christ out. And therefore the preach ing of the Christ Is the salvation oi
 the world. Not expounding theories
 about Him. but preaching Him. Not
 even the Bible can save. The ulti-
 mate source of life and authority IS
 not in a book but in a person. The
 book is indispensable because 1t came
 out of religion and helps to religion
 to Him above all. The reaching oi
 Him and using Him in daily living SC
 as to interpret Him correctly to oth. CTS and win them to Him is our prob
 lATn.
 Our Supreme Call.
 "It may not be possible to make then think as we think; 1t may not be de
 sirable. But to bring them under th' , sway of his Person and make then loyal to his love is our supreme cali . 'sHe is our very life. Within tn