The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-19
The therapeutics
Of Joy
By ri. REV. SAMUEL FALLOWS,
D. D., LII. D.
Chicago, Illinois

Inc BlDle is q WoHuellul AelaPSu
tic book. From the viewpoint of the
new evangelism of health and happi-
ness it is a new book. A flood OF light
is poured from its pages upon the sur
passing problems Of the spiritual re-
generation of both the physical, men
tai and social life of man. These are
the fundamental notes of the present
mighty movement for the complete
deliverance of the race from the
thralldom of baleful unrest and In
hibiting disease.
The inspired word chimes IN with
the latest teachings of science regard
ing the great influence of JOY upon the
human frame. Joy imparts strength
for it belongs to a happy family which
numbers c~heerfulnesS, gladness, mlrtn'
fulness, contentment, pleasure and de-
light among its members. 1t excites
the whole muscular system. 1t In.
creases the activity Of all the vital
functions. 1t quickens the pulse,
brightens the eye, fushes the cheek
and nerves the arm. 1t makes play
oil work. 1t removes fatigue, while
stimulating all the powers of body and
mind.
Darwin has told us in the expression
Of the emotions in Man and Animals
that with animals Of all kinds the &C.
uuirement of almost all their pleas
ures, with the exception Of those OF
warmth and rest; have long been asso-
ciated with active movements, as IN
hunting in the search after food and
other kindred things.
Joy, therefore, naturally shows 1t.
self in manifestations of strength. me
nostrils are Gilatted, the angles of the
mouth, the eyelids and the eyebrows
are raised, all indicative OF potential
actual energy.
Joy acts powerfully upon all the d.
gestive processes and works a trans
formation upon the %jaundiced dyspep-
tic. 1t expands the lungs which have
been contracted as If by the strong
grip of a giant hand through sadness
or disappointment. The sigh OF melan'
choly is changed to songs OF gladness,
With the change comes the deepening
and expanding of these vital organs
and the oxygenating and enriching Of
the blood.
While we Americans are an active
people, we are, as a rule, a Joyless
people. We act as though we were
driven like slaves to our tasks. we
take our pleasures on a boverish run.
Obseryant foreigners have noticed
this rarity of Joy upon our faces. They
see, as a keen philosophic writer
among us has seen, lines Of thought,
and of care and of fear-money lines.
shrewd, grasping lines, but how few
happy lines" 1t would seem as If the
rarest feeling that ~lightened our
c~ountenances was the genuine n
tentment of a loving, joyful soul.
It looks also as though our religion
did not agree with us. We make of 1t
weights instead Of wings. We nave
gloomy thoughts of ourselves, of God,
of our earthly existence, of Jul fellow
men, of the life to come. We hang
our harps upon the willows. We think
this world to be a prison house. we
say we cannot sing the songs OF Zion
in this strange land.
But this world is our home. our
school, our workshop, u temple. we
have been placed in it by almighty
wisdom, power and love. We are the
children of the Heavenly Father. And
the 10y of Jehovah is to be our
strength-the joy that He is the ever
watchful, ever providing, ever loving
one-God over all blessed fovever'
more.
Too many of us. as some one has
said, think black is the color o I
heaven and the more we can a
u faces the color of midnight, the
more evidence we have OF grace"
What a supreme mistake we are max
i-r True religion is sunshine and
loneliness. The New Testament in
terpress and emphasizes the Old. The
historical Christ, the real,
divine Christ. not a Christ e~Vaporated
into rothinereec nv ~" ~ ~'
lions of an erratic philosopher, says:
These words have | slD">- -..'" ..0d
that my Joy might remain in you and
that YOUR. Joy might be full" This
fullness of Joy in the heart makes life
and death radiant with brightness.
7 visited the home of a bereaVed
Christian who had forgotten the Chris
tian teachings of that New Testament
to "reioice in the LORD always" The
room on the north side Of the house
had every window darkered Win
heavy shades. She was clothed IN
garments of blacklist black. The lines
of her face were drawn down. The
room was a fearsome, chilling tomb.
Nothing could be more antithetical OF
a Christians attitude and environ.
ment.
Not until I had thrown the curtains
I'D and let the blessed light stream In
could I speak the words of comfort,
of hope and Of assurance. Think Oh
such a Christians understanding OF
the command of the light-brinSing
Christ. LET your light shine" Her
light was turned to Egyptian dark
ness, which could be felt"
There is no light to stream over
land or sea like the light of JOY. 1t
must pour itself out amid sorrows and
trials and tribulations. 1t is the one
alchemy that can turn the bssest
metals into pure gold.