Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04
By Rev. Dr.. Floyd W. Tomkins.

HAVE on my desk two little books
which are large in their suggestive
ness. One is called THE Life That
Counts" written by the president Of
Wheaton Seminary, DR.. Samuel v. Cole.
It's complete character is summed up in
the preface when the author writes:
What counts is the good life; there Is
no other worth living. But whatever is
good, Is good for something beyond 1T
self: goodness in the abstract, goodness
isolated and unrelated, does not exist
The other book is. as it were, a proof OF
this statement of the first book. 1t is
called Putting the Most Into Lifes' and
is written by DR.. Booker T. Washington.
founder of Tuskegee Institute. When one
remembers what DR.. Washington stands
the life that is worth while stands out
weak men and women occasionally ask:
els life worth living?"
OF course If the idea Of life which
man has is Of an existence free from pain
and struggle, with much Of pleasure and
an abundance of good things to satisfy
the censes, then this human life becomes
indeed. contradiction and an enigma
There is no denying that life is full Of
contest. exposed to deadly enemies, cloud
ed by. disappointment, and doomed to
heartache heavy just in proportion to
the mans noble longings and deep emo
ton. 1t is foolish to attempt to gloss
over the severity of true living. The AMI
NAL may lie in the sunshine or under the
tree shade with absolute repose of body;
but man, with soul which aspires. and
q mind which seeks. and body, to hold
both soul and mind, which is full of nerv-
out force responding In sympathy to the
he must suffer. But this very suffering
is proof Of life and of lifes nobility.
The chords that vibrate sweetest pleas
ure. and thrill the deepest notes Of woe
as Burns expresses it, are the result OK
high and pure blood, blood in which runs
the heroism Of the centuries. blood which
scorns low living and coarse association.
Excelsior 'Higher"-is ever the cry Of
true man. and even to get. rid of his
sufferings he would not for the world lose
splendid by its pain when such pain is
brought by search for lofty things,
great truths, noble endeavors. The cross,
which since Christ died has been the
endured for a glorious and eternal re-
suit. 1t means being in the minority,
sometimes being alone. misunderstood and
deserted by nearest and dearest. 1t means
a hidden self. with all it's WEAKNESS Of
hunger which no man knows or cares
how to supply with nourishment, kept
close in the breast, while 1t gives. gives.
gives with lavish and loving hand. 1t
means death at last when the heart
breaks with the force Of emotions the hui
man body can no longer endure. But 1t
means magnificent victory, mastery. an
entering into glory spelt in the better
lives Of men, the souls comforted, the
sorrows cheered-eternity itself singing
the story which earth can scarce COM
prehend! And so 1t means noble courage,
manliness and womanliness, gentleness-
all the fruits Of the Spirit which st. Paul
rehearses: Love. JOY. peace, long suf-
fering. gentleness., goodness. faith. meek
ness temperance"
There is a fine message In Mr.. Sill's
poem, quoted by DR.. Cole, entitled Dare
Your
Doubling Thomas and loving John
Behind the Others walking on
TELL me now John. dare you be
One Of the minority?
To be lonely In your thought,
Never visited nor sought.
Stunned with secret shrug, to go
Through the world esteemed Its foe;
xTo be singled ont and Missed,
Pointed al unbiased,
Warned against in whispers faint,
Lest the children catch q faint;
To bear OF your titles weil,-
Hereto and infidel?
II you dare, come now with ne.
Fearless, confident and tree"