The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-28
To the Members of
The Washington
Herald
OptimiSt Club

Now that the New Year Is upon
us. and I suppose most of us have
made our good resolutions. / haeV
thought that perhaps IL might be
well IL we all, for mutual help,
indulge In a little examination To
see the meaning of the faith that
Is ia Us. And so for the OptimiSts'
page for Sunday, January 5, i
have selected for our subject;
THE MEANING OF OPTIMISM.
think that most of Us who
have declared faith in optimism
have, In our souls, "A pretty fair
idea of what we mean when We
say that we desire 10 live hope
fully and helpfuiiy. and are de-
termined Ia do what lays in our
power 10 make the world "A hap
pier place in which to live. But
perhaps some of us do not quite
realize the conclusions To which
consistent optimism must lead
us-cORclusiOns which will show
inevitably that optimism is akin
10 Christianity, and that without
the Christian virtues. prHcticed
and believed. pessimism Is inevi-
table. EagiesfieId has in Books
TriumphantT put this matter very
clearly;
"a study of our limitations con-
duceS 10 clearer knowledge of
our own natures, and enables as
the more practically 10 handle
our resources. Ii leads also to "a
belief ia the wisdom OF existing
things, 20 n healtkful optimism,
and from the perniCiOus influence
of the Pessimism which hangs
like banefuI cloud over the
minds of so many to-day. Optim-
ism - a plain Inference of the
existence of God, and IL Is a hope
ful tendency of the times that II
ia also gradually creeping into an
creeds. IL seems 40 be generally
mat AANN-
ing out of creedsI they no longer
emphasize their importance, and
the life of II Christian is lived far
more on the lines, laid down by
Christ than ever before. Christ was
the greatest OPtimist. The virtues
which He most strenuOusIy taught
are the very ones the Opfimists
most admire. Life was a simple
thing to Him; IL should be 10 all
Of US, and il has been, in that
sense. 10 the greatest minds. Most
men call Plato the high priest
of optimism, and IL was surely
what we consider Christian vir-
tues that made him so. The
Christian religion is the most
cheerful; In fact, the only cheer
ful religion, and it will always
be matter of profound wonder
that IL could have been distorted
and perverted as ID has been Men
have studied their Bibles 10 extract
theTefrOm creedS which would fit
the unhealthfuI elias of their own
minds, and they were, IL must be
confessed, very successful when
we think of the horror Of belief
in the eXpedience of the inquIki-
ton or the gloom and despair of
Calvin'S dOetrinaI points,
Then, too, a study Of our IinI-
tHtiOns will teach us that, as
worry is good thing 10 avoid,
50 there are many things we
worry about that need not really
concern Us. Why should We spec
ulnte. TO our own minds discOn-
fort, ON the insOiubie problems of
existence: Surely there il no use
In travelling down the dark and
devious lanes of doubt and fear
when Before as shining lies the
brORd, sunny road of everyday
life. Travelling that road. xe
must try 10 avoid the miry places,
keeping our feet clean ami I'M
trammeledi 81, too. we must keep
our minds free and clean from
cherries doubts, and keep our
intellects sweet and healthfuI and
wholesome.
Contributions on this subject
should be la hand not later than
Wednesday, january 4. Two
prizes for the two best essays
will he awarded; 50 each.
Wishing every faithful member
of the club very happy New
Year. / beg 10 remain yours, fra
ternally, THE OPTIMIST.