The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-03-29

not know. Still. II it be taken only
az a fancy, an ideal, 1t suggests
something.
Suppose that we, last and all.
should say Of every event in our life
and neighborhood, Of everything
striking US. our kindred, our neigh
bors, should cay with honest conf
dence, "The good God has done It,"
what would be the result In our
thinking and action? Well, there
would be a pervading quietude, q
tranquil acceptance Of things as they
are, suppression Of clamorous COM
plants. q broad and serene contem-
plation, rather than a narrow and
noisy struggle. Which would be i'm
present living.
To say Of everything. "The good
God has done 1t" is far wiser and
cheerier than to say that God does
nothing-that we and we o1ly shape
our career; that all which occurs on
earth Is due merely to the wheels OF
a soulless mechanism or to the Inn
pulses of q vagrant human will.
And 80, the novels>t's portrayal Of
the peace and kindy .e,s> Of his imag-
ined community, Of ha. -dy, unvex-
ed days, its glad dwelnS r.. the sun
shine, its sturdy enduraAAt N the
snow. seems little, IL at alf% q >er-
ated. \H. =
To say "The good God has done
is to be delivered from feverish an3S
iety and rancorous repining, from
vain attempts and useless wrestling.
To feel that "The eternal God Is
our refuge and underneath are the
eternal arms" and to "smile to think
Gods greatness flows around our in
completeness with our restlessness
his rest" is to have benediction
on all Joy and place in all sorrow.
1t is to be freed from apprehension,
and to be stable in prosperity and
adversely alike.
"The good God has done it," What
talisman against disconteht! And
yet, in its full and literal sense, 1t is
not true. 1t is not true that we may
turn away from every occurrence.
however painful, sad or vile. with the
facile, soothing and acquitting COM
ment, THE good God has done it."
For there is much on this earth
which God has not done, except as
he, for purposes of wide reach and
mysterious content. has allowed 1t to
be done. OF course, nothing happens
without Gods permission. The bird,
struck by stone from some vicious
boy, does not fall forgotten by God.
The burglars, who creep into house
and leave it's inmates dead, are not
unseen by the omniscient eye, al
though not smitten by the omnipotent
hand.
All the low, beastly, cruel damna-
BILE deeds which every day discloses
in the circliug of the globe could not
be done IL God chose to interfere and
forbid. Yet shall we say Of them,
"The good God has done it," Why,
this were blasphemy. What could
the term good" mean as applied to
SUCH a '.Deity-to, One who intended
such wickedness and shame? st
No! Charming as may be the
Canadian village. justly as we may
acclaim its sweetness and its peace,
all based on the confession, "The
good God has done It," yet we must
deny the truth Of that confession. II
1t be applied to all the chances.
phases and doings Of human life.
We may, we should, as we watch
the unrclling of fern frond. the op-
ening of rose. declare. "The good
God has done It." We may, we
should, as we gaze on the flush Of
sunset clouds, the many-twinkling
laughter OF the sea, the many peaks
Of serrated mountains, declare "The
good God has done :t.". We may. we
should, as we review the noble deeds
of men. their generosity, their self
sacrifice, the sanctity Of homes. the
splendor Of states. declare, 'The good
God has done It."
Yes: and we may. we should. as
we pass by the beds Of pain and
through the rooms Of grief, declare,
"The good God has done It."
For all such acknowledgements Of
delight and for all such justification
of salutary hurt. we have the text,
Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above" Yes, however
we may plume ourselves on our dar-
ing, that is the simple fact. Every
thing fine, noble, satisfying, enduring,
has come, not from the mass Of mat
ter, but from above, from the Father
Of Light. Which means simply that
the Mind, creative Of all, fixed on the
eternal design, is the source Of every
good and perfect gift which sun or
earth gives to us creatures or which
we give to one another.
And It also means that whatever
imperfect or evil may impinge on our
life does not proceed from him. He
allows it to happen; but he does not
shape and send 1t.
He-to sum up-has established a
world where men may, very largely,
do as they please. Why. We cannot
fully explain. But the fact IL 80, and
we can see it. Therefore, we can see
how not all things and events on
earth are good, and how not all are
to be acquiesced in with the easy
formula. "The good God has done It. u