The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-22

books and public entertainments. and
ignores the simple joys which God has
provided in His great out-of-doors-
There are persons who VIII spend five
dollars and stay half the night in or
der to hear an opera, who will not get
up an hour or two earlier in the
morning. or spend ten cents car fare,
in order to hear the carclling of ma
lures feathered chorus amid the glor-
1ous scenery of an awakening day.
Such persons, though, would not be
voted wise by any jury. Our times are
emphasizing the beauty and happiness
of life out of doors, where God seems
nearer and more beautiful than any
where else.
I often think. when working over
my plants, of what Lipneaus once
said of the unfolding of a blossom:
Il saw God in His glory passing near
me, and bowed my head in worship"
John Fiske.
Natures lessons are AL simple but
profound. The greatest truths are the
clearest. If we dwell more upon the
essential principles of life, applying
them at every point to character and
conduct, we should have less need for
speculation concerning truths minor
ramihcations.
The Diety, revealed in the process
Of evolution, is the ever-present God
without whom not sparrow falls to
the ground, and whose voice is heard
in each whisper of conscience, even
while His splendor dweIls in the white
ray from yonder star that began its
earthward flight while AbrahAm's
shepherds watched their 1ocks.=From
Through Nature to Cod
''Sure He that hath made US with such
large intent
Looking before and after,
Gave us not these Godlike qualities
To rust in US unused
Marveling at the wonders of ma
ture ones thought is carried back for
the moment to that morning of the
world when God looked upon His
work and saw that it was good That
it is world of perfect harmony and
unSullied beauty who car doubt as
he strolls through the SINNER field Z?
AS our thought plays lightly with it's
sights and sounds there IS nothing but
gladn eSS in the laugh of the bobolink;
the thrush's tender note tells only
of the sweet domestic companionship
of the nest; creeping and winged
things emerging from their grubs fill
US with the sense of Astounding life.
Thus the delight becomes. deepensd
into gratitude and generation, till we
cence of nature should in all ages
have aroused men to acts of worship.
-Fiske.
Do not merely glance, but consider
carefully the deeper meanings Of ma
lures manifestations. Jesus tried dill
igently to open the eyes of his friends
to the significance of what they saw.
There is no training for helpfulness,
and no pleasure greater than the pow
er of observation. To the person with
seeing eyes all the passing show Of
life and all the theater of natures op-
erations, becomes an exhaustless
source of entertainment.
Thou who hast set Thy dwelling fair
With flowers beneath, above with
starry lights,
And set Thy affairs everywhere-
On mountain heights,
In woodland valleys dim with many a
dream,
In valleys bright with springs,
And in the curving capes of every
stream;
Thou who hast taken to Thyself the
wing
OF morning to abide
Upon the secret places of the sea,
And on far islands where the tide
Visits the beauty of untrodden
shores,
Waiting for worshipers to come to
Thee
In Thy great out-of-doors!-
To Thee turn, to Thee make my
prayer,
God of the Open Air!
yy,v, T9-zF-