Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-01-08


af been able to dem
- 2AAa2sl onstrate a fourth
dimension. AS far
back as Plato's day the idea was sug-
gested, and recently a twelve-year-old
boy attempted automatically to
demonstrate it before the professors
of Harvard university
When, however, we pass from the
realm Of the physical to the spiritual.
we find this idea clearly expressed in
our text The humble bowling of the
Apostles knees at the beginning of
this matchless prayer, and the limtless
heights of glory" transcend our hu.
man capacity of comprehension. In
the center of this stands the text, as
though Paul, pausing at some vantage
point, would look to the right 81 the
left, backward and upward, al ex-
claim, "Oh, that you might compre-
bend the breadth, the length, the
depth and height of the love of
Christ" Let us apply these four meas
urements to our lives.
l. Breadth. We pride ourselves upon
breaking from provincialism and mar.
rowness, and that the world is laid
upon our breakfast table each morn
ing; but unless our activities are also
quickened of what benefit is our
worldwide vision? Our big cities are
provincial. Many New Yorker thinks
the world begins at the Battery and
ends at Yonkers. There are scores in
Chicago as absolutely ignorant of the
resources, need or people of China,
japan or even Europe as they are of
the planet Mars, yet they say take
care of the home field before you do
anything for foreign missions" We
need not only world vision, but more
breadth Of vision of the problems of
labor, social and civic life.
II. Length. Persistence, stick-to-it-
iveness. A gentleman was asked why
so few great clergymen in America.
and his reply was, America is in too
great hurry" OF course perspective
leads to a wrong estimate of great
ness, but certainly we need more min
listers who are "forth-tellers" of Gods
message to lost men. When clergy
and laity learn to think through to a
conclusion these questions of ethics,
reform, world needs and, most impor-
tant of all, the needs of the human
soul. and will apply themselves to
these problems with persistence and
abandon, we shall have clergy and
laity whose leadership will never be
called in question.
Ill Depth Americans are fond of a
good front" but have we correspond
ing depth? Study our cheap front ar
chltecture, music, business and waste.
Are we right on fundamentals? Our
thinking must stand upon a better
foundation than the shifting sands of
philosophy. Our statements of life
be based upon more enduring ground
than the nebulous unstable assertions
Of false science. Our commercial fab
ric must be built upon a more stable
basis than that of eypediency. Our
moral code must be less concerned
with pleasure seeking externals and
consist more OF rectified purified. re-
deemed lives of honesty and integrity.
w. But Paul had fourth dimen-
sion, "the heights Of glory"-the God
side of life We all respond to the
suggestion of a world vision because
of our business relations. We spell
success with a dollar mark Material
success does demand a world vision
and a concentration that is sapping
the vigor Of our manhood. But we
do urge upon all to measure his life
by his fourth dimension, the love Of
God that passeth knowledge. Who
can span the extent of breadth? Who
can find the ultimate end Of length or
plumb the lowest bottom OF all depth
or measure the uttermost limits of the
heights of Gods love for US In Christ
Jesus? A love that was willing to
empty himself and to become obedient
unto death, even the death OF the
cross.
when survey the wondrous Cross
On which the Prince of glory died;
My richest gain l count but loss,
And pour contempt on All my pTlue.
Let us lift our eyes from the ma
terial to the spiritual. This vision is
the transforming vision that led forth
the prophets Of old and that moved
Martin Luther and every other great
reformer. This vision was the power
giving vision Of Dwight L. Moody,
Frances Willard and all Of the rest.
This was the peace giving, healing
vision of Florence Nightingale and
that has coH1forted the hearts of the
saints throughout the ages amidst ell
the vicissitudes of life.
Measure your life by this and you
win indeed "be filed unto all the full
ness Of God"