The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-03-06
Facts by the Wayside.

To THE EDITOR OF IHE JOURNAL. One
Sunday evening was spent listening to a
talk by Mrs. Davis, A. NJ. lady high
up in W. c. 7. U. work In attempting
to impress upon the audience the import
ance of having vision or sight OF the
future she cited dwarfed tree which
had been stepped on, and children OF the
slums as objects illustrating persons
without a vision. They are all among
the unfortunates of earth who fail OF
obtaining the richest treasures III lie.
Some inherit misfortune, but Tar more
people choose it, cherish and nourlsh II.
A house plant in the window win lts
side next the sun much more fully de-
veloped than the opposite side IS used TO
illustrate human development. The prize
fighter has developed his physical nature.
Some of our best scholars merely develop
the intellect. When we see a person
rolling on the floor in the fervor OF in
tense religious excitement, We see not
devoted follower of the meek and lowly
Nazerene but an emotional monstroslty.
A man with hoe may have vision,
but his soul must be centered not IN the
work he is doing, but in the law and love
of that Spirit which flowed to the world
through the person of Christ.
A few evenings later we listened to
lady just as earnest, just as honest, just
as sincere and devoted. She thought she
could see religion in religious excite
ment Doubtless it is the only means OF
reaching the class of people among
whom she is laboring. Jesus says "Who-
soever is not against US is for US; so
probably there is road leading straight
to the kingdom from different positions
in life. Her illustration of a first class
railroad ticket may have some appllca-
ton in advising to get the best religion
attainable But from the accounts We
have of the nature of Jesus we can safe
ly conclude that a second class ticket
would be sufficiently stylish for him.
The lady acknowledged that she got con-
verified after she thought she had been
Christian for years Possibly a third
conversion might produce growth enough
in Christian graces so that she could dis
pense with some of the feathers on her
hat and find that second class ticket
afforded a very comfortable means OF
travel. The part of the car shown by the
lady as an illustration of second class
travel was no truer to fact than it would
be to show person through the slums
of the city as an illustration of the city.
Many people have a false impression
of what it costs to live on train. In a
Great Northern dining car they will give
bread and butter free with twenty five
cent order, and that is all any person
needs when travelling. Some of the
eastern roads are not as thoughtful of
the needs of the common people.
At the Baptist church we are told that
man agrees with God in general ideals,
but rebels at the specific processes by
which those ideals are attained. The
iron on the anvil is far more shapeless
and uncomely than the bar of iron from
which il was hammered. But when the
process is finished the value of the bar
of iron will be greatly increased. This
is given as an illustration of the pro-
cesses by which human nature is refined
1t has been stated that the Bible is not
an authority on scientific subjects. Let
US examine the first chapter OF Genesis
ana see what there is about it unscien-
tifc. In its first day, or age, as repre-
sented IN the first five paragraphs, the
earth was a seethlng, mouten mass, in
which the waters now gathered IN the
ocean existed as vap0r III the atmos
phere. Toward the latter part of this
day, or age, the earth so far cooled and
the Watery vapor in the atmosphere so
far condensed that the rays OF sunlight
reached the surface of the earth. Dur
ing the second day, or age, as described
in the s s paragraphs, the watery vapor
OF the atmosphere so far condensed INTO
RAIN and fell to the earth that the clear
sky appeared. During the third day. or
age, as described in paragraphs 9-13. the
vegetable Kingdom was established under
the clear skies. During the 4h day, or
age. as found IN paragraphs - 10, il is
quite probable that the atmosphere first
became clear enough so that the feeble
light OF moon AMI stars first reached the
earth. During the fifth day, or age, as
found in paragraphs 1928, it is probable
that the ii h Of the sea and the fowls of
the air appeared. 1t is quite reasonable,
as there We're seeds Of plants from which
the birds might live. During the sixth
day, or age, in par agraphs % 81, the
animal Kingdom with man as lis ruler
appeared on the earth. And when we
behod the works OF man at the present
day We can scarcely all to conclude that
man now, as then, is created somewhat
in TIE image Of God though many do by
transgres5ion fail.
In the next three chapters Eve APP
pears, natures laws are violated, and
man becomes desperately wicked till the
Gay vi GSse u k3tLI4. MI ltlI men DtS dill W
Cali upor the name Of the Lord. In the
9Th chapter We have an enumeration Of
the generations from Seth to Noah.
Then WE have the food and something of
the intervening generations till Abra-
ham, the founder OF the Jewish nation,
appears in the 18th chapter. Without
the influence Of the Jewish people what
would nave been tie condition of the
world today? AS whole they We're a
wicked people, but there We're many
lights among them.
At the time of the establishment of
the burnt offering the chosen people of
God were as rude and savage at heart as
our American Indians when Columbus
first came here. They could not con-
ceive of a God different in nature from
themselves. Hence, God was to them
hard-hearted, unforgiving Being. de-
manding the death of every sinner or
substitute. Thus the Jewish law was
established to lead people to Christ,
more enlightened leader. If Jesus had
appeared on the earth before the inven-
ton of written language, his work
would have been largely lost. 1t is
significant fact that he appeared at
time when Pagan civilization was at the
zenith of its glory. Unchristian nations
have never equaled the Roman Empire
of his day.
In the presentation of the Christian