Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-03-27

healed, sinners liberated from bond
age to evil habits, and other prac-
deal things done for the betterment
of humanity.
Nor is the desire for practical
things limited 10 religion, but mani
tests itself in desire to lind a pTac-
cal solution OF the problems of
life Man desires to know who he
is, where he came from, and where
he is going. He wants to know what
is true as regards sickness ard sin.
and death. He wants TO find out if
it is necessary for him to go on
forever suffering from those condi-
lions. In short, the same desire for
practical things that is responsible
for the steam engine, telephone, tele-
graph, and multitudes Of other use
full things is driving men forward to
try to find the truth about them
selves.
HUMAN EXISTENCE AN ENIGMA
Human existence is an enigma. AS
far back as, mortal man has left any
history OF himself We find that he
has been engaged in an effort to
solve this problem. To aid him in
his efforts he has founded religions
many of them. He has devised
many systems for healing the sick.
He has built schools and endowed
societies for research, and has in
voked the aid of physical science. He
has been industrious and painstak-
ing, and has faithfully adhered to
whatever thing seemed for the time
being to offer solution. 1t must be
admitted, however, that none OF these
things have solved the problem.
When we look at the question from
the physical standpoint We find that
humanity enjoys some sunshine, and
goes through much shadow; that 1t
suffers and dies, and that these con-
ditions have continued from the beg1
ming of human history. We read
about progress in medicine and sur
gerry and begin to hope for better
things. but these hopes have never
been realized. After four thousand
years under the drugging system we
are forced 20 admit that not one dis
ease has been permanently eradi-
Gated. In fact, there are more dis
eases today than there were five nun
dred years ago, and every year AIDES
to their number.
When we look at the question
from a theological standpoint We see
that there are more than one hun
dred and fifty different Christian
denominations. They. all use the
same Bible and worship the same Go
and yet they differ as to what the
Bible teaches. They officer as to
doctrines, ordinances and modes of
worship. In some cases the differ
ences are of such character that IL
some be right others must be wrong.
BY thus multiplying creeds man has
not arrived at absolute truth nor mas
he been delivered from evil.
Jesus said Come unto me all We
that labor and are heavy laden ana
| will give you rest" but in spite CT
the consecTated, loving and fhthful
efforts of religious workers there
are as many tears today as there
were two thosuand years ago. The
sum of human woe has not diminish
ed. Sadly and sorrowfully humanity
looks back at the efforts OF magnifl-
cent and earnest men and women an.
is forced to admit that mateT1ol medl
cine and scholastic theology have
failed to solve the human problem
though diligently tried through many
centuries.
Nothing could induce ME TO say
a harsh or an unkind word against
the clergy or against the members
of the medical profession. A large
majority of them have labored faith
fully and conscientiously to bring
peace and health to mankind, and
none have grieved more than they
when their efforts We're not attended
by success. In face of these things,