The Dolores star., 1913-05-02
INFLUENCE OF fear
oGcoNoARv AND NOT a PRIMARY
MOTIVE m HtoHGR REALMS
o. HUMAN ACTIVITY.

~ - - sN&WtB8 49,
Just been discussing the influ.
ence OF fear ~ an incentive TO
human action. The conclusion has
been drawn that II must remain - .
powerful factor In the evolution Of
the race.
Within certain Limitations fear must
ever be an active element In Ito re-
iations TO conduct and character. But
those limitations are very narrow.
Fear must be q secondary and not .
primary motive In the higher realms
3f human activity. In the lowest
realms II ID purely instructive and has
been given us for preservation from
physical danger The fear Of pain
and disease has resulted In the spien.
lid efforts which have been made to
'uli the one and overcome the other.
Gut In the moral sphere II must give
place to higher and holier impulses.
Chllsren In their education must not
se driven with the "bir stick" to learn
md obey. There may be rare excep
lions. but the exceptions prove the
rule. The fear Of the results Of mis-
conduct must and do hold many men
n obedience to the law OF their being
and Of society. But II 10 a low spe-
lies OF fear. The history Of civilisa'
Ion proves how terrible and degrad.
ing has been the fear both OF nature
md Of God which has held barbaric
people In the thrall OF superstition
The whole trend OF Christian teach.
ng has been to emancipate them from
lts influence. II will not do In our ad
sanced civilization to bring back all
he terrifying descriptions Of unspeak
able physical torture to hold men In
the path Of virtue.
Love Means Power.
The fear which causes men to srovel
md to call upon the rocks and noun
aims to hide the face OF its possessoi
rom the God Of heaven and earth
which Ruskin SO eloquently delineates
we are to avoid. But the iilial fear
which 10 prompted by the very love
Itself Of the highest and holiest which
God can inspire must be experienced
The profoundest psychology 10 con
tanned In the language Of st. Paul in
iealing with the whole subject OF fear
He says: God hath not given u the
spirit Of fear. but Of power and Of love
and OF q sound mind"
Fear In the moral and spiritual -.
pect robs = man Of power. II means
weakness. timidity. Instability. mac
ton. To be girded with Unwearied
and unconquerable force. TO be nerv'
Gus. muscular. brawuy. strong. to have
the wrestling thews that throw the
world" We must away with Sad doubt
and anxious fear"
This spirit OF power must be unde,
the sway OF the spirit Of love. That
10 the overwhelmingly dominant prin
ciple Of the higher life. Even In what
We may term the lower life. Il must
be love. not fear. which controls men
and leads to the end In view. The love
OF gain lures some men on. The love
Of power. . mighty ambition. 10 the
master impulse In others, The love
Of adventure, which conquers every
"Hiil Di6culty" and opens up new
continents and islands. urges on the
eager discoverer. II 10 love. therefore
not fear. which thus moves the world
forward.
God 10 Love.
Il 10 love In the religious life which
10 to be supreme. Fear hath tor
ment: perfect love casteth out fear"
II 10 to proclaim the gospel Of love
that the heralds Of the cross are to &C
forth. They are to deliver those who
all their lifetime have been In the
bondage of fear.
The spirit OF 4 sound mind follows
the spirit Of love and power wheL
emancipated from the spirit Of fear
Ask the mental and the Christian the
rapeutist what retards the recovery
to saneness and soundness Of those
who seek his help. II 10 the spirit Of
fear. He has to encounter an almos,
innumerable host Of "phobias" or fears
which have harassed and weakened
and thrown out Of poise those who arr
praying for deliverance--fear TO walk
fear to eat. fear to work. fear te
sleep, fear Of heat. fear OF cold. feat
Of distance. fear Of misfortune. fear Of
living. fear Of dying. fear OF . thou
sand things besides. Fear 10 the fell
foe Of . sound mind. Out Of Tea,
Into love. into power.
Rooted and grounded In love 20 that
no base fear shall md = resting or o.
accompanying place--love Of God, Wit
himself 10 love: love Of the world b.
has made: love Of al the forces b
has placed In II for the happiness oil
his children: love Of man. whom h
has created In his own Image; love
Of Christ Jesus. who lived and died
that this love might food our entire
being-this 10 Christianity. Let Il
drive out forever the spirit Of fearl
0lPth