Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-24

1t 10 the nature Of tho vine to grow
upward. 1t springs from lowiy
origin. it's roots are in the ground. but
embodied In It's nature is a mysterious
but Irresistible impulse which draws It
up toward the skies. Philosophy may
not be able to explain this upward ten
dency giants hand cannot pluck It
out OF tho nature OF the vino. 1t Is tho
ordination OF God. So man may be
lowly and ephemeral. but his nature
is 10 grow upward. too. TO find God
and an eternal home in other worlds.
This is the secret Of the great ethnic
religions which have risen. They are
the upward working of mans higher
nature. We cannot overlook this re-
ligious tendency OF the race. II Is one
OF the historic influences which have
tended to the advancement and cleva-
ton Of mankind 1t Is not artificial or
accidental. but a universal law of
mans being which was ordained by
Immortality.
q
prop. II reaches out it's tendrls to
clasp some support: In the absence Of
better help. II clings TO the hot. d.eary
wall or twines around the dead and
decaying tree.
SOUL OF MAN
MUST HAVE SUPPORT
So the soul must have support
This Is the origin Of those matchless
ha
cate tracery Of spire and au,ed column
was as a trellis on which the soul
could lit Itself UP TIL 1t blossomed at
the very pinnacle. But what is the
true prop OF the soul? II Is the cross
OF Christ. Twining around that cross
the soul reaches It's highest life and
bears IT'S sweetest fruit. and God
gathers the nobleSt vintage. To grow
upward the soul cannot cling 10 marble
temples or feed on rituaiism. But TO
fu!til its nature the vine requires con-
tinual nourishment
50 II sends it's roots deep down into
the ground. When II has extracted all
the help earth can give. 1t lifts It's head
toward heaven, turns its face TO the
sun. the qu!vering OF every leaf an
inar,icula,e prayer, heard and answered
by God out Of His fuilness SO the vine
grows. two worlds tributary TO It's
growth. earth laying her treasures at
It's feet. heaven giving the sunshine
and tho shower. sprinklins its brow
niShtlr with the baptism OF the dew.
MIs1 he DiLIGENr
IN MEANS OF GRACE
- II We would thriv. spiritually
We must be Giligcnt in the use OF nc
means OF grace Do we not often
ano" business or pleasure 20 encroach
upon the time we should devote TO the
cultivation OF tho soul I. any shado,'
comes between the sun and he vine
its graceful and lofty head oroops 10
10 ground. its fruits fail and its
leaves withcr. II We allcw :he world
{" come between us and cod the soul
is Swallowed; II becomes barren and
unfruitful; it's spiritual III" Is Gwa!fo,:
and .tunted. This is ! lesson the
young Christian should heed in the
rush and pleasure OF modern life
The vine needs the aruning knife
~ IT'S keen ,d.se gli,te-s In the sun. it
may seem merciless The largest
branches may he rutniessiy cnt away
10 wither on the ground. and the hear,
Of the vine silently blccds But tho
hushardinan :. only seeking its good.
that /; may "eIch a higher aud more
fruitful life AMI attain ,icrf-rt beauty
and symmetry. Have you been called
to suffer? In the brightness o. Our
life have you seen tn. Hash OF Gods
pruning knife Has II shorn through
some affection OF YOU soul, Is the
britht flower vitherirG In thu grave?
VALUE OF TEMPESTS As
WELL AS OF SUNSHINE
1t may be all the energy OF your
life was flowing into the lower nature.
clustering around some earthly object.
and God takes II away that your af-
lection may be drawn up and twined
around heaven. To attain its highest
most fruitful life the soul needs 10 be
rocked by the tempest as well as kissed
by the sunshine. BE patient and trust
full. How often parents have found
God around the coffin OF little child.
The vine sometimes reaches great
age, chambers over the home and
weaves it's crown above the door
through which the members of the
family are borne to the grave, one by
one. But its life Ia limited; a worm
is gnaw!ng at it's roots: II bears seed
of death In it's bosom. Not so the soul.
It shall never die. Transplanted to
heaven, lifting its head higher and
higher. twining its glorified affections
around God, II shall continue to grow
in knowledge, holiness and happiness.
rejecting the image of the Creator.
wonderful paradox. forever approx
mating, never realizing. its divine ideal.