Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-25

guishsr. but . sun. The man who
comes under it, power will for the
hrst time begin to realize and exhibit
life in it, higher forms and wider
reaches. IT have come" said Jesus,
mot to throw the soul into comatose
condition. but to give It life abundant"
In the first place. because most evil \
dent to all observers, the religion which
our Lord taught invigorates the physi-
cal man. Christian nations are better
fed, better clothed, better housed than
the rest Of the world. A new book on
African exploration has been published
recently, and while written by an au-
thor not in sympathy with missionary
effort, even he bears witness that the
moment an African community begins
to live . christian life It energies from
tho kraal and establishes the home. The
first thing the native African thinks Of
when he wakes in the morning is the
question whether he will get q full meal
that day. In constant fear of starva-
ton he will not pass a snake or toad
or rat without adding it to his larder.
"A full dinner pail" is unknown to the
multitudes Of mankind apart from -.
ligion. Compared with all other lands,
bible lands are lands flowing with milk
and honey still.
Beyond this, as further illustrating
what Jesus meant, we note that the
faith he preached introduces an In
creased intellectual life to the globe.
Man has always possessed the possi-
bilities of tho orator, the poet. the
philosopher and the scientist, but 1t Is
only after christianity becomes diff
fused power that. the school liz univer-
sal, the arts and sciences common
property and literature and invention
diffuse their blessings on mankind.
Jesus Christ broadened the horizon OF
the mind, deepened the oceans Of its
speculative thought and lifted high into
an ampler ether and diviner air all
the aspirations Of his intellect. 1t is
in christian lands and in christian
lands alone that.
The meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep
for tears.
Further, we may say, life is meas
ured as to its fullness by its dynamics.
The measure of value in any religion
is not what peace 1t may bring to the
contemplative soul, but what power it
can give to men in the great world Of
action. The law, as law makes Moth
ing perfect, but the bringing in of
better hope develops the spiritual life
Of man so that new world seems to
have been created. The ideal chris
tan is not the mystic dreaming OF
paradise but the missionary winning
men to heavenly experience 2!nin
earthly environments. Life receives
new power when 1t is revealed to us as
a trust, a probation, an opportunity
for the exercise of love. Man Is no
longer the brother Of the worm, but the
child Of God, created for Immortality
and capable Of celestial graces even
here. God, as Jesus Christ reveals him.
is no longer some inscrutable. impas-
sive and impersonal power. but one
who cares for the falling sparrow and
feeds the young ravens when they cry.
With him the soul can walk in sweet"
est fellowship and by his presence oe
supported for large endeavor. The
spirit Of the master, infused into the
disciple, gives him new JOY, new
impulse, a new goal His end is not
to die upon some dung heap and rot
into nothingness, but to find in death
friend to lead him up to God. NO
wonder that under such new con.
ception Of the dignity and future OF
life existence blossomed as flowers be-
meath the sun. Under the power OF
Bible faith the physical man has be-
come new creature; under the Same
power the Intellectual man mas
achieved heights never before attained.
and the spiritual man has filled the
world with faith. hope and love
which to life had before been unknown.