The Alaska citizen., 1915-08-30
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SPIRIT TESTING.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God I John Al.
 While there is an unseen Heaven ly Father who rules our destinies, life largely what We make it. Every day is full Of good things or evil things because we have seen fit 10 choose the good or the evil in life. We are either pessimists or opti- mists from choice. A pesSimist be- ing one who, having the choice of two evils takes them both. An optimist knowing no evil, cannot but choose that which is good The pessimist does not declare there is no good in the world. he merely from choice takes the evil. The op- timist does not deny there is evil in the world. he likewise from choice takes the good. The one life is cursed from choice and the other is blessed from choice.
 It is generally conceded that the spirit and manner of doing thing is often greater than the thing done. The spirit that holds sway over the life is not always of the best sort, therefore We are admonished to believe not every spirit until We have tried it. and if it is from God o1- hn governs our individual life is not always of the highest character, or the desires which rule and control the actions of our daily life are of ten not the purest The actions of our life that flow from our spirit, motives and desires are very often called in question and in no way do they reflect credit upon us. All men have periods in their lives when success of ones life depends upon the spirit that characterizes, dominates, controls and rules that life day by day. Spirit, temper, manners, mo- tiyes have as much to do with races and nations. as with individuals and half the trouble of the world comes not from what is done. but from the spirit in which it is done. Spirit testing is not only helpful and a source of much profit, but it is imperative to the one who de sires real success in the world and in his own life
 There are two great opposing mo- tives in life. two methods of doing work-strife and love. competition and cooperation. honesty and dis honesty, and it is not difficult to say with which rests the hope of indi viduals. societies, organizations, and nations for higher and better things. The highest motive is always the strongest and best if we would only believe it We have long heard that honesty is the best policy but honesty is the only policy for the man who even hopes to win success.
 The question arises, 'Why should we take a low view of human na ture?' In the correct view of life service is the universal rule. He for the largest success known to men anywhere Then each man has a place in that service. If each es teemed others better than themselves, or as good. would not the stock of human happiness be greatly in creased? There is plenty of room in the world for happiness, and the space will never be crowded. Men are learning that the spirit of evil has too long ruled upon earth, and that it should be supplanted by the spirit of God. Paul would teach his hear CTS as much, and tells them to try the spirits, and not to pronounce them good unless they bring forth the fruit of goodness. The devil has been masquerading as "an angel or llSHt ana not Sllldll IS llie uuli- Der he has been able to make believe that all is good He tried his evil de- vices on Mother Eve and succeeded in getting her to believe that dis obedience to Gods command was a good thing, and she dsobeyed, and see the mess into which her de scendants have brought things.
 Small souls are ever the home of strife, of envy, of malice, of jealousy and seif-seeking. Large souls never desire things to be done in-the spirit of rivalry, nor from vanity, nor from selfishness, but reckon others to be of more, or at least as much. value and worth as themselves. When did strife ever produce a master piece with the brush? When did vain glory ever make scholar: When did jealousy ever fill home with happiness? When did envy ever make music in the heart of another? Is not love stronger than strife and every enterprise whatso- ever? We are all apt to confuse hot n