Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-03-05
BOTH SIDES OF
THE CATHEDRAL
Failing to See the Grandeur Of the
Cathedral Of Carlyle-Our Purpose
Explained-Life Is a Magnificent
Cathedral Seeking Union With
the Positive Side of It Should be the
Work of AL
By W. T. Williams.

fore the cathedral OF the city OF Car
lyle in England. They had gone there
all the way from America to see for
themselves the grandeur of the struc-
ture, and especially the window which
Is in the end facing the city. Before
reaching the spot on which they stood,
they were practically overwhelmed by
great and profound expectations, be-
cause they had heard and read deal
about the old, imposing edifice. But,
after glancing and gazing in this and
that direction, they were sorely disap-
pointed. They could not see anything
to verify what they had heard and
read, and to justify the trouble into
which they had gone to reach the
place, they were absolutely unable to
do. The scene was to them cold and
ghastly, surrounded as they were by
tombstones, and they failed to see no
thing else. Very few words they had
for each other, and they had begun to
retrace their steps when they saw a
man in the distance coming towards
them. At length, they met, and per-
eeiving that their faces did not speak
Of qualification, the man asked cordial
ly II they had been inside Of the ca
thedral. Upon learning that they had
not, he said:
Come back with me-"
They glanced at each other, as if
they thought that going back with
the man was not worth while. But,
after a moment, without saying a
word, they returned.
II was fine day, and they were
conducted through every nook and cor
ner Of the building. The significance
Of this and the other was explained,
and long before they had reached the
magnificent window they were now
overwhelmed with satisfaction.
"How delighted we are that we
came back with you'll" one of them
said in low tones. "We have been
amply rewarded Who may we say
you are?" he added after a pause.
"T'm the SEXTON came the answer.
"My friend" the stranger continued
in the same hushed voice, 1--WE are
greatly indebted to you. If we had not
come in contact with you we would
have returned to our homes without
seeing a trace of TINS august gran
deur. And what loss it would have
been to usl We are so glad that we
met you'll 1t is worth everything to
u.s."
The sexton looked towards the win
dow. "You were trying to see from
the outside that which can't be seen
only from the inside. The grandeur
was here all the time, but the trouble
was with you--your position was un-
favorable TO what you had in mind
You were not looking from the right
point Of view. Many have done this
sort Of thing before today" ,.
This explains our purpose, and IL
explains 1t so precisely that we need
no further explanation. We are al
ways in danger Of trying to see from
the wrong position, going through
the world with unworthy conceptions
of the grandest of all cathedrals-
life. We have missed the point By
not looking in the right direction
Our designs become burdens to us
and, entirely too often, instead of be
ing masters in our paths, we are tir
ed slaves. A more deplorable condi
tion cannot be imagined. We are par
alyzed instead Of being inspired. W.
% dread when we should rejoice. w,
despair when there are plenty Of rea
sons for US to bubble with hope. AL
lowing ourselves to become veal
when we ought to be strong is GER
tainly lamentable. We only know tn,
dark, and the mornings come and ~
and their splendors and glad tidingI
do not impress US as they were intend
ed 10 do We are not in touch will
the vital impulse Of the universe. w,
are out of harmony with the eterna
purposes Of life and our hearts sinl
within US. Life is a huge, coars,
A.. L. -. II.
hear declaring the glory Of God, ant
ment show the handlwork of the Crea
tor. The speech Of the day does no
appeal to us, and we are not in sym
pathy with the knowledge of the night
We are looking ct the world and al
therein from the wrong position, an,
rather than finding impetus enougl
TO impel us onward from strength I
strength, we make our abode in on
weakness after the other. We ar
helpless when we could be equal t
the demands Of the day. Having ou
feet then on the right spot is a mat
ter of such importance that we a
ought to see to it that our history
not marred with anything less. Thi
Is so full Of meaning that it deserve
our closest attention.
Life Ia a magnificent, sublime ca
thsdral. It's beauty and majesty al
only seen and felt from the inside. W
cannot see, and feel them from tn
outside. II was not ordained that sue
should be the case. We must preser
ourselves within its confines befol
II will manifest its noble loftiness
US. There is no possibility for it
be otherwise because life Is positiN
thing, and from negative position
cannot be seen and felt as it is in rea
ity. It is a positive power, permeate
with the warmth of an endless strea
Of love. Its existence is not fanc
II ia not an idle dream of speculatio
II does exist and it's energy is fl
from a source which Is so unendir
as eternity. This is proven by the ia
that IL grows, because the very soul
growth Is positiveness. Without tn
element il could not grow. It wou
naturally, or of itself die. 1t wou
elip out of existence. There is n
thing else that can maintain it in
velopment. It grows because it is
positive force, and we are positive,
In the channel of growth to the e
tent that we enter into its heal
Everything we need to build chars
ter At for everlasting existence
found in its bosom. 1t is a pow
that unfolds itself from the center.
This should receive our best thougl
It is a matter Of no little consequent
Our well-being relies upon It. VIII
we neglect it we put at stake ever
thing pertaining to our developmel
We make ourselves negative and we
rather than making ourselves positi
and strong. We have exposed OF
selves to perils which we could avo
This has not been successfully gal
said in any age. But the create
and humblest minds have felt its 81
nifcance, and they have labored ha
20 understand it. They have sacrif
ed all In order to pierce this mystel
The loss we incur by refusing to
come partakers Of the positiveness
life is beyond compare. We can |
ford TO lose some things in the wor
but not this. Our usefulness deper