The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-04-02
ideal OF RELIGION
Assurance That the Lord Is the
Light and Rejoicing the
Greed.

Light for every man that comes
Into the world-this is the ideal of
religion that is held out in the Scrip
lures. Why will men refuse to permit
their fellows to share in this nght2
The sun is the possession of no creed,
nor sect, nor school. They who sought
to make 1t such by arrogating 1t to
themselves in their schemes of wor-
ship have passed from the stage of
world influence. These religions died
because they denied that, as in the
temple above, revealed In the apo
calyptic vision of st. John, so in the
temple of divine love and human af-
lection upon the earth-the Lord is
the light and rejoicing the creed
There are many followers of the
light of Gods grace and goodness in
the common walks Of men who are
not numbered within the told of the
churches, because, 1t may be, they
have not been sure that hospitality
awaited them. Such should not be
the case. The religion of Christ is
not essentially of any school, sect,
creed, clan or church. 1t is the reli-
gion of the life of God, the Father, in
the lives of his children; the life Of
Jesus Christ in the spirits and af-
fections of men. There may be a
more excellent way than to follow
after God in the discipleship of secrecy.
It is always to be desired that the one
who finds the light of the divine life
in his soul shall give thanks to God
in the midst Of the people. 1t is the
end and intent of the religion as con.
served into fellowship with its ordi-
nances of worship and under its claims
Of service. But the light must be kept
shining at all odds. 1t is the light for
every soul. II soul has not had It's
cravings satisfied with any of the APP
proved forms of religious ministra-
ton, still the light must not be de-
MED that leads its possessor to pray
er and to alteration and to exalted
states of religious experience, The
individual suffers a handicap in the
solitude of his soul service. That
light within makes the soul to rejoice
and the way of life to be bright with
flowers, despite defeats and disap-
pointments. Is 1t any wonder the So
ciety of Friends, among others, have
laid great emphasis on this truth?
God will lead in his own good way
into the fold of his church the souls
that are his. They who have the care
Of the churches must not deny the
light Of Gods saving truth in the life
of any Of their fellows. Who knows
the calling of God? Who can tell when
the still, small voice is whispering its
consolation to another? Who can say
that the one walking beside them In
the garments Of humility may not in
the view of the angels be robed In the
garments Of TRANSPORTATION?
Light Of Grace and Truth.
Let your light so shine that men,
seeing your good works, may glorify
your father which is in heaven-such
is the admonition given those who
name the name of the great light
giver, Jesus Christ. In the glory Of
the liturgical service, In the splendor
of the music Of the choir loft, in the
scholarly and Illuminating discourses
Of the pulpit, in the prayers of fine
beauty and deep fervor of the serv-
Ice books Of the churches, In the
spontaneous and sincere expressions.
Of devout souls, burst forth the light
of grace and truth. Fortunate, indeed,
they who can rest their wearied
souls within the holy walls and find
salvation and peace.
Other sheep have I, said the mas
ter, who are not Of this fold. He
went forth for such and when he
found one in the mountains afar he
carried 1t in his bosom and returned
with rejoicing. Let the church place its
light out from under the bushel OF
Journalism, so that its full glow may
reach, with penetration beyond any
other known illuminant, into the souls
Of all men.
Doing the Masters Work.
But they who, in the daily walks of
life, are giving forth light--how beau
tiful these; they who are making glad
the hearts Of others-how precious
their service; they whose very foot
steps cause the dull earth to glow as
did the sod beneath the feet Of the
tenderest Of men-how wonderful is.
their mission OF good living. They
may be so placed or circumstanced
that the church cannot house them
misfortune! But still they are the
true disciples of him who came to
bring grace and truth into the lives
Of all men. And /, II be lifted up
texalted) will draw all men unto
myself"