The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-05-23

their import only vaguely realized.
waking, found my finger marking
the 9Th Psalm and my lips repeating the
last verse-which is the first. Something
vaguely familiar seemed to be there. read
it again-word by word / read. % Lord
our Lord =. and on until, what
is man that why, here was my
very question! what is manY David
knew a thing or two-I said he did. There
it was, and, "a little lower than Cod
David knew. Made him to have dominion
over the work of thy hands. Wait! Have
dominion why, wherein, yes-the Gre
alton. Let US see-oh, wise David There
1t was-my answer-yours-
"Now remember this is no treatise or
commentary on the Bible. 1t is not brief
from a teacher or professor of Christian liv-
ing. ! have had trouble enough seeking
out some manner of philosophy of life
around which to build my own conduct
and such as have gained am none to sure
about. So take you to the first chapter
of the Bible more as student of history
than Bible reader or scholar.
In the beginning Coda picture clear
cut and sharp. l can see Him turning from
the last touch of perfection to some other
universe billion billion miles away. From
just completed harmony and order to the
chaos and mass of heterogeneous matter
that was then this universe of ours must
have been an unpleasant transition for Him.
Without pause or rest He would take up
this new work-a characteristic of so great
a master, so efficient craftsman.
81 can see Him. His critical glance.
At His word Day and Night were born and
Heaven existed-a place for the worlds His
cunning even then was planning. In the
hollow of His hand He held His work and
shaped the Earth and caused it seas to
course. The grass, herbs and trees sprang
from the soil He had so lately touched. He
| set the sun, the moon, the stars in Heaven
and marked for each its apportioned work.
The one to rule the day, the other to rule
the night and the stars His own glory and
purpose to fulfill. With thought he filled
the seas and air with moving, throbbing life.
He turned to the earth and gave it living
creatures after its kind You see Him
pause and view His work and pronounce it
good. Another universe had proven His
handiwork. But ere He turned to other
parts of his boundless domain he sought
some creature to rule what He had wrought.
"There is the picture-a completed uni
verse; our perfected world and His steps to
and fro searching among His living crea-
lures for one to assume His authority. You
see Him turn away with empty hands.
Even such work as He had done offered
| naught that could fill the need that remain
ed. His masterpiece was yet to take form.
| A masterpiece! He turns to create man in
His own image, "a little lower than God
and give into his hands this vice-royalty.
''He created man and woman in His own
image. He blessed them. BE fruitful, {.
| replenish the earth and have do
minion' was the responsibility He placed
upon them. Have dominion So David
| sang. Why is man? There is the answer
AS my friend ended his story l, too, rea-
lized that his problem was my problem
and his answer my answers it is that of
all men. And here l learned at last what
was the true story of Adam. Not as the
father of men or of sin should Adam be re-
membered but as God s masterpiece through
whom He gave to men their real purpose in
life. A story OF only two words-''Have
dominic" yet Adam bequeaths to us that
which may make us co-heirs with Christ
and His Angels. 'Have dominion" not
alone cover the earth.' "Have dominion"
over ones self was no less Gods meaning
and intended Interpretation of His COM
mands. Lay hands upon the thoughts, the
desires and purposes that move US and life
will cease to be perplexing problem and
become an open. beautiful way stretching,
endlessly, into the eternity we, otherwise,
/ would dread to enter. Remember Adam.
| "Have dominion