The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-10-10


tails In their humanness the lessons in living the
Bible holds for us.)
JOB
When the sum of all human knowledge has been
set down-the revelations of scientific research; the
ingenious inventions of men; the truths philosophy
has revealed the accommodating knowledge Doctors
of Law, Divinity, Medicine, of all the arts give;
facts that daring explorers and adventures bestow
when, I say, all this progress and wisdom is re-
corded and seek the of it all the great ignor
ance of man is laid bare before us. 1t is in such
moments of self-examination that we realize how
short way on the path of progress and achieve
ment humanity has in reality travelled.
If. against what we know is set the facts and
truths that remain shrouded in mystery life becomes
truly wonderful adventure or an equally terrible
ordeal-dependng upon the spirit and perception of
the individual. If it is mortal who a perfect
plan in the facts that known extending it into
the realms where the mysteries dwell there is in
dividual who WILL not only fit into the great scheme .
of the universe with perfect harmony and accord but
also who will take from life it's richest blessings.
W lille that one who purpose continuity in
the knowledge the ages have given to humanity and
naught but dread in unrevealed things will give to
the world good useful thing and in return will
receive benefit from life
II takes brave heart to go hand in hand with
life through uncertain day after uncertain day. All
is mystery just ahead and human mind and heart,
in themselves. inadequately equipped to meet
the mysterious. Just two facts in all human know
ledge absolutely MISUNDERSTANDING the pre-
sent moment and the experience have lived
ours-these alone will not change, cannot be taken
from us. The rest is all mystery. What
copied truth yesterday, tomorrow may be proved
utter fallacy.
So many phases of life remain in the unfathom-
able depths of mystery that most fortunate in
being permitted to approach close to reality in other
things, graspng the general purpose of them, if not
the actual facts. One of the greatest mysteries
tails encounter is the Divine purpose and plan for
humanity-greater mystery still is His working out
of His scheme. And in this greater secret our
minds are bewildered and COMPOUNDED by seeing per-
sons who hold mind heart and soul only the high
of purposes and truest of ideais who labor long
and faithfully in honest endeavor-by seeing these
subjected to extreme pain and sorrow and life's
greatest reverses. Our finite minds cannot under
stand this; it is of the circumstances of life that
try faith and courage to the utmost. Truly,
need lessons and examples that will bring safely
through such experiences and trials
The Hebrew knowledge that gives us the old
testament of the Bible is divided into three depart
ments: Law, Prophecy and Wisdom. In Law is
| found the Creators commandments and claims to
man; in Prophecy is found the explanation of Divine
| purpose with man and Divine judgement
dered according to Gods revealed will; in Wisdom
is found the use of observation experience and
| Fiction in an endeavor to reach perfect
Outstanding of the realities of life especially
they reveal the relation of to God In this lat
ter department Of Hebrew knowledge stands the
story of Job, where is lesson concerning the N.Y.
stery of misfortune that so frequently overtakes
| faithful, upright mortals.
There is no reason to doubt that Job was his
torical parsonage or that he knew, in manner,
! the experiences related in the poem have it
| in the Bible He lived in the land of w, which
was located in or near the Syrian Desert. at time
when the Chaldeans powerful people in the
| east. He was very prosperous man. possessing
large numbers of domestic animals lands of great
extent and very large household. He was the
greatest of all the men of the east' Living under
patrarchal conditions when the head of each tribe
or clan performed for his people the duties of priest
| and interpreter of Divine will and thought, he
devout and earnest in his sacrifices and worship In
word he was "a perfect and upright man."
The prologue to the poem goes to tell how,
day when his prosperity and happiness gave of
| their abundant joys. and pain to him.
The Sabeans and Chaldeans destroyed carried off
all his property. The forces of nature took from
| him his family and touched his body until he
oathsome tortured creature, left alone in the world
except for three loyal frends-and they did
| not give peace of mind comfort to him.
The poem gives his friends views concerning