The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-16
SPIRITUAL LESSON
 FROM PEER GYNT'
EnIighthening Sermon by pr. w. R. Hendrix at Highlands
 Methodist Church

Spiritual Lessons From Peer Gynt" was the theme of Dr. w. R. Hendrlx's sermon at the Highlands Methodist church at the evening service yesterday, and the sermon address was in part as follows;
 This dramatic poem was written by Ibsen AS an indictment of the Nor wegian people for what he regarded as their besetting sin, indecision on the great issues of life, and half hearted attachment to the highest ideals. But like all literary master pieces. 1t has message for all na- tions. and all peoples.
 There is In 1t an inslstent demand that men should abandon false and impossible social ideals and fashion Instead workable ones which are able to enlist the whole -hearted royalties of the people, and thus insure patrt- otic devotion and economic peace and success.
 A Lost Soul
 The religious nature of this poem has been recognized from the outset one prominent critic pronouncinK a poem of a lost soul The conflict of which the drama treats gathers round three questions. What Is it to be ones self? How may l find out what God meant in giving ma lifer And finally. How may I em- body in my character and conduct the purpose of God concerning me as an individual?'
 "The tragedy in Peer Gynt's life never lifted until he found an answer to these questions; questions which doubtless disturbed the primitive in- habitants of the world, and will con tinue to be the supreme questions of men and nations to the end of the age.
 Human Failures
 Tn the characteristic faults of Peer Gynt, the author has pointed out the fatal weakness of human failures everywhere. Chief among these faults is that unbridled selfishness which men exhibit in gratifying their appe- tites and passions without regard to the consequences of their deeds to others.
 Then there Is a half-heartedness' about all Peers attachments. He makes money selling idols in China, but to neutralize any evils that might come from his trade he sends mis- sionaries to convert ooolies and keep the balance even. He broods over the former grandeur of his family and leaves his mother to cultivate the little farm while he walks about the country telling great lies. He hates the word duty, and lives only for his own satisfaction.
 Rejected ia Hell
 At the end of his futile search for self-satisfaction or self-realisa- ton, empty-handed and friondless he meets with tho consequences of his course in life, and finds himself worthless hero and rejected even in hell, because he Is simply a neutral.
 "He had been designed for a shin ing button on tho vest of the world. but his loop had given way, and now his Maker had ordered that he be put into the ladle to be melted as junk and merged with the mass In great desperation he asks: What is 1t at bottom, this being ono's se.fT The messenger from God tells him: ITO be ones self Is to slay ones self; to stand forth everywhere with the Masters intention displayed like a signboard.'
 Loved and Prayed
 Redemption at last came to Peer Gynt through the one life that he had unwittingly blessed. Solvejgh had fallen in love with the vacillating youth, and through all the years of his halting between two opinions she had loved and prayed for his salvation, and empty-handed tho ragged man with a sin-strioken con science kneels at the door of the hut to confess his sins and to be surprised with full pardon. Always in the heart of SolveJgh the Peer Gynt that God intended him to be had lived. Now the messenger of God who had insisted on melting him In his ladle. leaves Peer in the care of faithful loving woman, but tells him At the last crossroad we will meet again
 Drift ns . DereIict
 God meant something when each one of us took his place in the ranks of human life. To rniss thst meaning is to drift as a dereliot on tho dreary paths of an uncharteu ocean. As Magellan felt his way through the perilous straits, so by the exercise of our reason and con science and feeling we too must feel our way into the sea of life, bearing a cargo of responsibilities and steer ing our course through adverse winds and baffling waves to the destination indicated in our sailing orders.
 Peer decided at last that hi, whole life had been spent in ,shun- ming earnestness and threading re- pentance.' But in his extremity he begged for pardon and began In the shadow of life's evening the work that had been appointed him as q boy. Thank God for the rescue of those shipwrecked men, even though they die on the deck of the rescuing vessel. An ancient prayer still has it's place among us: So teach us to