Evening star., 1925-12-06
Continued from First Page)

anything, then they must necessarily
operate everywhere and in all things,
from the march of the stars to the
finest rhythm of the smallest action.
Is that determinism? In defiance of
II. | instinctively assert my free Will,
because / am conscious of exercising
my free will. l cannot, dare not. alb
dicate my responsibility. If I try to
escape from 1t conscience and remorSe
stand ready to arrest me. Whence
come these "compunctious visitings,"
as Lady Macbeth calls them. If not
from the power beyond our seeing that
with design and intelligence compels
the universe? Is that paradox? 1t is
II dilemma.
| will perform an act of faith be-
cause I have no alternative. / will
trust the power that is beyond my
seeing. beyond my comprehending
Unless / perform this act of faith.
cannot Steadfastly and courageously
continue my earthly pilgrimage l am
justified, because l am thereby helped
and strengthened, and made equal
with my fate. This act of faith is
wholly different from the mecha meal
repetition of u form of words which
l cannot understand, which 1t is
sought to impose upon me as an act
of faith, but which is indeed nothing
the tongue. a plasebo like the comfort
ing pronouncement of the blessed
word "Mesopotamia."
Beyond Our Comprehension.
We cannot comprehend this intangi-
bic power. 1t Is not stuff that our
senses can deal with. j do not under
stand what Is meant by personal
God. The phrase brings me up against
I
stand what is meant by it. it seems to
me contradiction in terms when
it is used. l recall the Psalmist's q re.
buke: Thou thoughtest that l was
altogether such an one as thyself, but
| will reprove thee"
We cannot comprehend that power,
but 1t compels us to apprehend it.
Matter has been resolved, into force,
and every manifestation of that force
shows arrangement. design, intelli-
sence, force. power, Spirit-We arc
using large synonyms-are they not
all the same. the only reality, the
ultimate reality. out OF which all
thlngs are spun, our own bodies as
Well as every other compound of cleo
irons?
l believe that all this vast universe
Is living intelligent spirit in it's every
tiniest atom. I believe that we can
rest in its faithfulness and punctu-
ality. 1t is not a lying spirit 1t is a
truthful and honest spirit. Facing and
accepting all the woes and disasters
and diseases and brutalities and blind
Ing SORROWS that it visits upon MS,
racing and accepting all the torments
OF the flesh and agonies of the mind
that man endures, ] believe there is
Yet great balance of sentiment, hap
piness and joy and beauty; and inter
penetrating the cosmos to its utmost
limit. | discern an infrangible law
compelling all its atoms in one long
march of unity and order Of purpose
to secure that balance Of happiness
and JOY and beauty.
Finds Spirit Everywhere.
When Wordsworth declared that
every flower enjoyed the air it breath.
ed, he was not using poets license
but stating a scientific fact Nav we
not divine intrinsic spirit in those
dust grains OF the clods of the field
which seeds Of wheat shall intelN-
gently clasp, and shall endow with
vegetable life. and that having been
earnered and become foodstuff shall
next he intelltgently drawn into nv
blood. and thence shall be intelligently
to the chief Office in my
brain. there to burn with love and
alteration? Is there spirit in me, and
not In that grain Of dust which is
qualifying TO become the finest part
of me?
In what obscurest nook or recess
OF matter. i'll what rock, or plant, or
animal. or man, shall we search and
shall not find there the home Of the
living spirit that men call God?
Thou hast beset me behind and be-
fore. Whittier shall I go from Thy
spirit? Or whittier shall / fee from