Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-23

profound difference which would exist
between natural goodness implanted
ready made in man by divine fiat,
and goodness secured by deliberate and
-willed achievement. Its merit
| under such circumstances would belong
to those who thus voluntarily acquired
It, and not to those who received it as
a gift without an effort on their part.
It seems indiSputable that the Author
| of our being would have us learn per-
lection by degrees. We begin existence
helpless and ignorant, but teachable.
Ample opportunity is granted us to
gain knowledge and experience. We
master the art of living by strict OBJ
servance of the recognized principles
which govern life. The difference be-
tween earth and heaven is the differ
ence between men and angels. Our
worship and service should be volun-
tarily and cheerfully rendered, other-I
wise they are worthless. I personally
believe the time will come when those
who prove faithful to this great scheme
| will be thankful they were born as men
and not as angels. The zeSt and joy
| OF conscious progress are magnificent
rewards for our honest efforts as human
beings.
@. Is there any truth in the claim
that the bones of st. Mark the Evangel-
ist repose in the famous Cathedral of
st. Mark at Venice?
| Is there any authentic record of the
burial place of this evangelist?
A. Nothing is definitely known of
the last days and death Of the author
of the Second Gospel. 1t is possible,
even probable, that Alexandria was the
scene of the final phase of his work, a
view which was widely prevalent in the
fourth century. During the Middle
Ages there was firm belief at Venice
that after his martyrdom his remains
had been transferred there from Alex
andria in the ninth century. The
| VenetianS pride themselves on possess
ing not only St Marks body, but the
autograph of his Gospel. This auto
graph, however, proved on later exam
| ination to be part of the sixth CEN
fury Book of the Gospels" and has
since been destroyed by dampness.
Our knowledge of these events and
legends is largely obtained from the
"Acta eanctorum," an ancient work
which records the lives and deeds of the
saints. Medieval travellers were given
to incredible stories and what they re-
lated found wide acceptance in that
period. The tales of Sir John Mande-
vile are case in point Exaggerations
and fanciful recitalS, added to what
they actually witnessed, characterized
We have no authentic record of st
Marks burial place, nor does he need
one. The Gospel bearing his name is
his enduring monument.
@. I was brought up in a devout
Christian home of the Episcopal faith
1 stu believe in God, worship Him and
realize His presence. But I can nc
longer believe in the divinity of Christ
personally see no reason for Goo
sending any one to tell us about Him.
self, when all that we need to know
about God We can learn from other
sources. Why can 1 not believe in
God without believing in the Nazarene:
A. Has it ever occurred to you how
much of your belief in God you owe
to the Christ you now propose to dis
own? What are these other sources
from which you claim you are able
to learn all you need to know about
the Supreme Being? There can be
but two-nature, and that part of his.
tory which is absolutely untouched BY
Christian influences.
Yet multitudes Of educated men anC
women who refuse to accept Jesus as
: the revelation of the Father comics.
that nature and history leave then
skeptical, cynical or peSsimistic You
believe apparently in the Father Goo
whom the Master made known, and you
assume that if Christ had not beer
manifested to many you would still
believe in that Father God.
Is not this very large assumption
It strikes me as untenable. You have
crossed a deep abyss by means of s
bridge and you now propose to ignore
| the bridge. If you still insist it wa.
not necessary for you, how do you &C.
! count for the fact that many sincere
and seeking souls are still on the
. farther side of the abyss and unable
! to cross it?
: I respectfully submit that your mis-.
i take consists in supposing that dis.
J satisfaction with certain dogmas abou
( Christ justifies you in surrenderint
Christ himself. 1t is quite possible thai
! in thinking back on the entire question
l you will find you owe far more to Hin
e for what you rightly are and what yoi
, rightly believe than youFN have ye
e realized