Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-07-27
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
PITY My Simplicity
by DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
CHAPLAIN Of the United states SENATE

petition most Of US we're
taught TO lisp In the heaven
that lay around our infancy.
That childhood prayer Is a
belfry where there are chimes
az evening pealing. The
music OF that lovely verse,
uttered by childish lips at
close Of day, is never lost 10
those whose spirit Is that Of
a little child. even though
childish things are put away
In the increasing complexi-
ties OF grownup years.
But now as we listen 10
little white-robed figures In
our own families repeat the
familiar words we, too. were
taught 10 utter at the thres-
hold Of sunderland. we are
conscious that the prayer
contains a glazing fault. In
that rosary Of petitions.
whispered by rosy lips. there
is one request God cannot
grant. So many Of our pray
ers are answered by not being
answered. One phrase is
maintained even as the gen.
erations come and 90. But
why should we teach chill
dren in what is, for most Of
them. their first formulated
requests TO the brooding love
Of the Almighty Father who
bends over every cradle. TO
ask, with a half apology.
PITY my simplicity? The
other requests Of that prayer
are beautifully appropriate
and fitting - Look upon a
little child - suffer me to
come TO Thee" But. think
Of asking the Father God to
pity anybody for the most
beautiful thing that grows in
the garden Of the years so
close to the tinted clouds Of
the glory which flames at
LIES beginning. Why apollo
gize for the very thing which
is the shining pathway TO the
God we seek-Simplicity?
Simplicity is the one quail
ity about a child which is
really sublime. Rather pity
the one who loses it.; for
without 1t the presence of
that other is not clear and
near.
Each year there comes to
the writer the eagerly sntici-
pated opportunity to stand
in the pulpit Of a chapel
which is a Gothic gem. 1t is
on the campus Of the famous
Mercersburg Academy for
Boys. The school hymn, sung
always just before the visit
ing preachers message. is
written on the hearts of Mer-
cersburg men around the
world. There they are. hun
dreds Of them. teachers and
taught-within the hallowed
walls Of that sanctuary with
its high altar on which SYM
bolic candles burn and where
rich and thrilling pictured
glass speaks Of spiritual ver-
tiles. Coming from class
rooms. dominated by the SCI
entific quest Of this age of
expanding knowledge. the
simplicity Of the school hymn
is one with the childhood
prayer, Gentle Jesus, meek
and mild" For generations
Of students have sung Sunday
and weekday in their famed
chapel;
Jesus I liue TO Thee
The loueliest and best,
Ny life In Thee-Thy life
in me,
In Thy blest loue ! rest.
The Masters mystic secret
Of never losing, even in our
complicated and complex
age, that one pearl of great
price, simplicity" which is
mirrored in the Mercersburg
hymn, is to guard child
likeness as life's most pre-
cious treasure. To be sure one
of the ugliest things that
can happen to an adult is
to be childiSh-to fly into
tantrums in order to get
ones way. or to sulk when
ones wishes are denied-to
strive to take the center OF
observation in any group
But to be childlike in teach
ableness, with d sense OF
wonder never dimmed and
with expectations always on
tiptoe-that is something
else! To be childlike is 10
glorify the oncoming years
with the grace of simplicity
l know a fond preacher
father who did not want his
child coming to her Divine
Father to ask that she might
be pitied for her simplicity.
For, as he said of that sweet
little white-robed maiden