Слике страница
PDF
ePub

This nation has grown. We came here a little handful from England, sprinkled along the Atlantic border. We developed and expanded until we have taken new territory,Florida, the Louisiana purchase, Texas, the Far West, California, Alaska, Hawaii, the Philippines; and it is the same old American people, the same integrity, the same grand love for liberty, the same intelligence to solve these great practical problems, the same desire to carry our prosperity around the world.

There are those who think that the only destiny for this country should be to keep shut up close within the limits of our old-time borders, grow fat between the seas. Have we a right to do that? By the force of circumstances, by the leadership of God, I believe, we have suddenly found ourselves pressed into the possession of a great world power. No longer can we, if we would, simply mind our own business. And I believe that it is one of the grandest of all our moral duties not merely to mind our own business.

Have you a right to sit within your own house simply because you have money enough so you can do it in peace and quiet, and take no account of the condition of your neighbors, of the street, of your ward, of the city, of the State, of the nation, lead a selfish life merely because you are financially able to do it, grow rich and comfortable and quiet?

No more has a nation a right to lead a peaceable and quiet and comfortable existence on its own account, shutting its ears to the great world-cries outside. It is the business of this republic to help settle the great world-problems. The other nations have learned that we are able to do it; and henceforth we are going to have our voice in these matters, and that voice is going to be for God, for truth, for humanity, for liberty, for righteousness, for all the great and magnificent virtues that up to this time have made us proud of the republic.

Let us not, then, be easily alarmed by the cries of those who think that it is wicked for a nation to grow. Let us

not be easily disturbed by those who would have us sit quietly at home, and let the old world wag as it will. Let us not be easily disturbed by those whose highest ideals of patriotism seem to be selfishness. Let us rather join in the glad and hopeful words of Longfellow, written years ago, but which have never been more applicable, as I believe, to the condition of the country than at the present time:

"Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,

With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
We know what Master laid thy keel,
What Workman wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
Why anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave, and not the rock.
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,

Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,

Are all with thee,- are all with thee!"

Our God, we consecrate ourselves to the principles that have made our country great and strong; and we will not fear that we shall lose them in the changed and larger conditions of the present time. God of the fathers, Thou art the God of the children, too. Guide us, not merely to

imitate them. Guide us to be wise in our conditions as they were in theirs.

Amen.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

No better gift books than the above "Hymns and "Poems," being specially adapted for the holiday season, "Light on the Cloud" for time of bereavement and sorrow.

For sale by booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by

GEO. H. ELLIS, PUBLISHER,

272 CONGRESS ST., BOSTON.

104 EAST 20TH ST., NEW YORK.

Life Beyond Death

Being a Review of the World's Beliefs on the Subject, a Consideration of Present Conditions of Thought and Feeling,

leading to the Question as to whether it can be demonstrated as a Fact.

To which is added an Appendix containing Some Hints as to Personal Experiences and Opinions.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

After a review of the beliefs held in the past concerning life beyond death, Dr. Savage takes up the present conditions of belief, and considers the agnostic reaction from the extreme "otherworldliness" which it replaced, which was in turn followed by the spiritualistic reaction against agnosticism. He points out the doubts concerning the doctrine of immortality held by the churches and the weakness of the traditional creeds and the loosening of their hold upon people. He then considers the probabilities of a future life,― probabilities which, as he admits, fall short of demonstration. The volume includes a consideration of the work of the Society for Psychical Research and also an appendix giving some of the author's own personal experiences in this line. Dr. Savage holds, as a provisional hypothesis, that continued existence is demonstrated, and that there have been at least some well-authenticated communications from persons in the other life. The chief contents of the volume are as follows:

CONTENTS Primitive Ideas - Ethnic Beliefs - The Old Testament and Immortality - Paul's Doctrine of Death and the Other Life Jesus and Immortality- The Other World and the Middle Ages Protestant Belief concerning Death and the Life Beyond - The Agnostic Reaction - The Spiritualistic Reaction - The World's Condition and Needs as to Belief in Immortality - Probabilities which fall Short of Demonstration - The Society for Psychical Research and the Immortal Life Possible Conditions of Another Life - Some Hints as to Personal Experiences and Opinions.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 27 & 29 West 23d St., N.Y.

Published Weekly. Price $1.50 a year, or 5 cents single copy

"

Some great cause, God's new Messiah"

MESSIAH PULPIT

NEW YORK

(Being a continuation of Unity Pulpit, Boston)

[blocks in formation]

Entered at the Post-office, Boston, Mass., as second-class mail matter

« ПретходнаНастави »