THE SABBATH HOUR

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1928, Page 3

THE SABBATH HOUR

OUR INDIVIDUAL ifcISTINY. WHAT IS IT? In a notable discourse at Grantham Bishop Barnes delivered an eloquent, eulogy of Isaac Newton’s work. As leported in the “Birmingham Post” he said: —

“What is man's place in the uni verso? How is lie related to the purpose immanent in the whole? New

ton gave little indication that he realised how extensively nis work bore upon such inquiries, though there is one interesting passage in his writings ; where he asks: ‘lf all places to which we have access are filled with living j creatures, why should all these immense J spaces of the heavens above the clouds j be incapable of inhabitants?” 1 “Reticent though such a sentence is, it was Newton who finally forced the educated world of men to recognise the meanness of man’s domicile. The earth had been the centre of the universe; Newton revealed it as a humble satellite of the sun. It needed but recognition of the fact that our sun is but one of millions of stars and man’s outlook was transformed. Are there no other stars in the galactic universe which have satellites? We cannot believe it. Are those satellites devoid of life? It is incredible. “Has life always taken the same evolutionary course as that which has led to the creation of man upon this earth? Has such evolution never progressed beyond the stage at which man now finds himself? Each question we are practically forced to answer in the negative. And, when we give such answers, what is man in the great scheme of things? Though Newton has been dead two centuries it is only in our own day that his countrymen, in the mass, are asking the questions to which his discoveries inevitably led. “What is our destiny, as individuals and as a race? Made of dust and water, specks on a small globe, apparently of no special importance in the vast range of creation, we live lor but a tick of the astronomer’s clock. Light reaches us today which began its journey before humanity had appeared upon this earth. Are we then of any importance in God’s sight? “Have we, as individuals or as a race, any permanence? Are we, after all, such stuff as dreams are made of? I give the old answer: ‘The things which are seen are temporal; the things which arc not seen are eternal.’

"The spirit of a man who strives for truth and seeks goodness belongs to the realm of the eternal. Here it is fashioned by labour, by self-disci-pline, by reverence and love. Elsewhere in its perfection it shall have a richer existence. Does it matter that we are little more than point-instants in space-time? X think not, for eternal values are not measured by rods and clocks; nor are they to be found in the blind forces of Mature.”

I HOPE. i ■ Hope, the artist, doth forbid Sombre walls in any room; If his pictures be half hid Sometimes by winter’s gloom, Loving eyes can find them there, Winsome, bright, and very fair, Shining through the darkened air. Hope, the poet, writes good things, Never found in duller prose; Prophecies of good he brings, Truly, for this seer knows How along the unseen way Birds make music, flowers are gay, JAnd the man takes heart to pray. . Iflope, the singer, lifts his voice Over and above the din, |Th,en the saddened ones rejoice, Taking strength and comfort in. Sobs were there, and bitter tears, Vain regrets and shrinking fears, { But they pass when Hope appears. Hope, the angel, gently guides Through the dark, for he can see Out to where the stormy tides And the deeps and quicksands be. And, behold! the face, Full of tender strength and grace, Smiles all dangers from the place! Should the lesser blessings go, Ease and wealth, success or friends, In th.e silence thou shalt know How good He can make amends. He will ever faithful bo, Cheery, helpful, strong and free; Therefore, bind him unto thee, —Marianne Farningham. >

THE CROSS OF JESUS. 0 Jesus! Sweet the tears I shed While at Thy cross I kneel, Gaze on Thy wounded, fainting head, And all Thy sorrows feel. O Christ of God! O spotless Lamb! By love my soul is drawn; Henceforth, forever, Thine I am; Here life and peace are born. In patient hope the cross I’ll bear, Thine arm shall be my stay; And Thou, enthroned, my soul shall spare On Thy great judgment day, —E. Palmer. SENTENCE SERMONS. BY ROY L. SMITH. THE MOST HOPELESS——Church is the one split by a church quarrel. —Politician is the one who must ftdrpit that* the opposition is making good, —Boy is the onfc who has lost respect for hig brother. —Mayor is the one who is trying , { to please everyone. —Cause is the one which must promote itself by deception. —Army is the one in which every private wants to be the general. Team is the one in which every player is trying to be the star.