mises to realize what
for the last hundred years have been but day-dreams of philosophy.

"Although the fact of emission of heat by radium is in itself
sufficiently remarkable, this heat is probably only a small portion
of the energy radium is constantly sending into space. It is at the
same time hurling off material particles which reveal their impact
on a screen by luminous scintillations. Stop these by a glass or
mica screen, and torrents of Roentgen rays still pour out from a
few milligrams of radium salt in quantity to exhibit to a company
all the phenomena of Roentgen rays, and with energy enough to
produce a nasty blister on the flesh, if kept near it for an hour."

It is hardly possible to contemplate this remarkable element in the
world of nature without recognizing its correspondence in the world of
spirit. If an element radiates perpetual light, heat, and power with no
loss of its own inherent energy, so the spirit can radiate love,
sympathy, sweetness, and inspiration with no diminution of its own
quality. Science may be unable to recognize the medium from which
radium is fed; but religion recognizes the medium from which the spirit
draws its sustenance in the power of God. The human will merged in the
divine will is invincible. There is no ideal of life which it may not
realize, and this realization is in the line of the inevitable and is
experienced with the unerring certainty of a mathematical demonstration.

Yet, when one comes to examine the actual average attitude of humanity
toward this subject of the divine will, one finds it is largely that of
a mere gloomy and enforced resignation, even at its best, and, at its
worst, of distrust and rebellion to the will of God. It seems to be held
as the last resort of desperation and despair, rather than as the one
abounding source of all joy and success and achievement.

The average individual holds a traditional belief that he ought,
perhaps, to be able sincerely to wish that God's will be done, but as a
matter of fact he far prefers his own. The petition is, in his mind,
invariably associated with seasons of great sorrow, disaster, and
calamity, when, having apparently nothing else to hope for, a prayer is
offered for the will of God! It is somewhat vaguely held to be the
appropriate expression for the last emergency, and that it implies
resigning one's self to the most serious and irreferable calamity. Ther