The soul is ever "imploring dimly something beautiful," and it must have
this or its powers remain latent and undeveloped. "Not in dead matter do
we live," said Lord Kelvin, in his recent address before the British
scientists, "but we live and move in the creative and directing power
that science compels to be accepted as an article of faith. We are
forced to believe, with absolute confidence, in a directive power,--in
an influence other than the physical, dynamic, and electric powers.
Science is not antagonistic to religion, but a help to religion," he
added; "science positively affirms creative power, and makes every one
feel a miracle in himself."

The soul has certainly a door into infinite beauty, and through the
portals must it fare forth to renew its activities in its own
atmosphere. The question as to whether the individual survives bodily
death is one that the Twentieth Century will answer with no unmistakable
reply. The investigation into the very nature of man is one possible on
strictly scientific lines, whose results agree with and confirm all that
Faith has intuitively divined.

This investigation--pursued in many ways--is best of all pursued in
keeping some hour apart, each day, for absolute _re_union and
_com_munion with the Holy Spirit. To lift up the heart to God in deepest
aspiration and prayer is to come into an increasing knowledge of one's
own spiritual self, and into increasing harmony with the divine world in
whose atmosphere, alone, we live and breathe and have our being. In love
and sympathy lie the daily solution of all the problems of the spiritual
life.

These are the divine attributes, and they are as indispensable to life
to-day as they were when Christ walked in Galilee. Compassion and love
are the handmaids of hope and faith and joy. The heart to sympathize,
the love to aid, lead on to the radiant atmosphere of happiness.

There is a deep and impressive significance in the lesson of the
music-drama of "Parsifal." "Only those of pure heart can be strong." And
that "the Knights in the play were saved by Parsifal _who was willing to
encounter anything_." This alone is the diviner quality of love,--to be
willing to "encounter anything;"--to meet pain, disaster, defeat, if so
it be the appointed way to serve. There is a consecration in pain that
purifies and refines and exalts all effort. It may be the very divine
sign and seal of approval when the way leads to personal sacrifice
rather