5 September 1912
Talk at St. James Methodist Church
Montreal, Canada

From Stenographic Notes

Praise be to God! It is with a deep realization of happiness that I am
present here this evening, for I am looking upon the faces of those who
are earnest in their search for reality and who sincerely long to attain
knowledge of truth. God has created man and endowed him with the power of
reason whereby he may arrive at valid conclusions. Therefore, man must
endeavor in all things to investigate the fundamental reality. If he does
not independently investigate, he has failed to utilize the talent God has
bestowed upon him. I am pleased with the American people because, as a
rule, they are independent seekers of the truth; their minds are actively
employed instead of remaining idle and unproductive. This is most
praiseworthy.

Some souls imagine that there is a cessation to the bounties of God, as if
at one time the divine bestowals are poured out, at another time withheld
from mankind and ceasing. If we carefully reflect upon this matter, we
find that such a statement is in fact a denial of Divinity, for the
reality of Divinity is evidenced by virtue of its outpourings or
bestowals. The cessation of the bestowals of God at any time would be
equivalent to the cessation of the sovereignty of God. The sun is the sun
because of its ray and heat; it is the sun because of its bestowal; but if
at any time its effulgence, splendor and radiance should cease to emanate,
it would no longer be the sun. Consequently, it is inconceivable that the
bounties of Divinity should cease, for the attributes of Divinity are
everexistent. God has ever been divine; He hath ever exercised His
sovereignty and still possesses everlasting divinity and sovereignty. He
is like the sun, which has ever had its splendor, heat and radiance and
will continue to possess these bounties and attributes. If at any time its
splendor and heat should cease, it would no longer be pronounced the sun.
Therefore, the sound reasoning mind concludes that the bounties of the
Holy Spirit are continuous and that holy souls are ever the recipients of
these divine emanations. The potency of the Holy Spirit is everlasting,
not temporary; for the sanctity of the Holy Spirit is its power and
efficacy manifest in the spirits it quickens. We pray that all of us may
become recipients of its bestowals, that we may be illumined by the lights
of heaven, edified through the teachi