Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE MYSTERY Or MAN "Man never is, but always to be blest."—Pope. HE remarkable thing about it is that man will persist in building up an unfathomable mystery about him- self, and his future, and then pay another man to give him peace of mind by offering a solution that does not solve. It seems to be a weak- ness of human nature that impels men to take the way that appears most mysterious to accomplish the ordinary. In his efforts to discover some new way to perform life's du- ties, man has formulated a thousand and one creeds and beliefs, each of which adds more mystery to the things he desires light upon. When the priests heard Christ's simple doctrine of Love and Service he was swept away in a whirlwind of abuse. Up to the time of his com- ing "sacrifice" was the keynote of the established church, and the word was set to the jingle of silver and gold. Then came the teaching that service is more acceptable than sac- rifice, and forthwith the priest saw his doom. One of two things had to happen: The holy synod had to put Christ out of existence or get out of existence itself. Naturally the church chose its priestly privilege and sacrificed Christ, that it might live in his name. If Man is a peculiar animal. fl There is just one thing more strange, and that is his mate, woman. "You gaze at a star for two motives, because it is luminous and because it is impenetrable. You have by your side a sweeter radiance and greater mystery —woman," said Hugo. In his business life man is as reasonable and sensible as can be, but in matters affecting soul growth— really the higher and better part of his nature—he is most unreasonable. Go to the ordinary business man with a proposition affecting his business and he will take it up and weigh it carefully. If you can show him that it me...