Our Work

554 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

age have no sin, we need not discuss. Baptism is for the remis- sion of sins, and it is doubtless true that all who have lived to the age of accountability (fixed by direct revelation to the Church at eight years, Doctrine and Covenants, section 68: 25-28) have sinned, and are, besides, in need of baptism in order to "enter in- to the Kingdom of Heaven." Baptism must be performed at some time in the case of every one that would be saved. When it is per- formed by proper authority,and with a manifestation of sincerity on the part of the candidate, it is efficacious for the remission of sins. Let it be emphasized that this baptism must be performed once in the case of each individual, and thereby he secures the remission of his sins. The sins of a lifetime are thus remitted, conditional upon sincere repentance, both before and after baptism. Since it makes no difference, apparently, so far as its efficacy is concerned, at what time in the person's life this baptism occurs — it may be appointed by revelation and it has been so appointed at the eighth year, which alone, is an all sufficient reason why children should be baptized at that age. It is also a good reason why they should not be baptized before that age, since only the accountable should receive baptism. But there is another reason for setting the time for this ordi- nance at eight years. Baptism has for one of its objects admit- tance into the Church of Christ; it has for its objects the "Fulfill- ing of all righteousness," as well as the remission of sins. In the case of children the age of entrance into the Church is eight years, hence, baptism is performed at that time for the double purpose of remission of sins and admittance into the Church. The proper time for baptism is the time when the candidate is ready to become a member of the Church — children of Latter-day Saint parentage, at eight years; adults, at the time of their conversion. Whether the person is eight years of age, or eighty, the baptism which ad- mits into the Church is efficacious for the remission of sins if ac-

companied, before and afterwards, by sincere repentance. If baptism accomplished the remission merely of sins pres^iously com- mitted, it would seem less needful to baptize a child at eight years, but in the light of the explanation given above, the wisdom of the requirement is apparent.

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NOTES.

We can have animals without sympathy, and we can have low, rude men without sympathy, but without it there is no high form of manhood. Coarseness is callousness. A blunt nature is a form of vulgarity. The seared conscience may not be sensitive, but sympathy is fineness of fibre and delicacy of structure, united with volume and strength. Just be- cause Jesus Christ is the ideal man, he rejoices with those who rejoice and weeps with those who weep. The violinist, standing at one end of a corridor, will play softly on his instrument, but if you put your ear down to a violin lying on a table in the next room, by listening, you will hear the tune played over again, and repeated by the second instrument that precisely answers to the first. Christ found the world filled with groans and tears and sorrows, and he who puts his ear close to the Christ will find echoed back all the still, sad music of humanity. The soul is an aeolian harp, that ought to an- swer the faintest zephyr with a song. There is no test of manhood like sympathy that enters into and answers back all the overtures from heaven and earth, from God and man. Sympathy cannot behold a vine torn from its wall without pinning the bruised boughs back to their places. Sympathy cannot see the ship sailing out of the harbor without wishing a good voyage and safe return. Sympathy cannot see a youth going out to make his fortune without stopping to pray that the youth may return laden with treasure, indeed, but also bringing his unstained virtue with him. Sympathy's eyes are painted as bright, but the bright- ness is generally tears. Indeed, it is sympathy that betokens intel- lectual power. There never was a great poet, or dramatist, or orator who did not excel his fellows in sympathy as truly as in intellect. —Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis.

Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes absolutely con- is thinking, and tented with the life he is living, with the thoughts he the deeds that he is doing, —when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is a child of God. Phillips Brooks.