Article August 8, 1925 Issue

Freedom

BRIGMAN C. ODOM

The ultimate of all right human endeavor is moral or spiritual freedom. In all living creatures that express intelligence, even though the intelligence be in slight degree, it is observable that self-preservation, or freedom, is the end for which they contend. Sometimes, it may be that no intelligence in the individual thing or class of things can be traced or accounted for, yet the presence of action shows the tendency to the preservation of its existence. The bird, the reptile, the four-footed beast, moved or impelled by instinct, or intellingence, or by both, gives way before that which to is a sign of danger. In fact, everything living seeks at all times to protect its life and to perpetuate it; it wants to live; it will make provision for its life at any cost; it will run to save its life; it will fight for its life; it seeks freedom from that which threatens its destruction.

Much of a mortal's concern is to protect or to free himself from the things he fears. The things of which many people are afraid are numerous; and some fear one thing, and some another. This mental state, together with its now-andthen attendant physical ills, continues until human thought is lifted up, and is enabled to see and to realize a better situation. The keeper of a lawn, on being asked how it was that he kept everything about the premises so attractive, clean, and beautiful, replied that he always gave it attention when it needed it; that he never permitted any waste matter or anything useless or unattractive to accumulate and remain in the yard. Human thought, to be made clean and free, needs to be lifted up daily, and kept above the little and the big sordid things of earth.

The Psalmist asks, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" The answer is, "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart." Again he asks, "Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" and is answered, "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." The result is, "He that doeth these things shall never be moved": he is in possession of his freedom.

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