Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-12-10

being as God is felt to be. All men have
at least this sense of "the eternal fitness Of
things" and feel ii eminently fit that good
ness should not be repaid by disobedi.
ence and insult. Even the sordid, narrow
minded, small souled ancients, taught
men to love those who bestowed favors on
them. Ifye love them that love you,~ il
We lend to those who loan to you-what
credit is tits natural and even expedi.
ent in point Of policy and gain. Even in
this low form however, this element in
the fear of the Lord, like sense of his
presence, ought to restrain us from offend.
ing Him. But there is an infinitely high
er and nobler form. 1t was beautifully
exemplified in the reply of a boy who was
tempted to take some fruit which his
father had forbidden him to touch. Said
an evil companion at his side, "you need
not be afraid, for even if your father
should detect you he is too kind to hur,
you," All! replied the little fellow with
the calm dignity of one Of Gods noble
men, as he was, "that's the very reason
why would not touch it, for though my
father would not hurt ME, I should hur,
him by doing wrong and he Las been
such dear kind father to me-" DO we
children of larger growth manifest the
same spirit in its higher form and appli
cation. Do our stores and shops and
farms and homes witness lives which
bear the impress which proves them ot
such sterling metal. Are We not con
scious rather that as individuals and as
Americans in our private, social and ma
tional life we need the solemn lesson o1
the prophets word, having suffered this
fear of the Lord to die almost entirely
away-at least it does not appear as &
great moral power and force, working ir
us and by US to right thinking and righ
acting. Alas, it seems that some lying
spirit has beguiled US to believe that Coo
having set this world of ours whirline
through space, had left it and us, no long
er present, no longer concerned in US OF
our actions. God hath forgotten, he
hideth his face, He will never see it.
This age and especially this nation q.
a nation is peculiarly materialistic in its
thinking. Language is downward, no,
upward. We discard as unworthy oil
thought or account all that is intangible
all that cannot be seen, handled, weighed
and measured. The prevailing spirit is
get money,-honestly if you can-dis
honestly if you must,-but get money
Honor, integrity, probity, virtue, heroism
in humble life. a name unsullied, a con
science unscarred and unbelted, these all
are things which belong to the visionary
the old and the timid; but for US, give us
greenbacks, stocks and mortgages, broad
acres, and we'll filed barns. This is no
the voice of few misers and skin-fints
it is the voice Of our nation. Pay into
the Treasury $50, and the most enlight
ened, shall say most Christian natio1
on the globe, will sell you, under its broat
seal of authority, permission to deal liquid
damnation with unsparing hand, and ye
on our coins we stamp "In God we trust
Al doubt whether God reciprocates th<
compliment. Votes, offices, preferment.
are bought and sold like any other mer
chandiZe.
These are but the outlines. Fill up tn,
foreground with the multitude who pro
fess decent, moral and seemly lives, ant
you have not destroyed the harmony O
unity of the pictures fullest measure o
sensual delights. Sensual enjoyments
deeting empty pleasure, animal gratiflca
tion,-these like the steaming mass o
savory potage before the tickle minded
Esat,, are purchased eagerly and the pric,
paid is no less than character, nobility
and the birth-right of supreme advantage
for all the future time. Consciousness o
rectitude, the Fathers blessing and tn
Fathers smiles are outweighed in tn
popular estimate, by momentary indul
gence or personal aggrandizement
Shrewdness in bargains outvalues integ
rity more to be desired than intellectual
power or moralpurity, Religion, church
es, ministers are burdens-unproductiv,
OF dollars and cents and so Of minor i'm
portance. -. T..
For one who prays with Agui, give M
neither poverty or riches lest by eithe
extreme be led into sin, you shall find
hundred ready TO cast their selfhood OF
the altar of Mammon.
Now in the clear light Of the revelatio,
we have Of God will and Gods estimate
what does this spirit Of the age denote
What name shall we give it. or how de
pict the utter ruin and inevitable loss
entails? It is covetuousness which i
idolatry; It is the extreme Of insult to tn
Afmighty-saying to him and his claims
stand aside till we have a more conven
rent season. What is the influence of thi
madly grasping eagerness for temporali.ie
existing in the church, for it is in th'
church to an alarming extent. We ma!
as we'll look the evil in tho face and NEE
II while there's time. It is not inactive
and passive, though we may be 90. I
threatens the very life Of the church
Vampire like II is drawing into its in
satiate throat the life blood the vigor ant
forces Of the visible body Of professors.
Itresembles ! Brazilian plant which
the natives call ! matador Or murderer
lIts slender stem c1vsps a nrst along sh'