The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-14

slavery, infanticide, gladitorial butch
cry, and the degradation of women
from the civilized world. To-day, there
is great friction in the business realm
between labor and capital. In some
parts of Europe workmen are so OPP
pressed, shat by the severest toll they
can barely provide their families with
the necessities of life. Are there not
some in our own land who are guilty of
wronging the poor, by not giving them
a just share of the wealth they have
helped to produce? May not some
strikes and riots be traced to this source?
If employers needed the Scriptures,
their help would have no just cause to
complain, or get exasperated. How
wise and practical are the apostles
words to the Colossians (iv, ~: ''Mas-
tiers, give unto your servants that which
is just and equal; knowing that we also
have Master in heaven" Were these
-yords obeyed by all who employ labor,
if workingmen realized that they re-
ceived a just and equal share of the
proceeds of their handiwork, how much
of irritation and bitterness would cease.
But toilers are often to blame. Too
often they are idle instead of industri-
GUS, needless rather than careful, indif-
ferent in place of being mindful of their
employers interests. In the New Test
ament their duty is made plain. Says
the great apostle, to workingmen, (Col.
iii, %, 23 } "Obey in all things your
masters according to the flesh; not
with eye service as mere pleasure, but
in singleness of heart, fearing God.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as
to the Lord, and not unto men," If
the toiling millions obeyed this COM
mand, they would do far more and bet
ter work, their employers would be
better satisfied, and could afford to pay
higher wages. There is tyranny of
capital, and tyranny of labor. What
is their remedyp 1t will not be found
in frantic violence, or in trade unions.
1t is not in policemen, or armed men,
or stringent laws. Let the religion of
Christ be practiced by both parties, let
forbearance and brotherly love have
their perfect work, and the perils of
the business world will speedily disap-
pear.
The home is the foundation of society.
To secure its purity and efficiency is a
matter of mighty Importance. If our
homes are the abode of peace, virtue,
religion, they will nurture the noblest
men and women, and afford the best
prophecy for the future of America !;
but if the ties which bind together
husband and wife, parent and child, be-
come weakened, it is an omen of moral
disaster. The Importance of truth and
fidelity in the family is fully recognized
in Holy Writ. Christ declares that hus-
bands and wives become one flesh;
their interests, aims and efforts are to
be merged into oneness of life. Equally
emphatic is the command of ST. Paul
(Eph. V, 33): LET every one of you, in
particular, so love his wife, even as
himself and the wife see that she rev.
erence her husband" Were this ex-
hortation universally followed, there
would be no complaint of tickle and friv-
olous wives, nor of selfish and cruel
husbands. Each would treat the other
with Difference, loyalty and love which
would be the delight of all good people.
The words of the Bible to children are
most timely and needfCl. They are
commanded to "honor their father and
mother" to "obey their parents in the
Lord" Let the young heed these pre-
cepts, and the painfully irreverent and
disobedient spirit so often found among
children of the present time would give
place to filial courtesy and prompt ODE
dience. Are not parents too apt to
neglect the moral and spiritual nurture
of their offspring2 Do they not too
frequently delegate to the public school
and the church, the impressive duty of
molding the character of the young
The Bible reiterates the necessity of
parental oversight and direction, the
duty of training the child in the way he
should go. What more would be need
ed to secure homes free from discord,
deception and ill-will homes full Of
Christian helpfulness and love :? APP
piled to modern life, the Bible is there
fore found not to be a dead or dying
book, but to be full of timely and most
important truths. Only let its COM
mands be obeyed, and politics would be
purified, public morals ennobled, bus
mess strife ended, and the possibilities
of domestic life fully realized. 1t is
safe to say that no other book has done
so much for society; none contains
words SO potent and needful for the
present time.
II. Consider mans personal needs.
One of the first and saddest facts of
human life is temptation. Within the
heart are many appetites and passions
to be held in check without are allure
ments to evil almost numbeTless. No
wonder that weak and ignorant man