Wichita eagle., 1888-06-06
THE RELATION OF THE COMMUNITY TO
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

The following paper was read by by
Ashbel Welch before the Sunday school
convention at Dodge Avenue Presbyterian
church, West side:
First as a question Of law.
AS citizens we are all subject to the laws
of the land These laws are the result of
centuries of wisdom and experience, and
are enacted and enforced for the public
veal No one with common sense would
claim that obedience to the laws could
safely be left to the individual will. Law
breakers of all kinds are the enemies of
society, and society justly rises up and con
dennis them. 1t ayails a man nothing that
he refuses TO recognize the authority Of
the law. or that he pleads ignorance of it.
The law is fixed as says to the transgress-
or, rich or poor, high or low, you must
abide the penalty.
If this be true of the law of man, far
more is it true of the law Of God. Man S
laws may in some cases be unjust-the law
of God never. Man may occasional eyade
the laws of man. tut not one Jot nor little
shall pass from the laws of God till all be
fulfilled Would we refuse to recognize
the authority of the law of God, the Lord
will hold as in derlsion. Would we plead
ignorance, here is the open bible from
which we are commanded to learn.
20 long as we live in this land we are of
necessity subject to its laws. So long as
we live in the world so long as eternity
shall last. we are of necessity subject TO
the law of God. Hear therefore his word:
Gather the people together, men,
women and children, and thy stranger that
is within thy gates that they may hear,
and that they may learn and fear the Lord
your God and observe to do all the words
of this law, and that their children which
have not known anything may hear and
learn To fear the Lord your God" Deut.
81, 1918.
And We fathers provoke not your child
rem 20 wrath. but bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord. -
Epb. q, 4.
Second The relation of the community
as business men to the Sabbath school.
We live in a business age, and | think
may add that we live in business city.
You ana probably came here because we
considered il a good business location
six days in the week we bend al our ener-
giles to the successful operation OF our af-
fairs, and it is not unnatural that we form
a habit OF looking ut everything from a
business standpoint Perhaps we do this
TOO much. Perhaps we are inclined TO be-
come one sided in our development, but
we Will not stop To discuss that point
here: we will take the facts as they are.
When anything is brought TO the atten-
tion of business man the first question
he generally asks is, "Will it pays" and
the second question is will 1t pay? and
the third question is ''Will it pays'
Now, as purely business matter, Will
it pay the community to give its counten-
Rnce and support 20 the Sabbath schools
Suppose we were to close up our public
schools and TO withdraw our support from
the Garfield University and the Lewis
Academy, and ali the other institutions of
learning of which Wichita is so justly
proud. We would save Ii good deal of Ok
hnr n f.4aP
learning would soon be opened. The sa-
loon, the gambling hall and the den of in
fanny stand ready TO give our youth most
thorough education, but would it pay? If
you thought such thing possible how
much would you take for your corner lot?
How many OF Your homes that you have