The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-07
VOICE OF THE PULPIT
RIGHr-DoING THE BASIS OF THE
TRUEsT AND BEST RELIGION.
A Practical Discourse ON "Business
Ethics,' by the Rev. A. Judson
Rich, OF Milford, N. III.

every man, also. on the things of others
Phil. ii. 4.
1 know Of no better religion than that
of right doing, the golden rule OF life.
Practical religion is both ethical and spir-
dtual. Theology is not religion. though it
has an honorable place in right thinking,
while ethics is in the sphere
of action. Theology is. various in concep-
tion and theory, but ethics is one. and plain
to the common mind and heart. To think
correctly is a demand of the intellect, the
finer sentiment of the soul.
The basis of all religion is In right &C
ton. Ethics lived out is more than what
some call it-"mere morality''-it is relig-
ion. Righteousness Is the all in all of mans
need and duty. 1t is a highway spanning
the two worlds. 1t makes them one. Right
and duty and love and justice are the same
in all worlds, and constitute salvation.
heaven. Every man shall reach the life i'm
mortal who loves it, and while he is living
it. Our theory. our philosophy of life, may
or may not be correct, but a life based on
the golden rule will work out a philosophy
and a salvation, whatever else II may or
may not be, wholly excellent AMI wholly
beautiful.
The ethical in religion is the basal. the
PRACTICAL; take that away and you have no
| It4iSNOn d III EluiCS Is " QSiy COnSutfip-
ton. So long as men have to do with each
other in business life. in social and family
relations, the golden rule, the ethical spirit
should ever be present and operant.
What a different world this would be If
everybody should make the golden rule his
guide, and in all business affairs ask what
is right and just and true and good, and not
what would be of most advantage to the
individual. We are aware that IT Is not an
easy rule to live. Its demands are impera-
tive and it will allow of no subterfuges or
substitutes.
The golden rule is as yet an ideal pre-
cisely as the appeal of Jesus, BE We per-
feet" is ideal, but no less a goal towards
which to press. Our best progress in relig-
ion, which is the fiavoring of ethics. comes
through the ideal as an ~inspirer. Socialism
is revealing to US how far snort We come
Of realizing the splendid rule of Jesus, TO do
by Others as you would have them do by
you. and while boxing on your own things,
to try to look. also, on the things of others.
What a sad spectacle have we to-day OF the
poor Roadway nations are making in obey
ing the golden rule and accepting the relig-
ion of Jesus TO love God and man, wnen
the Christian peoples are ready at the slight
est hint of gain by war, to threaten the
peace which Jesus came to bring.
There is selfishness in the heart, there is
selfshness in the world, and so-called Chris
tan nations have been first and
~iercest in wagging war for gain
of empire. A reasonable love eof
possessions is we'll. for individual
or nation. 1t is the handspring which lifts
man above the brute. while it is a source,
too, OF meeh-m isery-and mischief in the
crowded fields of industry. trade and traf-
fc. The true business spirit should be: live
and let live both with employer and en-
ployed. All should feel themselves to be
a part of a vast constituency and to know
and feel that a wrong done to any one is
a wrong done to the whole, in which the
wrongdoer must hold himself responsible.
This is rather a selfish age, an age OF
speculation, OF trusts. combines, cornering
of certain commodities to put up the price
and enrich the few to the injury or ruin OF
the many. The millennium is not yet in it's
gray dawn. In much OF this kind of traf-
fc the laws of business ethics are trodden
under foot and everyone who invades the
realm of business with this heartless code
should suffer the penalty-at least the moral
Indignation Of his sufferers and victims.
Ny position is that all are to walk as
near as possible to the demand of the gold.
en- rule, and that it does not pay in the end,
and in the best sense, TO wrong any one
In the least degree. however great the
temptation or the opportunity; for to the
!. wrongdoer 1t is selling for a mess of pottags
that which, when parted with, has only
stings and goads to give, and the poison OF
sharp dealing gets into the family blood
But, apart from the effect on the succeed.
ing chapters of the family book. it is APP.
palling enough for each one of US to know
the consequences of wrongdoing coursinf
through our veins and winding it's way Il
: heart and conscience. In brings shadow ant
5 pain, and nemisis follows as q
z retributive angel. But il IS no.
enough to escape the stings Of dis
honest acts. 1t is the glory of man to re
l .spect his ethical nature and TO do right fol
rights sake. irrespective of pain or pleasure
: OF any results.
E A.man should be virtuous because virtu,
: is excellent in life and character. He shoult
{ be high minded and manly because only il
this way can he have the heavenly mint
and find an approving conscience.
. But in the midst of the worlds greed W,
I see the benefcent laws of justice and broth
. . erhood rapidly coming to the front Ther'
: is a growing multitude who practically re
$ we're the golden rule. and "think also o
|, the things Of others" Offsetting Wal
e street are millionaire philanthropists; 10
e gether with intense competition and a strug
: gle for the survival OF the strongest. ther'
q were never before SO many who devot'
themselves to objects Of charity. Whateve
= may be true of Bellamy's Utopia, man 1
I coming to love his fellow-man and insteal
5 Of this unequal speed in the race of life
. the Kingdom Of God on earth is getting al
: most within hailing distance. The prac
teal code Of honor in business circles is TO
: day nobler than ever before. The thirst TO
a wealth is not necessarily bad. 1t spurs OF
to increased energy and economy. Trad
and traffic are not all a selfish scramble am
unscrupulous bargaining.
We must trust people and keep alive bus
mess confidence. The public conscience feel
E more keenly than ever the lapse Of any ma,
a into fraudulent scheming.
1t ought TO be felt as true that there i
s no virtue in the world Of affairs 50 real a
is implied in the word integrity, a wor
: which means Wilderness. the sum Of charac
ter. 1t is a quality which needs no defense
:? That an honest, true man is here or Their
is all the argument the public reeds. We ar
a told that the people of the Quaker City use