The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-07
4 Safnon BY the Rev. A. Judson Rich,
of HilItord, New Hampshire
6Iales LIVED OUT is REAL RELIGION.
Issn Optimistic View of the Present
Ouslook-There were Never He.
Fore So Many Good Men Nor Such
~ Demand for Men Who Were Hon.
est--Christian Socialism.
BY REV. A. JuDsoN RICH.
or Milford. n. H.

All things whatsoever ye would that
! hpsn Should do to you, do We even so TO
them.--GAIath- viii, l2)
Look not every man on his own things,
but every man, also. on the things OF
sothers.-tP Phil. H., ~
I know OF no better religion than shat
1of right doing, the golden rule of lifs.
@ practical religion Is both ethical and
spiritual. Theology is not religion,
Enough IT has an honorable place In
right thinking. while ethics is funda-
mental in the sphere of action. Theology
Is various In conception and theory, but
setftics is one. and plain to the common
mind and heart. To think correctly Is
demand OF the intellect, the. finer senti-
ment of the soul
q The basis of all religion is in right ac-
fion. Ethics lived out Is more than what
some call it-"mere morality"-it Is re-
sligion. righteousness Is the all in all OF
mans need and duty 1t is u highway
spanning the two worlds. Ii makes them
one. Right and duty and love and JUS
tiee are the same in all worlds, and con-
satttute salvation. heaven. ETsry man
shall reach the life Immortal who loves
At. and while he is living it. Our theory.
our philosophy of life. may or may not
be correct. but life based on this gold
en- rule will work out philosophy and
! a salvation. whatever else II may or
may not be, wholly excellent and wholly
beautiful.
The ethical Din religion Is the basal,
the practical; take that away and you
nave no consumption. So long as men
have to do with each other In business
life. In social and family relations the
golden rule, 1.-THE ethical spirit should
4 ever be present and operant.
sss What a different world this would be
III everybody should make the golden
rule his guide. and in all business af-
fairs ask what is right, and just and
true and good, and not what would be
OF mosb advantage to the individual.
We are aware that 1t is not an easy
tive. and 1t will allow Of no subterfuges
4 or substitutes.
~ The golden rule is as yet an ideal,
precisely as the appeal of Jesus. BE
we perfed,'' is ideal, but no less goal
towards which to press. Our best pro-
gress TN religion, which is the fiavorlng
of ethics comes through the ideal as an
stnspirer. Socialism Is revealing to us
how far short we come of realizing the
8splendid rule of Jesus, to do by others
: as you would have them do by you, and
while looking on your own things, TO
try to look,\ also. on The things of
othsrs. What a sad spectacle have we
to-day of the poor Roadway nations are
making In obeying the golden rule, and
accepting the religion of Jesus to love
God and man, when the Christian peo-
DIES are ready. at the slightest hint of
gain by war 10 threaten the peace
which Jesus came to bring.
There Is Selfishness in THE heart there
rs q selfshness in the world, and so-called
Z Christian nations have been first and
hercest In waging war for gain OF en-
ptre. "a reasonable love of possessions
lis Well, for individual or nation. 1T is
she handspring which lifts man above
the bruts, while it Is a source. too, of
much misery and mischief in the crowd
I'D fields OF industry trade and traffic.
gIhe true business spirit should be:
1--we and let live" both with employer
and employed All should feel them
selves to be a pant of n vast constitu-
ency. and to know and feel that a
wrong done to any one. is wrong done
TO the whole, in which the wrongdoer
must hold himself responsible.
This Is ia ther selfish age, an age of
speculation. of trusts, combines corner
Eng OF certain commodities to put up the
price and enrich the few to the injury
or ruin of the many. The millennium is
mot yet in its gray dawn. In much of
this kind of traffic the laws of business
3hwithithis heartless code should suffer the
penalty-at least the moral Indignation
of his sufferers and victims
y My position is that all are to walk as
near as possible to the demands of the
golden rule, and that 1t does not nay in
the end and in the best sense, to wrong
any one in the least degree however
great the temptation or the opportuni-
tyr: for ito the wrong-doer 1t is selling
Tor a mess OF pottage that which, when
parted with, has only sting and goads
TO give, and the poison of sharp dealing
gets into the family blood. But, apart
from the effect on the succeeding chap
ters of the family book. 1t Is appalling
enough for each one of US to know the
consequences OF wrongdoing coursing
fnrough our veins, and winding its way
10 heart and conscience. 1t brings
shadow and pain, and nemesis follows
as a retrzbutive angel. But it Is not
enough to escape the stings of dishonest
acts. It Is the glory of man to respect
his ethical nature and to do right for
rights sake, irrespective OF pain or
pleasure OF any results.
"A man should be virtuous because viz
tue is excellent in life and character.
lie should be high minded and manly
because only in this way can ne have
the heavenly mind and find an APPROX
Ing conscience.
But in the midst OF the worlds greed
we see the beneficent laws of justice and
is,rotkeThood rapidly coming to the front.
There Is q growing multitude who prac-
ticatiy revere the golden rule, and think
also OF the things of Others" Onset
ting Wall street are millionaire philan-
thRopistS; together with intense com
petition and a struggle for the survival
iof the strongest. there were never be-
fore so many who devote alternatives