The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-21
BETWEEN ANARCHY AND LAW.
Rev. DIR. Ellison Touches on the Polit-
zeal Situation.

The audience room of the First Baptist
Church was filled to overlooking to ex-
tend a welcome to the pastor on his re-
turn from his vacation. The music was
exceptionally fine, being furnished by the
musical director, Mr.. Arthur 2. Preston,
assisted by the church quartet. the male
quartet the Peck brass quartet and
a chorus of fifty voices. DR.. Ellison took
his text from Isaiah, xii, 10, and spoke in
part as follows:
There is abroad in the minds of many
men to-day q dark and hopeless creed, the
CHIEF aim of which seems to be to dispar-
age things sacred and eternal Such men
may not openly antagonize reHgion they
may even patronize it for social and per-
sona1 reasons; yet they can be known from
the fact that they have in their libraries
all the works of celebrated atheists in gilt
backs, and, moreover, when the opportuni-
~ serves and the company is congeniai
they may be heard setting forth their soul
less philosophy. This gross materiallSm
is not as we sometimes imagine, the sole
product of the nineteenth, century, The
centuries. Writes the Roman historian,
Tacitus: We are dumb animals driven
through the midnghtin a rudderless vessel.
on a wild sea-. And Pliny, the Roman
philosopher, eXclaims: What God is, if
indeed He be anything distinct from the
world it is beyond the compass of mans
understanding TO know But 1t IS fool
ish delusion which has sprung MAJ from i
agine that such infinite spirit would
concern himself with the petty affairs of
mankind Nature losses her creatures
out of nothing and tells them not whence
they came nor whittier they are going,
said the German writer Goethe. God is
but stream of tendency flowing through
the ages a power that makes for right
eousness,' writes Mathew. Arnold. In the
stands numb and cold as before a piercing
east wind on bitter March day: There
is no warmth, no sunshine, no life In 1t.
The hearts choicest flowers wither in such
a cruel blast.
Il do not wonder that such a creed per-
meates the very air; that Nihilists. An
archists and Socialists are found on every
side. / do not wonder that men set aside
honesty for pe POND aGs on in Wild Tash
mad delusion. melted by hatred, plumber
and blasphemy:
eternal preciousness of the gospel of God.
1t is impossible for the diamond to rot.
To-day the flowers are at our feet, and We
see them. The stars are over our heads,
but we see them not in the blaze of noon
tide light; but if the night should come and
the flowers be hidden we can stili walk by
the light of the stars. 1t was kind and
thoughtful of the mother long aSo inethe
old farmhouse, when the timid children
candle burning at the head of the stairs;
and it was kind and good Of the great
Father to stoop down and whisper to his
children lost in the night of this world,
Fear thou not for / am with thee; be not
strengthen thee; yea l will help thee; yea
will uphold thee with the right hand OF
my righteousness. This Is q promise Tor
a dark and trying time. 1t came 10 Israel.
for the first time, when the nation had
ceased its desert wanderings and stood with
eager feet beside the Jordan waiting to
cross over. 1t came when the nation was
about to have change of leaders. always
a critical time in national affairs. A great
and glorious future opened up before the
station provided the right man was chosen.
The choice fell aDon Joshua, the brilliant.
dashing warike leader. but he feared to
undertake so arduous a task. Then came
to him. the inspiring promise. rear not,
Joshua, for as / was with Moses, so will
be with thee.
''As nation we stand in somewhat sim
liar circumstances, with Israel of old. We
are about TO choose leaders. Upon our
choice swings the future destiny of Ameri-
ca.
I'VE are called to decide between honesty
and policy. between anarchy and obedience
to law and order and the whole world is
waiting, with deepest interest, for de-
cisioIi in this matter We, each one of US
have an individual responsibility TO do the
right as God gives us to see the right. As
for myself I face the future with calmness
and cheerfulness. for 1 cannot but believe