The record-union., 1896-08-30

ed food is manufactured by the art of
man, which is readily assimilated when
absorbed by otherwise recalcitrant
stomachS. Thus the dyspeptic has his
dinner as well as any other man,
though it is neither in substance nor
quality that other mans dinner. But
the food is very ingeniously provided
beforehand with such elements or
qualities as make it thoroughly adapt
able to the digestive apparatus of even
invalids and dySpepticS. The question
is not whether a sound digestion would
require these peptoniZed foods, nor as
to how far their use in a medical way is
to be recommended. In most dietaries
probably they would have no place. But
it is worth while to ask whether the
preacher Of the Gospel would not do
well to assume that not all nor even
most of his auditors are of that stall
Wart style of spiritual physique which
is able to assimilate anything he may
give them in the line of doctrine? Shall
he not rather take it for granted that
many of his hearers will require in or
der to moral nutrition a kind of pep
SC1tAHNNA
the truth in it, indeed, but contains the
truth in predigested form, readily un-
derstandable and usable by the weakest
minded auditors? 1t is possible to put
even weighty doctrines into such a
plain, persuasive. peptonized form as
will render them easy of digestion even
by children and spiritual invalids."
Politics, in philosophical classifica-
ton, is combination of economics and
of ethics, and these are inseparable," :"
says the Interior" (Pres.) of Chicago.
'"The ethics in politics is compressed in
the maxim Honesty is the best policy
because dishonesty and WrOng-doing in
civil affairs always brings retribution,
and this retribution falls upon the
whole peOple-each must suffer for the
| sins of the civil whole. The right and
| the wrong in politics are no more diff
cult to understand and define than they
are in personal conduct-and personal
conduct they are because the voter takes
his full part in the right or the wrong
that is done 1t is a greater sin to vote
| for wrong doing than to do it ones self,
| because the penalty falls upon the In
nocent as well as upon the guilty, of
the whole people, in the one case, and
only upon a limited number of individu-
ais in the other. The ethics of politics
are as simple as the golden rule, which
! is the basis of all ethics, of all hon
esty, justice, and truth. The principle
upon which we say that it is a greater
sin to vote for wrong than to commit
a wrong, is recognized by the common
law of Great Britain and America. If
one man, by himself, commits assault,
battery, trespass, or other violation of
law and good order. the penalty is COM
paratively light. But if three men
combine to do the contemplated wrong,
! it is called a riot, and the penalty
against each is double or treble what
1t would be if they acted independently
and without concert, and did the same
thing. The voter cannot lose his indi-
vidual responsibility and escape it in a
crowd"
THE man who holds the church re-
sponsible for the sentiments and actions
of some of the other members, and who
announces his determination to leave if
they are retained, utterly misconceives
the office of the church." says the
Christian Leader" Univ.) of Boston,
and brings in question his own mo-
tives in joining. Could such a one
4 pause for a moment and think assum-
ing that he himself is perfect, that sup
posing all within the bounds of mem
bership were likewise perfect, how use
| less would be this great od-made insti-
tuition. To limit it's purpose to furnish
| ing a reservoir for perfect lives is to
| take from the world the greatest power
Of salvation The church is to save
rather than be simply a refuge for the
saved; its office is active, not passive.
With all it's defects it is yet as nearly
| as may be the living Christ in the world
and it's office is to follow the footsteps
of the Master; not gather a few con-
genial but selfish souls knowing some
secret way to heaven, and gloating in
their advantage over others. but to
serve as Jesus did. Not to avoid sin
ners, but to go among them, to call
| those burdened with their sin to come
and find rest in its bosom. The sinner
| we would often turn out of the church
needs the church so much more than we
IS our Christianity so delicately bal
anced that it is so easily overthrown?
| Which is stronger, good or evil? Will
the good uplift or the evil pull down?
Is there an evil one in our communion
pray not that he may be removed, but
equal to lifting him into righteousness. -