Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-10-13
THE GOLDEN RULE.


Should BE the Basis OF Business and
Politics.
The golden rule is admitted by most
men to be the core of Christianity. As
recorded in Matt. 7:12, it reads: s'All
things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do We even so to
them,' and there is added ''for this is
the law and the prophets" The idea
that it expresses permeates the Bible
especially the New restament-and
was kept prominently before the peo-
pie by Christ himself. Just to the ex-
tent that it is preached and practiced
does the Christian religion spread and
increase in power.
Yet, strange to say, of the thou sands
of sermons we have listened to, or seen
in print, we cannot recall one of which
the golden rule was the text. More
over, we have asked several-of whom
one was a popular minister. whose
sermons contain an unusual proportion
of genuine Christianity-itsu uplifting
power-but no one of them remem-
bered a sermon on that text
The subject, is of course, frequently
referred to- and treated of incidentally
and earnestly-but, we repeat, that
it is surprising it is so seldom put in
the foreground as prominently now as
it was is centuries ago; and we cannot
help adding with an entire absence of
censoriousneSs) that this would have
been very much better and happier
world than it is if every minister had
taken it as his text at least once every
year. By so doing, they would have
strengthened themselves as we'll as
helped their people:
1t would be difficult to say how many
vitalizing, g,soul-strengthen and soul
comforting sermons strong man
could preach from that text. 1t covers
every desire of man, in every relation
of Hfe-not merely as a religious be-
ing, but in business. political and
social affairs. 1t says-and means
''all things"
Every law that confers privileges on
| some that are denied to others; that
exempts some shoulders from burdens
| that should be distributed among all.
| in proportion to their strength; that
! ties one mans hands, but leaves an
| others free; that tends to strengthen
caste feelings and arbitrary social dis
tine sions, contravenes the golden rule
and should be modified or repealed.
The golden rule should permeate
every page of the statutes, from title
page to index. There is no other eth
ical law that is SO universally approved
by the conscience of mankind, in every
part of the world, without regard to
race or creed. The nation that first
instructs its judges and executives to
consider this irrepealable law of God
as part of every statute-a part that
cannot be construed away-win reach
heights, and secure to its citizens an
amount of well being never before en-
joyed by any people, and which, in the
nature of things, must increase forever.
The same principle holds good in
business life. AS no nation need wait
on other nations, SO no man need wait
for the millennium, before deciding tC
do right himself, in all things. Let
him really live up to the golden rule,
in all things, and he is not likely ever
to regret it. If those who think thei,
experience proves the contrary will
look into their own souls they will
probably find that they obeyed the
law in part only.
But we do not intend to sermonize
Our wish is to impress on our readers
the fact that-in a broad sense-re-
ligion. business and politics are SO in
dissolubly connected, that they cannot
be separated without serious injury to
each.
True religion is righteousness
righteous. Every law should be right
and, if right, is righteous" Every
truly conscientious man is religious
in his way-no matter what his creed
and every religious man should insist
that every law that is not already
righteous should be made right a.
soon as possible.
To this end, it is plainly his duty tc
refuse to aid any party whose triumph
is likely to prevent the needed i'm
provement and proper execution O
the laws and to put his vote where i
will most certainly help secure the de
sired results.-Topeka (Kan.) Inde
pendent.