The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-12

:" BY this shall all men know that We
are my disciples If We have love one to
another This is the true test of Chris
tianity-a test instituted by our Lord him
self This is the mark of the genuineness
of our religion-not have we accepted GER
tain creeds not have we submitted 10 GER
tain ceremonies, not have we had certain
experiences, but have we lover Members
of the Grand Army wear badge upon
and heroic service for their country. The
members of the great fraternities, wear Ger
tain insignia showing the right to the
mystic privileges and honorable fellowship
of their order. Nations and colleges and
other organizations have their distinguish
ing colors. The badge of the Christian Is
love, the fairest, sweetest noWer OF the
heart.
Love never fails in power. 1t is not only
the greatest; it is the strongest thing in the
universe. 1t will do what nothing else can.
There is a remarkable passage in which
Paul speaks of CErist as the power of God
We usually look to the wonderful works OF
creation for the exhibition of Gods power.
To Niagara, with its rush of mighty
waters; to the seq, with its fierce fury; 10
the sun, holding in its strong and steady
grasp the worlds of our system; TO the
physical universe, with its myriads of nam
ing suns-surely there His power is writ
ten large. But Paul says, Christ is the
power of God But who was Christ, and
what was He? He was the incarnation OF
love. Love was the essence and burden OF
His teaching. Love was the business OF
His life. Love was the heart and motive OF
His conduct Love swayed Him in every
thing and took Him at last to Calvary,
and there love thrilled Him, for while the
nails tore His flesh he prayed Rather Tor,
give them, and as His eyes glazed ana
His head dropped in death. He spoke IN
loving tenderness to His mother Love
found it's fullest, sublimest expression IN
Jesus, and Paul says, This Christ is the
power of God.
LOVE NOT A WEAKNESS
'In our ignorance we sometimes imagine
love to be weakness. But when God wanted
to exhibit His power He sent His son into
the world-the man Of love When He
wanted to redeem man, to lift up fallen
race, to purify life unclean, to break
the banded power of iniquity, what means
did He employ? Love. What is the great
est power in the home? What binds the
family together, conquering poverty, sepa-
ration, misfortune-yea, and death itself?
Love- Gold will not keep family together
often it separates. Love will. Gold is
worth but gold. Love is worth love. What
is the most reliable power even IN armies
is it god or glory, or hatred, or revenge?
Is it not rather love, the love of country
or freedom or personal affection for some
great leader? What is the greatest power
in life? What makes life worth hVlnS
Love When none are left TO love US, none
for us to love, we long to die. ,,r-,.,.
~ ed Lhis supreme Christian principe
in meeting the great questions OF modern
life. We need it in business, in politics, In
social relations, in church life. We may
appoint committees in Congress and call
ubon the highest courts of the Nation to
remedy the labor troubles, but only as they
apply the principle of Christian love Will
their efforts prove successful. Law Is pow
erless to reach right and permanent results
unless it embodies love. Other measures
may bring quiet for time, but the OLD
discomfort will break out again in ever
fercer flame. The true remedy is sovereign
and radical and yet easy. 1t is no secret
there is no mystery about it, 1t is love.
Who will ever settle the labor troubles of
the nations-Jesus Christ-With his law OF
1nXrp industrial tFnnhlGS from
love- The representatives of capital and
labor have learned to hate each other, they
have organized, not only for their own
good, but against their supposed enemies.
In this attitude there is no Christian love,
and little common sense: 1t would be Just as
wise to institute war between hands ana
feet-for men to organize VS.. women.
They are essential to each other and their
only right relation is that of love. III capl-
talists would take this principle OF love in
stead of the law OF selhshnesS as the rue
greatly lessened. An employer or labor can
in most cases win his men and make them
rs this the spirit of capital and cor
porations? When this great lesson is
learned industrial peace is well nigh Sc
cured. But when capital in cold and sell
fish spirit seeks only its own interests,
beats down wages, pays men barely enough
to live, but at the same time grows Tlch
and lordly living in luxurious self-indul-
gence, Indifferent II the aspirations OF the
laboring classes aid 10 the cry OF the
struggling poor, II JS not ST. duesO IlleiC W.
terness prevails, and disaster threatens.
Some men have the grace to take Chris
tan kindness and Christian respect for men
into their business establishments. Some
vast concerns are managed on this plan,
and they are successful. Strikes are I'M
known among them. Differences are easily
adjusted. The property needs no protection
from police and rifles. Love IS a better
guardian than these The men are arraigned
not against the master, but on his side.
They labor in quetness and confidence. The
sick are not forgotten. and those who can
no longer work feel but lightly the bur
dens of the aged poor. Love never faileth.
But how does labor do its part? Does 1t
employ love? Does love rule in its coun-
ellis? Perhaps not more than with capital.
Too often does it act in the spirit OF bit
terness with threat and violence and ven
geance Labor troubles often have little TO
do with the question of wages. The real
point in dispute is who shall rule, the union
or the proprietors. 1t is a trial of strength
q choice between tyrannies, the tyranny OF
the master, or that of the men. We con-
denim monopolies, they are selfish and
wrong and unchristian. But there can be
monopoly on the part of labor as well as
capital I believe in unions in the right to
organize and obtain all the benefits of
united action, but love should rule here, as
well as elsewhere. In these great questions
both parties need this principle OF love to
guide their conduct What does love 90?
It suffereth long and is kind. Is not easily
provoked. But how can any rational ad-
justment be reached as long as men meet
each other and act in the spirit of hatred
for the industrial world what merciless
competition, sharp practice and selfish
schemes can never do. II will bring peace
and good will and safety.