Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-06
FOR SUNDA DIN J !! ].
All sorts u OpAntens.


4 BUSINESS OF BIBLE gOCIErY.
New York SUM-
But there 10 something else OF far
graver significance In this decline Of
the business Of the Bible Society. 1t Isl
the leseened reading OF the Bible indi-8
Gated. No one who inquiries among the
younger men OF this time IL not struck
by discovering how little Is their famil-S
|iarity with the Bible. Our current
literature is not penetrated with it's
spirit and shaped by the language Of
the King James version, as was the
English literature Of the past. Biblical
quotations are rarely heard now. In
how many families now is the Bible
read as part OF the daily devotional
lexerclses, tho formerly 1t was used
thus in every protestant household OF
a religious tone?
This present neglect Of the Bible,
however, cannot be called surprising.
1t is natural consequence OF the dis
credit thrown on the scriptures even
by clergymen and teachers OF theology.
| The Bible is no longer distinguished by
them as the infalllble word Of God, but
| is apologized Tor as mere literature"
disfigured by human errors, the guile OF
Epriestcraft and the ignorance and cred
ulity of semi barbarous compilers. 1t is
no longer held up to men as the one
book absolutely separated from all hui
man literary productions. but is dis
cussed as simply one of the sacred
books Of the religious and superstitious
4 of the world.
1t Is no wonder then than the busi-
4 ness OF the American Bible Society is
falling away. How could 1t be ether
wise?
4 VALUE OF THE NATIONS IDEAL.
Il [Rev. DR.. j. s. Stone.l
a Ideals are great and noble according
i to the greatness and nobility of the
q maker OF them. but without some ideal,
! some picture or plan toward which
i progress should be made, no man or
4 nation has life worth living. It's an
y ideal, more or less clearly expressed
!, but none the less actual and true,
s. which has made America the power
j, she is in the world today.
From this land thruout the world has
4 gone out the ideal Of personal freedom
OF government by the people and fol
:. the people, Of adventure into new ane
lEuntried theories and Of universal peace
: and happiness. The struggle toward
these ideals at home has made America
! mighty for the worlds regeneration
Other nations learn Of her and gathel
), her spirit Her example has medtfee
Z much that in other nations is antagon
. stiic to her ideals.
{ In this lies her real power. She il
q changing the world. 1t is not mere!
y the futtering of the stars and stripe
Z in the winds of foreign lands, but 1t y
3 the philosophy of America entering
: into the hearts and minds of foreigl
peoples. And in this lies also our re
sponsibility. 1t is our duty to keel
: clearly and definitely before us tn
ideals created by our fathers and cher
}. ished thru these centuries of our his
: tory The moment welet them go an
J. set before us an inferior ideal. say tn
ideal of imitation, making it our ali
b to reproduce an England or German
:. in this western land, striving to haN
=! like manners, customs, laws. philost
It PIXIES or religions, not for their aN'
y worth but simply because England 9
le Germany has them, that rnonler
y brings to the heart OF America tn
q death touch. God has created US for
purpose, even as he has created othe
h peoples for their purpose; our 1des
n. must be to do our own work, to sery
n. our own vocation in the divine econonl
r. and not to go hungering and hankerin
g after other peoples ideals.
) = j