The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-22
-. ". D. Simonds' Sermon at
First Unitarian Church.
'says CHRISTIANITY IS NEEDED
1900 II Counteracts the Effects
= Vices Arising From Progress
reaaency TO Hypocrisy I'm Modern
4snes Among BeIievers-Forces
4Aat Build Society Also Destroy
a.~vfces MT other Churches.

'5t XkX. w. ~. Etf1OH1H, pd@tOF VI TING r tE1t
f,sif.rtxn church. preached an interesting
,~,mon yesterday morning on the sub
j 81 sThe Teachings OF Christ and Mod
n ffvilixation.s The teachings OF Christ,
s " deciared, were necessary for the pre-
walton OF civilization. lie said In sub
nxnee.
, ~ has long been recognized that insln-
4 .srlfr II not uncommon In matters per-
4 ssis}ug to religion. Men have coined q
\ TSgd 70 express, almost In the. sound Of
I Z IN extreme Of scorn for falseness In
& ~ religious life. Hypocrite--this word,
I " 13yeek origin. Is Older than Christianity;
3ucbtless some word OF similar import Is
q "a ~ the affairs al which men have
Vsshiped with simulated piety. The hid
ssssy,rss OF conscious falsehood Is felt
i ~ condemned, but II r. by no means no
early seen that comparatively innocent
{ f6lnceYty--innocent 80 far as vicious in
IN q CONCERNED as subtle poi
~ tho religious world OF today. In a
z fsd 81 mental Incidence, custom Ii placed
tsfose principle and sentiment before
This false and fatal attitude Is most
ern6feut In the protested homage OF Je~
4 ~ II the modern world and the constant
/ "a n1Grant disregard Of His plainest
fSathings. Fifty years ago Emerson saiti'
TllpFicnl Christianity clings with nox-
1i1. This large Worship OF the name and
4 fleoQn NJ 1e~us was never more marked
/ |Ssr 80. n Jesus were 10 return to tho
i S&qrrhea of today we can imagine that He
vuojd listen % The hymns, prayers and
6lSnCns. and W the bitterness Of sorrow
J s1eia3n, Why call We me Lord. Lord. AMI
/ y NJ the things that ] say
A Mystery Of unveractty.
~fI0w can we explain this mystery Of
n8fefacityf IL IL not because Of Il com
siftion--of which perhaps We are only
M conscious~@that the teachings OF Je-
lsx..t ~ .1..rrx IA
rseutifnl AZ ahxtracs sentiments. ms
eoueh for Sunday theorixing. we seem y
nj that they are out Of place in the field
u psacfieal ethics. This conviction Is an
- to prove that civilization requires for
III perfection. that society demands for
n security, constant and sincere appii-
ntton Of the teachings OF Jesus to the life
Il IN people,
4x1tnnd clearly that the tendencies ~
eiyllixation are not all good, that some Of
I'm are distinctly and Interestingly bad.
16seqvrr. civilization seems to carry
.u&kln itself the forces that may yet de-
s1rpy I'll this fair fabric Of modern -oci.
~. for In society, az In nature. the forces
1hnl give life also condemn to death; the
nFeeN that build destroy. Unless higher
l1re. d diviner law. can become domi-
mt, one can pronounce. In The light OF
1kxory. thr end Of civilization. ~ JUS
l1oea danger points. JUS where ctviiixa-
- - weakest. the teachings OF jesus
IN strength and safely.
# s0nsiher first how civilization intenSi-
~ the passions and anickens the appp-
3}H&a The savage man IL Gained and
<&eipiined by nature Mountain and for
~. river and plain. teach him sohriety.
III hard necessities OF life shield him
JnM more than occasional overhaul
g216ee. Civilization means first. album
I&rpe, then luxury and finally degsner-
~ prunkmrd making and harlotry are
114ater vices OF civilization. not OF saw
1nfy Over against this we place Jesus
'S5rtrire OF purity. Of personal chastity.
III sweet and severe for man az for
e&nan where can We find safety from
e vices that threaten TO destroy. save
INT and life7
Defects 81 Civssisstien.
Mote again that civilization develops
sl1m conditions. class strife, class hatreds,
I'D this apparently by Inevitable law. An
tfistocracy cold and cruel. popuiac-
vssaesd and enviosls. these seem the nat
m1l result ~ advanced civilization. All
ftsdy Il ts taught in hish places that the
hSAased maxim ~ simpler days. The
tsMaees good to the greatest number II
saxteuk producing a coddied. pitiful, weak
M MU-mtnded race. The doctrine OF
sq.Ilsy y said To be poison and We are
taa4 ikAs we ought not even To try TO
tsxhe ~ unequal equal To an
slxFmtae extent this Il the work
y VII result. as IN all the past,
b a aristoeracy dying OF It's own Vices
and n 4 popuiace submerged In its own
Avvfalty What can save usf Jesus d.
s5as dactrtne OF the brotherhood of man;
Nothing else and nothing lees. With this
tafs<ty demands for its STABILITY the abo-
nfian Of war. the realization 81 the Mas
WIS kinEsiom 81 peace and good VIII
AMONG men
usee more. have you thought that civ
Mnatian tends In no slight degree actually
q y decrease the sorrows OF lifeT by so
Marh a. the civilized man II refined By 80
maeh t. he made more sensitive 10 the
\ ssis ~ existence, Between the savage
epfher hearlng many children for whom
re esres onty In Infancy and the CIVIL
nsd neither OF few children for whom
~ cares with lifelong devotion there may
All the difference OF sorrow that
@.*s* With The seasons and a sorrow that
saas IN despair.
shffne the SsnSihtiitiss. develop the AZ
8siasSns and y0u plunge man ip deeper
as1rtsH unless there ~ for him a gospel
easnfart ard 81 love. Never WAS fae
saN bore which hreAthes in the words "
sts,se more necessary 20 the health and
masis ~ the race. Ne need His uafalter-
Is trust IN 0iSd Tits nnwaveriag comb
@Afe Ia ths teafisws land beyond death
y nred the sweetness and radiance ~
~ fAith IN man and truth. Because ~
Msss things we may declare with the
ssfAAh philosopher Ftchis. that TO the
g. @ time sensible men VIII how low