The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-13


want, can Christians ignore the moral
question involved?
In the parable of the sower. Christ
taught that THE cares of this world and
troth," history confirms his teachings
Reforms come from those who suffer not
from those who are benefited by exist
ing conditions, and yet, in 1896, those
who were perverting the ends of govern
ment and reducing favoritism to a sci
ence threatened the nation with bank
ruptcy, IL deprived Of control.
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE TRUST.
If the prophet Amos were to revisit the
earth and witness the increase in tenan-
cy upon the one hand and the piling up
of immense fortunes upon the other he
might excIaim, as he did of old: Hear
this, o We that swallow up the needy,
even to make the poor of the land to
fail, making the epah small and
the shekel great, and classifying the bal
ances by deceit.
shall not the land tremb1e for this
ana every one mourn that dwelleth
What is the attitude Of the Christian
toward the trust? Can he be a rnonopo-
fishes without breaking the Golden Rule !?
VIII Standard OH and the water of life
If trust magnate can purchase re-
ligious responsibility by liberal contribu-
portion of his ill-gotten gains should he
surrender in order to atone for the viola
ton OF laws, human and diVino2
No church would extend the hand of
fellowship to a physical giant who oc-
cupied a mountain pass and enforced
tribute from all who fell into his hands.
A monopoly does not differ greatly from
the giant in method, and may be infinitely
more potent for evil MONOPOLY is bond
age; it unbridles greed and furnishes to
aVarice a destructive weapon. Human
nature has not changed much since the
days of Pharaoh. The Industrial mon
arch Is as tyrannical as the political mon
arch.
Give strength and opportunity and op-
preston will be the result whenever a sell
fish interest is to be subserved. Can the
spirit of the meek and lowly Nazarine
be discerned in those who water stock,
issue bonds in excess of the value of the
trust methods, and then prey upon So
ciety at large?
CHURCHES BECOMING ALARMED.
Conditions have become so alarming
that church organizations are beginning
to sound a note of warning. At the gem
eraI synod Of the Reformed Church, held
at T1ffin, o., last year, the committees on
the state of the church reported the fol-
lowing resolution:
certain agencies, which are slowly but
surely revolutionizing the entire social
the country in the hands Of a few, the
steady enlargement of the poor classes of
people, and the gradual diminution of a
hope of every thriving state, the rapid in
crease and intensihcation of all those So
c1ai and industrial agencies which tend to
make human life burden of despair to
the many and g, material paradise to the
feW-a1l these things can not but exert a
baleful influence upon and prove a con-
slant hindrance to the progress of the
kingdom of Christ upon earth"
The resolutions might with propriety
have concluded with the familiar quota
ton from Timothy:
But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and snare and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
love of money is the root of all evil
which, while some coveted after. they
themselves through with many Sorrows
FORCIBLE CONQUEST BY NATIONS.
The forcible annexation of the Philip
pine islands is defended by some on the
hgious duty. Without stopping to elabo-
rate the fact that a large number of the
branch of the Christian church. it is worth
while to inquire whether wars of con-
quest are in line with Christian preceptS.
The Rev. James L Baron, secretary of
the American board of foreign missions,
denies that an American protectorate over
sionaries. He says:
Hitherto our missionaries have gone to
the ends of the earth carrying on their
work. and 1t has never been charged upon
the colonies to be planted, which in turn
were TO lead to a protectorate from the
5 nome &c, country fr T not annexation Mis-
France have been open to these charges
and thereby their influence has been
greatly narrowed and their efforts misin-
terpreted, while our own missionaries have
been entirely unhampered
The Christian religion is essentially re-
ligion of the heart, and love is Its su-
preme manifestation. The kingdom of
mustard seed which by its interngI at Vital al
force, grows into a great tree, and to a
little leaven, which gradually leavens the
whole lump.
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS"
There are some who think that destiny
leads US away from the Declaration of In
pendence, away from the Constitution,
and away from the traditions of the past
There are some who even think that our
nation is commanded to go'forth with the
other prepared to read the former to
those who escape the latter.
We have been warned against false
We are led astray test has been na siyen
the spurious and the true. Beware OF
false prophets which come to you in
ing wolves. re shall know them by their
fruits: Pc men gather grapes of thorns
BY their fruits we shall know them
When we are told that religious duty re-
portunities of self-government. we have a
right to ask whether our instructors have
been careful to observe their religious du-
ties at home.
We cannot expect philanthropy and be-
nevolence to inspire imperialists in their
foreign policy, IL wrong, injustice and spe-
cha! privileges have been the fruits of
their domestic policies.
If they have sacrificed others for their
own benefits here. are they likely to make
sacrifices for the benefit OF others abroad?
WIN they be more considerate of subjects
than they have of citizens? Or is 1t the
enchantment of distance that transforms
Selfishness into altruism?
IT IS TEMPTATION, NOT OPPOR-
TUNITY.
Lincoln was once asked whether he
thought the Lord was on his SIDE and he
replied that he was anxious to be on the
Lords side. We cannot change eternal
principles to suit our own convenience, or
to advance our own plans but we can
strive with singienesS of purpose to know
the truth, and when we find that which
We believe to be the truth we can adhere
to it.
Let US not mistake temptation for OPP
portunity. The sight of new territory may
be anuring. the glory OF an empire may
be fascinating, but the price demanded
is too great.
THE devil taketh him up into an ex-
c &c, high mountain and showeth him