The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-02-07
capitalist; in his profession he leads.

But this is the matter with Zebedee-
he is all work, he is all business. 1t
isn't so much that he doesn't play now
and then, although that is a defect and
a loss. But Zebedee neglects his higher
life. Zebedee isn't very social man.
He is always tired when he comes home
at night. He wants his pipe and his
paper. Salome can go to the church
social-he wishes she would, and take
the children, bless them! And Salome
must have a ticket for the lecture
course, but he guesses he won't go this
year. And Salome must belong to the
literary club and have her night out
regularly every week-if there are any
books to buy or membership fees to
pay, why, here's the money. Zebedee
is generous man. Occasionally Zebe-
dee will pull himself together and escort
his wife somewhere Perhaps it is little
card party-just few intimate friends
with whom Zebedee feels quite at home,
and where he won't have to exert him
self very much. Or it may be supper,
-Zebedee is always partial to supper
the kind where you pay twenty-five
cents and eat a dollars worth of
food, that churches and other phil
anthropic institutions have adopted
as an easy and economical means of
replenishing their treasures. Or it
may be an entertainment at the hall
that's ''funny" or otherwise unusual.
Zebedee does like laugh and he has a
little weakness for the sensational. So
l say, Zebedee neglects his higher life
the intellectual part Of him. But this
isn't his worst neglect of the higher
life.
Zebedee isn't much of a religious
man. He's decent and moral, mind
you. But somehow Zebedee's mind
makes distinction between morality
and religion. And there is vital
difference, although not so much as
some people think, when you have de-
fined morality COMPREHENSIVE and
eliminated from religion certain afore-
time popular superstitions and eccen-
tricitieS. However, Zebedee isn't re-
ligiously inclined, speaking in all strict
ness. Zebedee isn't given very much
to attending church. This troubles his
pastor and distreSses his wife. Zeb-
edee wouldn't hurt anybody's feelings
for the world-he is well-intentiOned
and good natured-but as touching this
matter, well-it's his way, his habit He
admits when cornered it isn't just the
right thing to do, but still he goes on do
ing it, and that's about all that can be
said upon the case. The pastor is
troubled because he wants men in his
ccngregation-not because he appreci-
ates woman less but because he appreci-
ates man more as listener for some
particular things that concern him
chiefly, and because there is a work to
do for the Kingdoms sake which is
mans distinctively, just as there is a
work to do which is woman's distinc-
lively. Salome is distressed because she
is thinking of James and John and little
Martha and Mary, and in her heart she
knows as anybody knows who thinks
deeply about it that Zebedee is setting
his children very bad example and is
multiplying the influence of their mother,
their Sunday school teacher, their pas
tor, and other interested friends. Per
haps Zebedee himself hasn't fully con-
sidered this. 1t is possible it has never
entered his mind how really selfish and
lazy he is It's his inclination not to go
to church and he doesn't go. He's
''tired" Sunday morning-that's how he
usually explains it if he deigns to
vouchsafe any explanation. 1t is very
remarkable that Zebedee lives as long
as he does for he has that ''tired feel
ing" the year round. Salome is tired,
too poor woman. but she has some
spunk She can get the breakfast,
wash the dishes, dress the children,
teach them their Sunday school lesson,
prepare for the dinner, and sail tri-
umphantly into church, withal some
what pale, before 10.45 A. NJ, while Zeb-
edee, good man, is sitting around in his
shirt sleeves at home and wishing the
Sunday papers would arrive a little
earlier Zebedee doesn't go to prayer
meeting. He believes in it, in way
that is, he wouldn't want his church to
give it up as an institution, but it would
embarrass him to attend in person, so he
sends ubstitute-Salome. Oh, Zeb-
edee, Zebedee, Salome will 60 into heaven
before youth virtue of her own worth,
and methinks, too, as your substitute!
But Zebedee has one saving grace as
touching this matter-whatever religion
costs for his family. he will pay the
bills Zebedee is member of the par
ish. In that is his pastors faint en-
couragement. He hopes some day to
see him member of the church. But
if Zebedee ever does join the church he
has practically to be dragged into it,
And when occasionally Zebedee is in he
usually wants to get out. l cannot
understand this pycpnt on tho cunpoci