The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-02

Il SAoAo V nave Illus, liht Il dihob20 ~
been switched to the side track of destruc,
ton by some transporting but criminal
hand. in a critical moment. who never
dreamed Of such. responsibility.
W partake of the sins OF others by ou1
example. While human nature in its per
| versity gravitates downward, its speed w
that direction is greatly accelerated oy
not consistent and uplifting. Were We 10
SOC our influence on others around us with
the naked eye, just as We see our breath IN
how 1t would startle and frishten us. The
least act, OF the most ordinary life. reaches
SO much farther and effectively than We
would suspect.
Solemn indeed IS the relation of parent
and child from this standpoint. Their In
fuence on offspring Is not SO, much what
they have given them by inheritance as
example day BY day; Christian professors
and workers need to beware of entering into
partnership with sinners by enc o oand;,ct
and the commendatfon by their pract,ee o.
what IL questionable and hnrtful: and the
more 80 amid the innumerabie tests o. z
great city, with its senstality and wofiuil-
ness and ungodliness. Sad would By the
revelation TO many church members II they
were aware OF the real encouragement to 2
life OF sin their inconsistent lives have
given to those who know them best.
"Our silence. I'm the face Of duty to others.
puts US In alliance with SIN. Silence rs
golden but It may also be criminal; II Is
Jul SilSf W 81 oet
prove In others what is evil and lead them
TO the truth. We have no right. from the
fear of rebuff. to evade our responsioiiity
guilty Of SIN. Silence It is said. gives
consent to wrongdoing. but 1t MAJ also
withhoi from another the truth By which
to find deliverance from sin and the JOYS OF
salvation.
This applies to US who deal with the
young and susceptible lives growing up
around us. God condemned Ell. the priest.
yvha c1 r,n 20 q nra.pafira ann fQnlmtnt0U9
end. because his sons made themselves
vile and he restrained them not When
boys and girls are known by their superiors
to be N danger OF. or guilty Of. doing what
is wrong or injurious to body. mind or soul.
and you do not restrain ana reproSe tnsnl.
and give consent by a guilty silence, you
join in the responsibility for their future
and fits destiny.
This Is true of the man Of God. who has
taken upon himself the responsibility OF q
public teacher and a shepher OF souls. he
is tempted sorely to be silent, or to soften
| words, in withholding odious but essential
| truth. for fear of wounding feelings. es-
tranging friends or affecting his support,
| this office ii any one OF these motives pre-
walls. The thought OF the destiny OF those
who providentially look to him for spiritual
direction will cause him to cry aloud and
spare not
But there are times when every Chris
tian. TO be guiitless. must speak his con-
v%ictions. and announce. without eauiyoca-
l liOL, Ills piRiiCip1Cop III SAA. AZ
Is SUCH a thing as smiling a sickly smile OF
approval. to which our profession and our
conscience make us sworn enemies. What
applies to US in dealing with the individual
will also apply in our relation to the COM
! munity. The citizen who countenances the
| violation OF law. the unfaithfulness OF sworn
officers or the peTpetuattol OF evil IN So
sponsible for what We do not do. In It's er-
| feet en- individuals and on society. as much
as in what We do.
sIS,rnt~ktp1 r-rnpDA1nro on nnpnrfy1nlfy
for their work Is the last form Of this I'M
| suspected alliance and guilt. We are IA
| miliar with the universally accepted inter
| probation of the civil law that the man who
to the crime, a particeps crimints. And the
divine law demands as well that whenever
others. furnish means by which evil IS con,
mitted. we become identified with 1t and
shall be held responsible.
There are those who support a popuia
Institution which Is destroying every year
thousands OF young lives, and yet their con.
sciences are at rest. BY the testimony OF
such men na', as Element Snsms1 s Sss1sa the s snd o a5al
actors and dramattsts. the modern stage Is
condemned as All institution demoralizing to
actors and attendants. It ie evident upon a
| posed to the religion Of Christ; It disre-
CARDS the Sabbath, 1t presents the worst
passions and phases Of human nature. 1t un.
sexes woman and exposes her in the most
| shameful attire and the lack of 1t, and yet
| so-called Christians are among the most
common supporters. While every. player Is
not impure. or every play immoral or every
| theater-goer on the hunt for fmpurity
whatever may be its future ideal, the pres
| ent. modern theater IL hostile to morality
and religion
whenever a so-cailed follower Of the
Lord Jesus Christ supports this institution
with his presence and his money and his in
fiuence he is to that degree a particeps
criminis in fits disastrous and well-known
moral results upon the rising generation
about US.
Another institution for which Christian
| people are largely responsible. because ac-
cessories to 1t, is the American saloon. It Is
pre-eminently a business which cannot ex-
list without tempting and destroying the
young and the old and bringing disorder
and disaster in our social life.
Its responsibility is on u6 II we DO MOI
sustain an attitude Of frrepressible hostility.
Wherever this Business Is made respectable
and legitimate by the signature or vote OF
| encouragement Of an Individual or COM
| munity, that constitutes alliance with fta
I curse. 1t Is the crime OF which the Master
once said, Woe unto the man by whom the
onense cometh. It were better for him that
a milestone were hanged about his neck,
and that he were drowne in the depth OF
the sea-
Of this truth our life. as free moral agents
its double-barreled character. In relation to
our fellows. calls for our most careful and
conscientious living. depending continually
On the grace and guidance OF the Holy