Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-03-28
BE CONSISTENT.
A Word to the Man who Is Ever Talk
ing of Hypocrisy of Pro-
r- fessed Christians.

You will not join a church because
of inconsistent church members! Con-
sistency, then, is the word you wish
TO emphasize. Very well, replies Rev.
Newell Dwight Hills. Here is the
world of trade and commerce. To-
morrow, merchants viii auuIteraJe
their goods, traders will tamper with
their weights, milkmen will water
their milk, diapers will sell cotton for
silk, clerks will steal money from the
bank, and the whole kingdom of trade
stands for hypocrisies and lies. Since
you do not care to associate with hyp-
ocrites, withdraw from business, and
pledge yourself never again to enter
the kingdom of commerce. If incon-
sistent members keep you out of
the church, why do not inconsistent
members keep you out of business?
Here is the kingdom of law. To-mor-
row lawyers will he tricksters. They
will suborn witnesses. They will con-
ceal evidence. They will deal in sub
terfuges. But because some lawyers
are unprofeSsional. will that compel
you to stand aloof from the study of
Jurisprudence? Here is the kingdom
of love and marriage. Tomorrow
some man will play false to his mar
riage vow, and some woman will pro-
fame the hottest sanctities. and those
who have solemnly pledged themselves
to the law of love will stand forth
clothed with hypocrisy as with gar
ment. But does their inconsistency
mean that you can never found your
home, and that you can never stand at
a marriage altar, and never swear
fealty in the name of an eternal
friendship? Why, there are spots on
the sun, but we need the sun for har-
vest. To be consistent, you must give
up the Venus de Milo, because there
is flaw in the marble. We must, pull
down the Parthenon. because there
are black stains on the columns Now.
something is wrong in the man who
refuses allegiance to the church be-
cause of inconsistency, but turns
around and gives allegiance to a hun
dred other institutions, in the very
face of greater Inconsistencies.
The time has gone forever for men
to plead the bigotry and bad lives of
the unworthy disciples of a Master
who confessedly is worthy. Peter and
Judas were not Christian and misrep-
resented their Master. But in that
hour of misrepresentation they ceased
TO be disciples and became hypocrites.
Let all those who dislike hypocrisy
leave Immediately the company of
Judas and Peter with his denial and
join the ranks of the other ten. We
that fhara -
church who are better than some in
the church. Now and then a youth
appears in the realm of art who is
blessed with such native genius that
inStinctively he understands the laws
of drawing and perspective and the
laws of harmonious color. And side
by side with him is another youth who
for years has been in the school under
great artist-master and after long
drill can scarcely equal his brother
who is self-taught. But shall this
gifted youth who has received so much
from his parents and his God declaim
against his father, or despise the
school of art?
There are many poor pupils in
schools and colleges, but when you find
some youth who is far from being the
ideal scholar, do not rail against the
college and the university. The poor
er the scholar the more necessary the
maintenance of the school in which he
studies. Not otherwise, if men in the
church are sinful and weak and full
of error, it is the more necessary TO
strengthen the church, that manhood
later may become strengthened. I'm
consciously, he who urges the incon-
sistency of Christians and rails
against their errors, has forged
weapon that turns against himself.
How ungenerous are all these ex-
cuses, as well as how wicked! We live
in Gods world. He hath fitted ND this
world-house as no prince hath ever
fitted up the halls of a palace. We
breathe His air, are warmed bv His
summers, we feed upon His harvests
we are pilgrims who stoop and drink
at His fountains. The angel of His
providence goes before us 10 prepare
hfG's way; the angel OF His mercy
f. lows after us to recover US from our
Sgressions. And how shall men
such overflow|fhg generosity save
Instant obedience What r,ark
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