The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-19
HEREDITY'S STRONG Pull
THE REV. j. CUMMING SMITH
breaches INTERESTING SERMON.
ssHuman Freedom and Accountable
ity. His Theme-"serfs and Slaves
to Nerves and Dead Ages"

Human Freedom and Accountability
was the theme OF the Rev. j. Cumming
Smiths sermon at the Tabernacle yester-
day morning. He said:
Jesus felt a solemn sorrow as He looked
upon q city throwing away it's supreme
opportunity OF development. The history
of the Jews. as well as of Europe, would
have been altogether different If Jesus had
been received as their Messiah. Their re-
pudiation OF Him led logically TO the sacri-
fee on Calvary. which has been the foun-
tain or human redemption. Nevertheless
the Jews lost their chance OF historical
supremacy and the centuries OF oppression
they have suffered only inspires the hope
that as a race they will wheel round and
worship Him they once crucified. Every
thing looks toward such a national con-
version as a precursor Of the millennium
"a city reaches greatness only when it
touches the questions of immortal life and
radiance A rationalistlc community is the
auintessence OF vulgarity and animalism.
A secular community is scandal to sure
judging posterity. Compare Madrid and
Milan. Vienna and classic Edinburgh, Mos
COW and Boston.
The commercialism OF America would
be Its greatest danger were IL not that
Our thunderouS foundrieS and lightning
movements are as nothing compared to our
devotion to art and science and benevo-
lence and social reconstruction and human
brotherhood and faith. These constitute
the spiritual life. and religion is another
name for the everyday or overwaving OF
Gods life on earth. as the sweet boughs
OF simmer orchards bend over a stone
wall to greet the dusty road outside. The
fierce greed OF Wall street would overturn
our civilization were 1t not for the soften
ing influence OF loving homes and adoring
temples that sublime our land.
HEREDITY AND FREEDOM
Notice the union OF heredity and free
dom in the repression OF Jesus. Jerusa-
lem had contracted habit or unconquera-
BILE instinct for stoning prophets. A COM
munity can form habit as community.
The aggregate civic temper and idealism
may move in certain well-worn channels
Just as an Amazon or Rhone is nothing
but slave and continues to roll as it
has rolled. The river is simply habit of
motion Jerusalem was a synonym of per-
tinacity. Of provincial pride and bigotry.
OF dosged. infexibIe attachment to heridi-
tary customs. These made a fixed. invet-
crate habit. As city ii shone with unique
virtues which more than atoned for these
unfortunate weaknesses. Still. history is
remorseless. and in the light OF after
were handicap. A man need not be toe
ntolid In order to avoid the extreme of
dck1eness- OpenEess to light and a hospi-
tally Of heart toward Gods newest reveal
tons. these are the proofmarks of SPLEEN
did. evsr-receptive and overseeing human
excellence He who fears to let truth
stand out alone to guard itself Is the worst
possible atheist He blackmails God in
his dfstrust OF truth
Now Jesus saw those Jews as mere VIC
tins TO that hard. pitiless heredity and
he SON al cir
and rejected the last and greatest Prophet
II was q surrender. conscious or uncon-
seious. TO a mighty ancestral inheritance
Of reputation OF the best things. Jesus
saw this. For a city is not a mere collec-
ton. like q museum. but focus of civili-
Sation. nerve center OF representative
impulse Hence the undertone of pity. II
was not whitening satire. but a tender
brotherly lament over a city so chained
down and rtveted In the narrow ideas be-
aueethed that II was virtually blind when
man was offered a position with the hand
soonest salary, but was so drugged and
ssuPsned oy long deoauch as TO be prac-
ucally unable TO realize the nature of the
tempting offer.
PUSHED TO THE FRONT.
In modern times the questions of heredi
~ and the tyranny OF environment have
been pushed TO the front. Science tends to.
ward an orderly fatalism. We are all heirs OF
tremendous influences and while we seen
to be free. we are but acting out transmit
ted opinions. They ooze from every pore
Our pasts are living over again in Us. Their,
" nothing so live as the cemeteries, Thi:
Is fataiism: IL is OF a high and serene type
but still II is fatalism. IL robs man OF es
sentiai power TO initiate action. 10 choos,
between courses a machine, whether OF
ideas or OF steel. can enjoy no self-action
II starts or stops just a clock and de
ponds for winding on some dominating
Will outside OF il.
"Aow environment Il tremendous GER