The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1903-02-13

essary scar on our civilization. 1t i
hlotch ON our Christianity.
Tits a curse-buta curse not ordain-
ed Of God.
For this great sin, and all the great
'raju OF evils that 20 arm and arm
with it, God cannot be held respon-
sible.
When this world was finished
when it first left the hands Of the
Creator-it was without spot or blem-
ish. Il was in all respects beautiful.
Its beauty was such as to make the
most sluggish tongue grow eloquent.
1t moved noiselessly through space
There was light and darkness which
are necessary for mans existence.
There were fertile plains, lovely
landscapes and mountain grandeur.
There were tree, and shrub and
flower.
Tn-re were lakes, rivers and oceans.
Everything was given the power Of
reproduction and nothing was lacking
for She sustenance of life.
Fishes were created To iuhabit the
waters, beasts the fields, and fowls
tia air.
Over sea, earth and air man was
given dominion.
And in order to reveal its secrets
and lay bare its mysteries, he was
fashioned in the image of God-he
wears the proud likeness and stamp
of his Creator.
No man knows how old the world
j., no man will ever know, but scien-
fists claim that it is hoary with age,
Yet it is just as capable of taking care
o. its population today as it was when
the first man was created.
And a. man becomes more ana
more possessed Of the knowledge of
his Maker he will more and more
he able to supply in plenty both of
food and raj uent the worlds teeming
millions.
This is conclusive proof that God
created an abundance for all.
That some possess a great deal and
some none at all, and, in consequence
Of which, there is misery, cold, hun
ger, want and the fear of want, is not
Gods fault. but is mans fault.
God created enough for all and to
spare.
Every scientific Investigation reveals
more and more the magnitude and
magnificence of His creation.
1t is 80 wonderful that it @urpasses
al human understanding.
This world is Gods free gift to man.
He gave il To the last man no less
than TO the first man.
The solemn fact that man dies ana
PASSES away il proof conclusive that
God did not give the world to any
one man "a an Inheritance TO the
exclusion Of Others.
Nor is there proof that he gave any
one man the power to bequeath it.
He gave to none monopoly of His
gifts.
In the realm of God there are no
favorites. His laws were meant to |
apply and d. apply equally to all
He sends the rain upon the just and |
the unjust.
Poverty exists because God, laws
are contravened-because some have |
been excluded from His table.
We hold that poverty il no part of |
Gods economy.
Ia the progress of events govern |
ments were instituted and they are
remarkable more for their love Of |
greed than for their love of God.
Under the text. Render, therefore.
unto Caesar the things which are
Caesars and unto God the things that
are Gods" the churches have acted,
and continue to act, a. if they have
no part nor concern with the world,
except that part of it which Is spirit
ual and invisible; the worldly, tam
gible part of the world, they have
gently resigned into the care and
keeping of Caesar.
Under this hurtflI iDferDratatinr, Of |