The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-21
COST OF CIVILIZATION
Is BEYOND CALCULATION
Rev. ]. Cumming Smith breaches
at Tabernacle on 1.-THE Re-
versal of Type"
CANNOT REST ON OARS

''The cost of producing either character
or civilization. which is character cumula-
tive, is beyond calculation
This was the opening declaration of Rev.
j. Cumming Smith at the Tabernacle yes
terday morning in his sermon on 1.-The
Reversal of Type" Text: How shall we
escape if we neglect?' Heb. ii, 8.
Continuing, he said Mature taxes her.
self without stint to produce her finest
roses or ruddiest orchards. and a wealth
of force in the form of yielding loan and
vivific sunbeam is lavished upon the work.
Nature. however refrains from sending
in the bill, but the auditors in the shape
OF scientific men are able to look over the
itemized statement of her expenditure.
Now, the contrast is the apparent case
of loss after the long fail and throe OF
production. Qualities not requiring CEN
turtles TO their gathering may succumh
and wither away I'm q short period. At
least, they will settle back into a dormant
actual death or unavailability if the
sleep be too long. We must use a force
or lose it sooner or later.
"A recent little story-'The Call of the
Wild very quaint and rustic in its orig
inality, traces a well-bred animal from an
aristocratic ranch in loveIiest of California
valleys through series of ventures and
struggles in Alaska until the instinct -of
the wolf reappears. The dog cross be-
tween the shepherd collie and ST
Bernard, relapsed into a primitive creature.
Deep buried in it's quiet nature were the
sharp features of the wolf. only asking
the proper environment to call them forth.
1t never lost them. no matter how tame
it's face or how sleek it's fur in it's civilized
shape. 1t was reversal OF type.
THE Jews originally were Graded in the
doctrine of Moses and endeavored to earn
heaven by a series of payments. This was
a commercialistic basis for spiritual uni
verse. Jesus came and enunciated a plat
form of peace as the secret of redemp-
ton. Apostles revOiced this doctrine and
thousands Of Jews, weary of legalism, went
over to the new emancipating truth After a
while the current turned and these He
brews lifted aRcher- and set sail for the old
Ravens of Moses This was the falling
back or reversal of type, law that ap-
pears to reign in higher as In lower realms.
The reason was the severity of the strug-
gle necessary to maintain the new heights
that had been gained. Always and every
where a weak instinct follows the line of
least resistance, and there is return to
older and inferior ambitions.
Us there any declension or apostasy in
our religious life to-day? Is there any
real reason for the dlarmists ringing SO
many bells to toll the funeral of faith? 1
answer that there is more chance to grow
morbid in religion than elsewhere. All
funeral conceptions are fundamentally
sprung from imbecillty at some point along
the line. If we have faith in God we be-
lieve He will not launch a ship simply to
see it founder.
These are what there always have been,
sad betrayals, languid devotions, ebbing
creeds, superannuated ideas and explana-
tions. Every past age has mourned these
bitter negligenceS and truancies from truth.
Let us always warn against these torpid
indifferences. Neglect the word and we
die.
while. however. the signs are suspicious
of revival and awakening of religious
life on larger scale, with Christ as leader,
yet we cannot rest our oars. Sin is ever
too clever, unfaith is ever too lynx-eyed,
vice and crime are ever too crafty in be-
leaguerment TO allow any flag of truce.
How shall we escape if we neglect?