Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-09-02

who care not how dishonest they are
II they do not fall into disrepute Dy
being more dishonest than their TEL
low men. The question Of right or
wrong enters not into their nnanciai
makeup. The question with them 49,
"Is it feasible, from a reputable Dusi-
ness mans standpoint to steal thls Or
that or the other thing and not be so
cially degraded?'
Must BE Positively Honest.
What IS true Of some dishonest busi-
ness men is absolutely true In refer-
ence to some dishonest political candi-
dates. | see the political strife going
ON In a large city. One OF the parties
has fallen into such dlsrepute that III
order to win at the polls its leaders de-
oide to nominate as candidate one
who is not of their kind. SO they 90
and offer the nomination to well
known Christian church member. In
nine cases out of ten what does that
nominee do? Does he go to the poiis
and bribe voters? Oh, no. That would
not be honest. But he does commit
crime I'm the sight Of God which Is just
as henous. Instead Of coming out nat
footed for an honest election he be-
comes modern political Laodicean.
He shuts his eyes to the dishonesues
that are being done in his name. He
SAWS. IL am not responsible because l
simply remain silent at this political
corruption" Now, my friends, these
teachings OF my text practically mean
this: A man must be positively honest
I'm all his financial dealings. He must
be positively honest In seeing that all
those who work in his name are acting
honestly, else God will have none or
him. Mere negative respectability In
Gods sight does not measure up to his
standard.
l find, too, that the appalling spiritual
negatlyeness of the modern Laodlcean
Is most frequently demonstrated In
mans relation TO the amusement ques-
ton. Where there Is one lukewarm
Christian who will dishonOr Christ In
his financial dealings there are hye,
ten. fifteen or even twenty who VIII
dishonor him when the days work Is
done or when out on a summer Vaca-
ton. And the amusement sins or he
, American Laodicean at home are as
, nothing compared to those American
Laodiceans sins when they are travel
, ing in Europe or Asia or in Africa or
in any foreign land. Let me illustrate
, my thought to you In practical way
, We are American tourists In Spain
or. bringing the statement little near
er home, In Mexico. Sunday morning
[ | has rolled around. What are you go
ing to do? viii you attend the Prot
e estant church, as you would DO II a
( home? NO" you say, Il guess not
t | have tickets for the bullfight. why
I one of the finest matadores in th'
r world is going to fight today. | vii
D never get another chance to see him.
2 Is that so? What II you do not ge
o another chance? Ought you to go ant
Z see one of the most brutal exhibition
n in the world, where men and horses ar
A often horribly mangled? Because otn
. or people do wrong in Spain and Mex
leo can you afford to do wrong on IN
4 | question OF your vacation amusements
Sunday at home comes around. In
- communion OF the Lords supper !
TO be celebrated at your church.
, party of friends Is going down to tn
- beach. What are you going to do
y Stay away and go to church, as yo
ought. or go off on Sabbath desecra
l. ton? l know Of an elder OF one Q
T. the largest Presbyterian churches
10 the west not only staying away froI
Z church on the Sabbath day, but whe
IL the members of his church were al
e sembling for communion he rode pas
70 that church on the top Of tallyho
'l take some Of his eastern friends out
Is see the city sights. AS church OIL
'e cer do YOU ever sin thus? Wednesda
OF evenIng comes around. 1t is prayt
It. meeting night. A card party or
Of dance is TO be given the same evening
Te Which will you choose to ATTEND
ne These illustrations are not imaglnar
ty | These conditions meet us as churC
I'd members almost every month OF OF
lives. In deciding how we shall SOY
the amusement question, nearly all
rn ia decide whether we will be poslti'
in Christians or negative modern Laoo
10 ceans. cursed by a lukewarm allee
no once 70 God. Gods loathing for SUI
,Ir characters is unmltigated. In enet
n he saws: "The murderer, the Ola
elk phemer, the thief and the social OF
ey cast are not so injurious as you al
he Men know them for what they are, D
ty YOU mIsrepresent religion, you comm
ed | the outrage of mlsrepresenting me
n. the world. You should be the light
nd the world, but you are misleauil
ng lights" Let me read to you coos o'
as, words In reference to the ancle
,s ! church e< Laodicea: 81 know I
,ot works. that thou art neither cold n
-se not 7 would thou vert cold or d
So then. because thou art lukewal
is and neither cold nor hot VIII Sp'
ial thee out of my mouth"
iaI Could .amy denunciaticn De mC
powerfully expressed?
Ter Dyfsg Church.
ere oh that today the churches OF
OF Lord Jesus Christ would become m'
re- positive upon the questions that
ON making so many church members III
l warm Christians! Some time ago
ou- read Of an artist who was asked
mo paint a picture Of a spiritually dy'
mt church He painted a church buildi
use cathedral-like in its proportions. 1
yer yer prosperous church had its tall tow'
aSt its stained glass windows ana
wealthy parishioners assembling
~ worship, but near the front door
ave , this fashionable church the ar
',So s nainted a collection box marked +
ny = >t;a,;ons Over the aperture