The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-10
A SERMON ron TODAY.


+ This book of the law shall not depart oui
ot thy mouth; but thou shalt mediate
tnefeln day and night, that thou nlayesi
observe 70 do according to all that Is
written therein: for then thou shall
make thy way prosperous and then
tn9u shalt have good success.-Josh
II the nations Of the earth would
obey this eighth verse Of the first chap
ter Of Joshua there would be tar less
Fvretchedness in this world of ours. At
would be reduced to a minimum. There
would still be differences of opinion and
men would dispute with one another. for
man is not omniscient, nor can every
man see from the same viewpoint. But
If men would keep "fhe book of the
law'-the Bible-and mediate upon 1t.
and try to follow its teachings, hatred
and wrong-doing would be a thing of
the past. The Square Deal would be
the rule between man and man, and
every man would do his duty to his
neighbor and to his Maker.
There would be far less use for con-
crosses and legislatures and courts il
men obeyed that verse. They would still
nave disputes, but they would be friend
~ disputes arising from a difference in
their points Of view: each would not at
tempt to get the advantage Of his neigh
Dor, ana crime would be unknown.
There would be no demand for rate reg
ulatiOn, for railroad magnates would be
Just and treat every man fairly. There
might be trusts, but they would be or
ganized for purposes of economy and
not to drive competitors out of bust
ness and thus secure monopoly in or
der IA raj lot r
still be necessary for such purposes as
digging the Panama canal, for on such
things men might differ in judgment
honestly but there would be no graft
in connection with the enterprise.
If men obeyed that eighth verse of
Joshua Russia would not now be UNI
dergoing a veritable Reign Of Terror,
for all disputes, both governmental
and private, would be settled on a
friendly basis. There would be a uni
versaI disarmament of all nations, for
no longer would blood be shed with
shot and shell. Instead the armies of
the world would turn to peaceful pur-
suits and be help instead of a bur
den to their respective nations; and
battleships would be utilized to carry
merchandise to and fro on the seas.
Just new when mems minds are oc-
cupied with problems Of government if
they viii turn to this old Bible that
has endured for centuries they will
md in it the foundations for all gov
ernments and all laws In it are the
most sublime teachings ever given to
humanity. The deealogue of Moses is
the foundation of all Law, govern
mental and moral. 1T is supplemented
by the Golden Rule given by the Great
Teacher and Savior of men. There is
nothing in its principles to which the
slightest objection can be offered by
any man who wishes to deal justly.
The injunction, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as myself means simply
that no man shall seek an advantage
for himself that he would not be will
ing to give his neighbor.
Those nations which come nearest
to following this hook of the law
are the ones which are the most ad-
vanced in civilization, the ones in
which there is the most liberty and
the greatest justice. If men Will fol-
low its teachings=not the teachings
that somebody may attribute to it.
but the plain, simple teachings that
are really in it-there will be no need
for criminal laws For it is the Book
of the Square Deal, and justice be-
tween man and man.