Milford chronicle., 1905-09-01
Must De Positively Hone,t.


ness men is absolutely true in refel
ence to some dishonest political cand
dates. l see the political strife goin
on in large city One of the partie
has fallen into such disrepute that il
order to win al the polls its leaders de
eide to nominate as a candidate on
who is not Of their kind. So they &,
and offer the nomination to a wei
known Christian church member. II
nine cases out Of ten what does thai
nominee do? Does he go to the polls
and bribe voters? Oh, no. That would
not be honest. But he does commit a
crime in the sight of God which is just
rs heinous. Instead Of coming out fiat
footed for an honest election be be-
comes a modern political Laodicean.
He shuts his eyes to the dishonestfes
that are being done in his name. He
says Il am not responsible because ]
simply remain silent at this political
corruption" Now, my friends, these
teachings Of my text practically mean
this: A man must be positively honest
in all his financial dealings. He must
be positively honest in seeing that all
those who work in his name are setting
honestly, else God Will have none Of
him. Mere negative responsibility in
Gods sight does not measure. up, to, his |
standard.
find, too, that the appalling spiritual |
negatiyeness of the modera Laodieean
is most frequently demonstrated ip
mans relation to- the amusement dues-
tiOn. Where there is one lukewarm
Christian who viii dishonOn. Christ in
his financial dealings there are five.
ten, fifteen or even twenty who, will
dishOnOr him when. the days work. is
done or when out, On. summer vaca.
liOn. And the amusement sine Of the
American LaOdicedn at home are as;l
nothing compared to those American
-aodieeans' sins when they are travel
ng in Europe or Asia or in Africa OF
n any foreign land. Let me illustrate
ny thought to you INA practical way. ]
we are American tourists in Sbaiu, Y
", bringing the statement a little near \
r home IN Mexico. Sunday mOluline q
las rolled around WHAT are y0,E 20 Y
ng to dot VIII you attend the Prot f
slant church, as you would do Id at f
OmeE NO" you say, 4 guess not. fl
have tickets for the bGilhght Why. h
ne Of the finest matgdOres i'm the +,
7Ortd Is going to fight today. L will $,
ever get another chance to- see hfinv
that 80? What if you do not zetl q
mother Chance2 Ought xou to 20 and 7
&c one OF the most brutal exhibitions :,
} the world, where men and horses 'ar1 s
iten horribly mangled?' Because 9TH +,
people do wrong in Spain and Mex nj
o can yOu afford to do wrong on the ~,
lestiOn of your vacation amusementssl II,
Sunday at home comes around. The IN
mmunion Of the Lords supper. isI III
be celebrated at your church. AL 10
rty Of friends is going down to, the in
ach. What are you going to, dOf ~
ay away and go to church, as you'll T,
Ight, or go of on Sabbath desecra. no
M l know of an elder Of one. sf. -
largest Presbyterian olturchess ofd -.
2 west not only staying away froml IN,
urch on the Sabbath day. but wheniI +ie
+ members of his church were. as. A.
milling for communion he. rode past 10
It church on the top OF a tallyho, to ~,
Ze some Of his eastern friends out to 49,
, the city sights. As a. church obi ~.
:, do you ever sin thusA Wednesday 49,
ming comes around. Dt is prayer -,
citing night. A card party or a., -,
ace is to be given the same eyening. 49, 49,
lich will You choose. to- attead? =.
ese Illustrations are not imaginary.
ese conditions meet us as charch q,
mbers almost every month Of our -
IS. In deciding how we shall solve 1ii' ~
amusement question:, nearly ali of - -
decide whether we will be, positive ~
'istians or negative modern Laodi-
MS, cursed by a llfsewarm aliRgi- 1--
e to God. Gods l0athing for such W
racters is unmitlgated. In effect, M IN.
says: "The murderer, the BIAS s,ul s
mer the thief ana the social out i IoI
are not so injurious as yoU are. 80 ~
I know them for what they are but "a
misrepresent religion, YOU commit l
outrage Of misrepresentiDg me to
world. You should be the light OF
world, but yOu are misleading The
is" Let me read to you Gods own II
DIS in reference to the ancient frs
rch of LaOdfeea: q know thy n.
ks, that thou art neither cold nor the
would thou vert cold or hot. still
then, because thou art lukewarm and
neither cold nor hot I win spew Jun
out Of my mouth" whi
'uld any denunciation he more whe
erfully expressed? vas
A Dying Church. caus
!, that today the churches Of the H'
| Jesus Christ would become more bish
tive upon the questions that are tiers
ing so many church members luke rece
m Christiansl Some time ago l has
OF an artist who was asked to no e
t a picture of a spiritually dying
ch. He painted a church building, Pl
edral-lilze in its proportions. This In
porous church had its tall towers, Trey
stained glass windows and its in 81
thy parishioners assembling for NOUS
hip, but near the front door of ed t
fashionable church the artist who
ted collection box marked For the