The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-10-11
RELIGIOUS WRECKERS.

! OSAll 11lppIG, VI Inc NGdl Estate
Trust Company of Philadelphia,
must have been impressed with
emphasis with which it was con-
stantly told that he was a religious
man. When it was told that he
had violated his obligations, had
broken faith, had robbed the peo-
pie who had trusted him and de-
Ceived those who had believed in
him, it was told along with these
things that he professed to be
scrupulously religious man; that
he was a strict Presbyterian; that
he was Sunday school superintend.
ent; that he was a rigid observer
Of Sunday and RETAINED from the
use of spirits and tobacco. Why
is it considered necessary to re-
count these things? Is it a cynical
attempt by some to discredit re-
ligion? When Nathan, the prophet,
confronted King David with the
crime he had committed, one of
the counts in the indictment was
that, "bY this deed thou hast Civ
eli great occasion to the enemies
of the Lord to blaspheme." From
Nathan's time down to the present
day the enemies Of the Lord have
taken pleasure in pointing out the
wiCkedness and the weakness Of
the protesting Christians.
And in doing this the enemies
of the Lord have unconsciously
given the highest tribute to relig-
ion while seeking to discredlt ii.
IF it were an ordinary thing for
strictly religious men to lead evil
lives it would not be worth men
tioning, when one is found wrong
doing, that lie is a Sunday school
superintendent and keeps holy the
Sabbath Day. When a bank
wrecker is a man who never at
tends church and processes no re-
ligion, that fact is not mentioned
in the accounts of the crime. 1t is
too common to call for comment.
As rule, the religious men who
engage in crime do not go into
eviidoing with a plunge. It is a
gradual deterioration, failing step
by step from grace; a yielding to
one temptation which involves a
further transgression.
Most Of the so-called religious
men who rob banks and bctray
trusts are, Of course, hypocrites.
Why does such a man profess to
be religious? Because religion is
held in such high esteem among
men that bad persons profess to be
religious in order to gain the con
hdenCe Of those they expect to be
tray. What tribute to religion
Does the wrongdoing of a hypo-
critic or of man who processes re-
ligion, discredit religion? Not in
the least. 1t gives occasion to the
enemies to blaspheme, that is all.
Such an occurrence exhibits the
frailty Of human nature, but it
does not weaken the faith of man
kind in the things which are I'M
seen. Men hold to their God and
Heaven sometimes unconsciously.
The protesting infdel is seldom
one in reality. 1t is seldom that
one can be found who is 50 con-
WINGED in his unbelief that he is
willing for his children to be
trained in inhdelity. It is rare
that a man is SO irreligious as to
lose his respect for true religion
and his superior confidence in
really religious people. Few men
are so irreligious as to wish to see
their wives and children profess
ing infdelity. As a rule, a man
prefers to employ in positions of
trust and responsibility those who
belong to church. Many rail
road companies encourage their
men-trainmen, trackmen and all
to establish Christian associa-
tions, and is done with the design
of increasing the conscientious
discharge of duty. In every com
munity a great majority of the
leading and enterprising citizens
who do most for the public are ac-