The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-08-27
BUSINESS AND SOCIETY.
CONDITIONS ARE ATTACKED IN
 SUNDAY SERMON

SUNDAY SERMON
 i Rev. W. II. Kidd Says Social Scandals l Are So Bad as to be Nauseating--At-
 tacks Several New York Department
 Stores for Dishonesty--Dishones
 Kept Out of Jail by Their Money.
 In a sermon at Trinity M. D. church last night, Rev. w. H. Kidd roundly rated the standards employed in pres ent day business life, and the condi- tions of society. The scandals of so- ciety, he declared, were not only such as to nauseate us but should stir our hearts to wonder what We shall do to abolish them. He attributed this con- dition of affairs to movement among our people clamoring for the loosening of religious ties Scots were so strict and prejudiced, so that the movement was not without it's causes. Now, how ever the very people who clamored most for the movement are most anx- 1 ious for some remedy.
 Rev. MT. Kidd's text was Colosslans 1 3;1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sltteth on the right hand of God;" and his topic was The Ob- verse and the Reverse of Religious Life Man, he declared had a dual nature, the spiritual and the physical. Scripture teaches us to believe in Christ l and the future life. That is the largest possession that helps to elevate hu manity, so that if a man believes in the true sense of the word he will be Christlike.
 Now to look on the reverse side, which We can get at better by elimin- animation than by definition It is an alton than by definition. It is an unnatural tendency to be good. Many Every one for himself Is the rule, and the cunning are the successful. The reverse side Is that of animalism. Therefore, wise men have few friends, though they may have many pleasing acQuaintances. Friendship, unlike but ter, cannot be spread thin. We get to- gether for the sake of companionship and safety. Sometimes we are invlt- ed to accompany friend, because that friend Is ableto go alone. Man Is a gregarious animal, but 1t Is no compli- ment to him.
 Real friendship is always based on moral qualifications, It is based on moral tone, and where can you get moral tone outside of religion? Love is not based on instinct of the parent. Love is a mighty working force based on moral tone. IL Is higher than friend ship. It is above mere social relation. Love in essence is moral, and Is the most domestic and essential element of progress.
 Some years ago there was a move ment for the loosening of religious ties. Some sects were too strict and preju- diced, so that there was cause behind the movement As result the busi- ness life of to-day is perrneated with different standards. If man had fail- ed few years ago he would have been ostracised But I know of Third avenue, New York, shoemaker who fail- ed five times and started the sixth with ease Customers of New York city department store have found ten-penny nails in the tea purchased, but the man agement only count their profits and say that the people like to be hum bugged. Only a few months ago New York department stores were caught selling dirt in their groceries. Yet how many have quit buying of that store? The store still flourishes. There is no way to save the business life save by honesty.
 A dishonest man may be introduced In the best society as long as he can keep himself out of Jail know of ut terly bad men and women who stand high in society circles. The divorce laws are wretched, and when a New York man suggests as remedy that man and woman live together on pro- bation for a period of six months, and then marry if they are adaptable the newspapers and magazines discuss the question seriously. Those who can see through all this and realize what 1t means are wondering what shall be done. Some fundamental principles must be firmly established.