The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24

1
| away his sou1.-Job us
! A Topeka lawyer calls attention to
the tribute paid to Christianity by the
prosecution in the Haywood trial, in
the Introduction of Harry Orchard's
testimony.
'It was very evident" says the at
torney, that Orchards story would
avail nothing unless it could be shown
that he is not now the same man as
the one who committed those BASTARD
| ly murders to which he confessed II
had to be shown that his very nature
had changed. Orchard the murderer
would never be believed by jury, and
so the story of his conversion and it's
effect on him was introduced as EVIL
| dence."
Whether Orchards claim was true
or false. it's tribute to Christianity was
the same. If it were true it was one
of the most astounding evidences of
the power of the Christian religion to
change mems natures and motives
to alter character and purposes. If it
was not true, it showed the estimate
placed even by wicked and designing
men upon its power.
Nobody ever counterfeits the false.
That which is worth something is al
ways taken for imitation, and the
greater its worth the more desirable
it seems to initiate or counterfeit. The
very fact that hypocrites pretend
goodness, the very fact that they simu-
late Christianity. attests it's worth.
Hypocrisy and sham are detested
by the whole human race, and no.
where is it more soundly denounced
than by Christianity itself. Woe I'M
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo-
critesi" exclaims the Great Teacher.
"Ye serpents, we generation of vipers,"
he calls them, and their condemnation
is far more severe than is that of the
confessed sinner.
The Pharisees were the good class
in the time of the Savior. They thought
themselves better than the common
run OF men. They were very care
full in observing the letter of the law
and of their religion, but it's spirit
was far from them. They were the
church members who were very active
in church work on Sunday, but who
cheated the unregenerate numerically
In business deals through the week.
They were highly moral people, who
were terribly shocked if vice was men
toned in their presence, but who
disorderly places. They were the class
who held their heads high and drew
away from unpretentious sinners and
they had none OF the love of their
Creator and OF humanity in their
hearts.
The race of the Pharisee has by no
means passed. He is just as numer-
Gus as he was nineteen hundred years
ago. 1t is frequently difficult for frail
humanity to distinguish him-for who
can know the secrets or the heart
and people are sometimes denounced
as hypocrites who are honest and hon.
orable in their motives and lives
The hypocrite is found not only in
churches. but also outside of it. In
fact, there is more or less of pretense
about all of us. The church hypo-
critic is the more pronounced because
he counterfeits that which is most de-
sirable, but we all pretend" to a de-
gree. Some of our pretense is harm
less and some isn't. Some people pre-
tend to possess more money than they
really have in order to maintain a
certain position in society. Others
pretend to have knowledge when they
are really ignorant. The women wear
drug store complexions and detach-
able hair while the men walk chesty
and let on that they have ability which
they haven't and all of US pretend to
be little better than we really are.
In fact, it is a difficult matter not to
be just a little hypocritical. 1t runs
in the breed. But, just the same, we
all hate sham and pretense, and the
man whom people believe to be Just
what he processes to be is greatly hon
ored.
Men may be fooled by the hypo-
critic. He may even fool himself. But
when his course on this little earth is
run, he cannot deceive his Maker.
There is no hypocrisy in death.