The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-04

universal OF all themes. II ItuureSsetl
you upon the subject Of law | might
interest the lawyers. II 1 discussed
The science OF medicine | might inter
est the PHYSICIANS. In like manner
merchants might be Interested in a
talk on commerce and farmers IN !,
discussion OF agriculture. But none OF
these subjects appeals to all. Even the
science OF government, though broader
than any profession or occupation,
does not embrace the WhClc sum OF
sifc. and those who think upon it dilIer
SO among themselves that could not
speak upon the subject so as to please
= part without offending others. While
to me the Scicpce Of government is III
.tenseiy absorbing, I recognize that the
most important things in life lie out
side Of the realm of government and
that more depends upon what the in-
diyidual does for himself than upon
what the government does or can do
for him. Men can he miserable under
the best government. and they eau be
happy under the worst government.
Government affects but a part OF the
life which we live here and does not
touch at all the life beyoud, VIII rcli-
gion touches The, infinite circle OF OK
istcnce rs well as the small arc of that
circle which we spend OH earth. No
greater theme. therefore, car engage
our attention.
Man is. a religious being. The heart
iustinctiveIy seeks for 4 God. Man is
essentially deyout
There are honest doubters whose
sincerity we recognize and respect but
occasionally I tlnd young men who
think ii smart to he Skcptical. They
talk as ir it were an evidence OF larger
intelligence to scott at crccls and re-
fuse TO connect themselves with
churches. They call themselves lib
era." as il Christian were narrow
minded. To these young mon desire
: 70 address lnysct.
Religion the Basis of Morality.
Even some older people profess to
regard religion as 4 superstition. par
donabie in the ignorant, but unworthy
of the educated. q meutal state Which
one can and should outgrow. Those
who hol;i thi; view look down with
mild contenpt npon such as give |"
religion definite place III their
thoughts aud lives. They assume an
intellectual superiority aud often take
little pains to conceal the assumption.
Religion has been defined as the re-
lation which man fixes between MN
sell ANA his God and morality as the
outward manifestation OF this relation.
Every one hy the time he reaches ma
turity has fixed some relation between
himself aud God. and no mafefiai
change III this relation can take place
without revolution in the Inan, Tor
this relation is The most potent intlu-
sencc That acts upon Z human life.
Religiou is the basis OF morality III
the individual aud in the group oil ILL
dlyiduals. MaterialiStS have attempted
to build IN !, system OF morality upon
tie basis Of enlightened self interest.
They would have lnan figure out ny
mathematics that it pays him to alb
stain from wrongdoins; they wolld
even inject All element of seliIshneSS
into altrui3u But the moral system
elaborated by the materialists has sew
era. defects. First, its virt1les'are Dor
rowed FROM moral systems based upon
religion. Second, as il rests upon argu-c
mant rather ihan upon authority II
does not appeal to the young, and by
tile time the young are able to follow
ti,eir reason they have already become
set in their ways. Our laws do not
permit young NAN to dispose OIL real
estate uutil he is twenty-one. Why
thls rcstraint! Because his reason IS
not mature And yet 4 mans lie IS
largely nodded 10y the environment
of his youth. Third. one never knows
lust how much Of his decision Is uue
to reason ana how much is due 10
passion or to selfish interest. We rec
ng.,ize the bias Of SELF interest when
we exclude from The jury every man,
az. matter how reasonable or upright
he may he who has a pecnnury inter-
est in the result OF the TRIAL. And,
fourth. one whose mortality IS based
uron a nice calculation or benefits to
he secured spends time figuring that
ne should spend i'll action.
Morality is the power oil endurance
in man, and a religion which teaches
seysonaI responsibility 10 God gives
strength to iuoraliiy. There is pow
',.rful restraining influence in the ne
licf thai M III seeing eye scrutinl2es
every thought and word and act of the
;uGiyidua!.
There are ,Iitficulties TO be cucoun-
tered in religion. but there are DIM
ru!tieS to be encountered everywhcre'
=. ussscd through period OF Skrl''
iicism whcu | WAS in college. and
dare heeu glad ever since that be-
rap.r Il me,ubcr uf The church before
lcri hnu,c Tor college. for II helped
INC during these tryin" days. Inc
.oll;sc days cover the dangerous
period in the yuung HEIRS He. II Is
whcu nr X iusi come Into possession
of Ills pDwerS. whcu lie feels stronger
thau hr ever feels a'irrward An0
rrbjn;,s ne Nuows unrc than he ey"T