The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-10-22

offer no apology for speaking upon
religious theme. for 1t is the most
universal of all themes. If l addressed
you upon the subject Of law I might
interest the lawyers. If I discussed
the science of medicine / might inter-
est the physicians. In like manner
merchants might be interested in
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 whole sum or
life, and those who think upon 1t differ
SO among themselves that | could not
speak upon the subject so as to please
n part without offending others. While
to me the science of government Is in-
tensely 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
dividual does for himself than upon
what the government does or can 10
for him Men can be miserable under
the best government. and they can he
happy under the worst government.
Government affects but II part OF the
life which we live here and does not
touch at all the life beyond, while rell-
gion touches the infinite circle of ex-
istence as well as the small arc of that
circle which we spend on earth. NO
greater theme, therefore. can engage
our attention.
Man is a religious being. The heart
instinctively seeks for Cod. Man IS
essentially uevout.
There are honest doubters whoce
sincerity we recognize and respect. but
occasionally l find young men who
think it smart to be skepticnl. They
talk as If it were an evidence of larger
intelligence to scof at creeds and re-
fuse to connect themselves with
churches They call themselves lib
eral," as If Christian were narrow
minded To these young men desire
to address myself.
Religion the Basis of Morality.
Even some older people profess tc
regard religion as a superstition. par
donable in the ignorant, but unworth!
OF the educated, mental state which
one can and should outgrow. Those
who hold this view look down with
mild contempt upon such as give tt
religion definite place in theil
thoughts and lives. They assume al
intellectual superiority and often take
little pains to conceal the assumption.
Religion has been defined us the re
lation which man fixes between him
self and his God and morality as the
outward manifestation of this relation
Every one by the time he reaches ma
turity has fixed some relation between
himself and God. and no materia
change in this relation can take place
without revolution in the man, fo
this relation is the most potent 1ntu
ence that acts upon Il human life.
Religion Is the basis Of morality II
the individual and In the group OF IN
dividuals. Materalists have attempted
to build up system of morality upol
the basis Of enlightened self interest
They would have man figure out b,
mathematics that it pays him to ali
stain from wrOngdoing; they woul
even inject an element of seltishnes
into altruism. But the moral system
elaborated by the materialists has sey
eral defects. First, its virtues are boz
rowed from moral systems based upo
religion. Second, as it rests upon argu
ment rather than upon authority
does not appeal to the young, and b
the time the young are able to folloN
their reason they have already becom
set il their ways. Our laws do nc
hermit u young man to dispose or rea
estate until he Is twenty-one. Wn
this restraint? Because his reason
not mature. And yet mans life
largely nodded by the environmer
of his youth. Third, one never know
Just how much of his decision Is du
to reason and how much is due
passion or to selfish interest. We re'
ognize the bias of self interest whe
we exclude from the jury every maj
no matter how reasonable or uprigf
he may be. who has a pecuniary inte
est In the result of the trial. An,
fourth. one whose mortality Is base
upon a nice calculation of benefits
be secured spends time figuring thu
he should spend In action.
Morality is the power of epdurant
In man, and religion which teachs
personal responsibility to God give
strength to morality. There is poV
erful restraining influence In the b
lief that an all seeing eye scrutiniz'
every thought and word and act of Il
Individual.
There are difficulties to be encou
tered In religion but there are diff
.ulties to be encountered everywher
passed through period of ske
ticism when l was In college. and
have been glad ever since that l
came member of the church befo
| left home for college, for 1t helps
me during those trying days. III
college days cover the dangero'
period In the young mans life. 1t
when he is just come into possessi'
of his powers, when he feels strong
than he ever feels afterward al
thinks he knows more than he ey