The Penn's Grove record., 1908-09-18
The Worlds Only Hope

The Worlds Only Hope
It may be a slow process, this con-
version Of the world by the silent infu-
ence of q noble example, but 1t Is the
only sure one, and the doctrine applies
to nations as well as to individuals.
The gospel OF the Prince Of Peace gives
us the only hope that the world has.
and it is an increasing hope, Of the
substitution of reason for the arbitra-
ment Of force in the settlement of In
ternational disputes.
But Christ has given us a platform
more fundamental than any political
party, more ~farreaching and more
comprehensive than any platform ever
written by the convention Of any party
in any country. When he condensed
into one commandment those Of the
ten which relate of mans duty toward
his fellows and enjoined upon us the
rule ''Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself" he presented a plan for the
solution Of all the problems that now
vex society or may hereafter arise.
Other remedies may palliate or post
pone the day Of settlement, but this is
all sufficient, and the reconciliation
which 1t effects is a permanent one.
II I were to attempt to apply this
thought to various questions which are
at issue, I might be accused Of enter
ing the domain Of partisan politics,
but I may safely apply it to two great
problems. First let us consider the
question Of capital and labor. This Is
not q transient issue or a local one.
1t engages the attention Of the people
of all countries and has appeared in
every age. The Immediate need in
this country is arbitration, for neither
side to the controversy car be trusted
to deal with absolute justice If allowed
u%ndisputed control. But arbitration, like
a court, is a last resort. 1t would be
better If the relations between en-
ployer and employee were such as to
make arbitration unnecessary. Just in
proportion as men recognize their kin
ship to each other and deal with each
other in the spirit of brotherhood will
friendship and harmony be secured.
Both employer and employee need to
cultivate the spirit which follows from
obedience to the great commandment.
Ethics Of Money Making.
The second problem to which I would
apply this platform Of peace is that
r,h3oh rolofoa e. Tho kfon ~
wealth. We cannot much longer delay
consideration Of the ethics of money
making. That many of the enormous
fortunes which have been accumulated
in the last quarter of a century are
now held by men who have given to
society no adequate service In return
for the money secured Is nov general
ly recognized. While legislation can
and should protect the public from
predatory wealth, a NOR effective rem
edy will be found In the cultivation Of
q public opinion which will substitute
a higher ideal than the one which toll
crates the enjoyment Of unearned
gains. No Ia who really kps@ what
brotherly love is will desire to take
advantage Of his neighbor, and the
conscience when not scared will ad-
monish against injustice. Ny faith In
the future rests upon the belief that
Christ's teachings are being more
studied today than ever before and
that with this larger study will come
IN application Of those teachings to
the everyday life Of the world. In
former times men read that Christ
came to bring life and Immortality to
light and placed the emphasis upon
Immortality; now they are studying
Christ's relation to human life. In for
mer years many thought to prepare
themselves for future bliss by q life
Of s~eclusion here; now they are learn
ing that they cannot follow in the foot
steps of the Master unless they go
about doing good. Christ declared that
he came that we might have life, and
have it more abundantly. The world
is learning that Christ came not to
narrow life, but to enlarge 1t.
But this Prince Of Peace promises
not only peace, but strength. Some
have thought his teachings ft only for
the weak and the timid and unsuited
to men Of vigor, energy and ambition.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. Only the man of faith can be
courageous. Confident that he fights
on the side Of Jehovah, he doubts not
the success of his cause. What mat
tiers It whether he shares in the shouts
of triumph? If every word spoken in
behalf Of truth has it's influence and
every deed done for the right weighs
in the final account, a is immaterial to
the Christian whether his eyes behold
victory or whether he dies in the midst
Of the conflict
Only those who believe attempt the
seemingly impossible and by attempt
ing prove that one with God can chase
a thousand and two can put ten thou.
sand to flight. I can imagine that the
early Christians who were carried into
the arena to make a spectacle for
those more savage than the beasts
were entreated by their doubling COM
panions not to endanger their lives.
But, kneeling In the center of the are
ma, they prayed and sang until they
were devoured. How helpless they
seemed, and, measured by every hu-
man rule, how hopeless was their
causel And yet within a few decades
the power which they invoked proved
aightleg fhsp the legioaa y re e.a.
psTCT. and ne te;th III which they
dlod was triumphant Ger all that land
IL Is sad snal those WHO went 10 meek
at cnelr suAecces returned asking
themseiYes. WHAT Is it that can enter
1nio tie Aaari u maA ana make him
die az these dief" They were greater
conquercrs III their death than they
could have been had they purchased
life by n surrender OF their Faith.
What would have been the fate OF
the church If the early Christians had