Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-09-05

You upon the subject OF law | might
interest the lawyers. II ! discussed
the science of medicine | might inter
est the physicians. In like manner
merchants might I've interested in a
talk on commerce and farmers in
discussion of agriculture. But none OF
these subjects appeals 10 all, Even the
science of government. though broader
than any profession or occupation.
does not embrace the whole sum of
life and those who think upon it differ
so among themselves that could not
speak upon the subject so as to please
a part without offending others. While
10 me the science Of government Is in
tenscly absorbing. 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 can lie
happy under the worst government
Government affects but part OF the
touch at all the life beyond while rcli-
gun touches the infinite circle of ex-
isience as We'll as the small are of that
circle which We spend on earth. No
greater theme. therefore. can engage
our attention.
Man is a religious being The heart
msiinctIvcly seeks for God. Man Is
essentially deNOut
There are honest duubicrs whose
sincerity We recognize ana respect. but
occasionally lind young men who
think IT smart 10 be Skepiical They
tail, as If it were an evidence of larger
Intelligence To scon al crecds and re
fuse to connect themselves with
churches. They call themselves lib
eral." as II Christian were narrow
minded 70 these young men desire
20 address myself
Religion the Basis Of Morality.
Even some older people profess 70
regard religion rs II superstition. par
donable In the ignorant but unworthy
OF the educated. a mental state which
one can aud should outgrow. Those
who hold this view look down with
mild contempt upon such rs give to
religion definite place in their
thoughts and lives. They assume an
intellectual superiority aud often take
little pains To conceal the assumption.
Religion has been defined rs the re
iatiun which man fixes between hun
self ana his God and m"Hltit aS The
outward manifestation oi this relation
Every one hy HE time he reaches ma
turity has fixed some relation between
himself and God. ana u" material
change in this relation can rakc place
without a revolution in the man. for
this relation j. the most potent nilu-
encc that acts upon a human lie.
Religion Is the basis OF morality In
the individual aud in the group of IN
dviduals MateralIstS have attempted
10 build up system of morality upon
the basis OF enlightened self interest.
They would have man figure out 10y
mathematics that Il pays him 10 alb
stain from wrnngdoing; they would
even inject an element Of scllishncSs
into al,ruism But the moral system
elaborated 10y the uutcrialislS has sew
eral defects. First. its virtues are Dor
rowed from moral systems based upon
religion Second. aS il rests upon argn-
ment rather ihan upon authority II
does not appeal 70 the young. and by
the time The Young are able 10 follow
their reason they have already become
set IN their WaNs. OU: ia.S do not
permit young man To dispose of real
estate until he Is twenty one. Why
this restraint: because his reason Is
not mature And yet Il mans HE is
largely nodded by the environment
~ his Youth Third. one never knows
lust how much of his decision Is due
10 reason and how much Is due to
passion or to selfish Interest. We rec
ognlZc the bias II self interest when
we exclude from the jury every man,
no matter how rcaSonablc OF upright
lac may he. who has Il pccunary inter.
est Ia the result Of the trial. And.
fourth. one whose mortality i based
upon nice calculation Of benefits 10
lie secured spends time figuring that
he should spend In action.
Morality Is the power of endurance
IN man. and u religion which teaches
,onal responsibility to Cod gives
strength to morality There Is q pow
crful restraining influence IN the he
lief that an all seeing eye scruinizes
every thought and word and act Of the
individual
There are difficulties 10 be cncoun-
tered ia religion. but there are din
culilcs 10 be encountered everywhere.
! passed through period Of skcp-
ticism when was in college. ANA |
have been glad ever since that ] he
came member OF the church before
I left home for college. for II helped
me during those trying days The
L.. a =