Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-09-30

more fundamental than any politica
party. more farreaching and more
comprehensive than any platform eve
written by the convention Of any parry
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
myself" he presented a plan for the
solution of all the problems that now
veX society or may hereafter ariS2
Other remedies may palllate or posi-
pone the day of settlement, but this is
all sufficient, and the reconciliation
which it effects is permanent one.
If l were to attempt to apply this
thought to various questions which are
at issue, / might be accused of enter
ing the domain of partisan politics,
but l 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 ana has appeared in
every age. The immediate need in
this country is arbitration, for neither
side to the controversy can be trusted
to deal with absolute justice if allowed
undisputed control. But arbitration, like
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 l would
apply this platform of peace is that
which relates to the accumulation OF
wealth. We cannot much longer delay
consideration of the ethics of money
making. That many Of the enormous
fortunes which have been accumulated
now held by men who have given to
society no adequate service in return |
for the money secured is now general |
ly recognized. While legislation can |
and should protect the public from
predatory wealth, more effective rem
edy will be found in the cultivation of |
a public opinion which will substitute
a higher ideal than the one which toll
crates the enjoyment of unearned
gains. No man who really knows what
brOtherly love is will desire to take
advantage of his neighbor, and the
conscience when not scared will adj
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
he everyday life of the world In
former times men read that Christ
,ame to bring life and Immortality to
light and placed the emphasis upon
now they are studying
JhriSt's relation to human life. In for
ner years many thought to prepare
themselves for future bliss by Il life
f seclusion here; now they are learn
ng that they cannot follow in the foot
tops Of the Master unless they go
bout doing good Christ declared that
e- came that we might have life. and
ave it more abundantly. The world
S learning that Christ came not to
arrow life, but to enlarge 1t. .
But this Prince of Peace promises :
%; only peace. but strength Some ..
ave thought his teachings fit only for l,
be weak and the timid and unSuited
D men of vigOr, energy and ambition.
'Othing could be- further from the =
ruth. Only the man of faith can be
Confident that he fights =
n the side of Jehovah. he doubts not !
ne success of his cause What mat =
ers ii whether he shares in the shouts
triumph? If every word spoken in =
ehalf Of truth has its influence and Z
very deed done for the right weighs =
NAlO I4lbI sANNOhll IL - llu ma ltlldI " | I
le Christian whether his eyes behold :,
ictOry or whether he dies in the midst | !,
the conflict =
Only those who believe attempt the +,
impossible and by attempt h
e prove that one with God can chase =,
thousand and two can put ten thou 4
md to fight. can imagine that the =,
lrly Christians who were carried into .,
lie arena to make a spectacle for n
lose more savage than the beasts 6,
ere entreated by their doubling com. G.
lnions not to endanger their lives. N
ut kneeling in the center Of the are -,
/, they prayed and sang until they =,
ere devOured How helpless they D
emed, and, measured by every hui m
an rule, how hopeless was their u,
usei And yet within a few decades
e power which they invoked proved p,
lighter than the legions Of the EN- q,
TOR, and the faith in which they q
ed was triumphant DER all that land. h1
is said that those who went TO mock -,
their sufferings returned asking N
what Is it that can enter n
to the heart Of man and make him h,
, as these dieY They were greater N
nquerOrs in their death than they III
uld have been had they purchased t.
Q by surrender of their faith of
What would have been the fate of bo
: church if the early Christians had m
d as little faith as many OF our tb
ristians now have? And on the ca
Ter hand. if the Christians of today Is,
d the faith Of the martyrs, how long IT,
'uld it be before the fulhllment Of 10
prophecy that every knee shall I'll
W and every tongue confess? on
)ur faith should be even stronger no
IN the faith of those who lived 1000 Al
hrs ago. for we see our religion no