Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-25
THE ERA OF oTHERlsM.
The Information Sunday School Lesson
for Nov. % Is "WorId's temperance
Lesson; Paul on SeIf-Denlal." Rom.
14:1O-21.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

terms The simple fact that the num-
Der of organizations bearing the
words international" Worlds and
Universal" is rapidly increasing is
significant of a momentous tend OF the
times. That people are entertaining
the thought of the whole earth Is
sign of progress. Such an event as
the round-the-world observance OF
worlds Temperance Sunday is in it
self a token of the increasing solidar-
ity of the race and Of the brotherhood
of mankind.
A century or two ago men thought
Of the big world only in terms of con-
quest: The outlying regions were re-
garded merely as fields for exploita-
ton. The old world considered this
new world principally as a place where
gain could ge got. Selfish commercial
ism was the uppermost consideration.
There is enough of this spirit left;
yet there is also a growing sense of
the spiritual unity of the human race.
The west is interested in the east-as
witness the Laymens Missionary
Movement campaign now under way
from motives of fraternal solictude.
The tremendous social and economic
problems that are arising amid the
older peoples are being solicitously
observed and discussed by thoughtful
men and women everywhere. Above
the ancient note of conquest sounds
the new note Of neighborliness. The
good of the whole is the good of the
world.
Labor Unions and the "Dry" Wave.
This era Of universal altruism, or
otherism, is marked by certain signs
t1r,, x;-l1, Iax yfr, Crr11
day school lesson. 1t is an old story
that the twenty-five million members
!; of the Sunday schools have devoted
themselves to the study and promotion
of temperance; that the church, Pro
testant and Catholic, takes, as a
whole, the same ground. The young
peoples societies, the brotherhoods,
the Young Mems Christian associa-
; tions ana the women's societies, are
aggressively enlisted for temperance.
That unique alliance of the churches
known as the Anti-Saloon League has
. been perhaps the most potent single
agency for the promotion Of the great
cause of otherism, which is synony-
nous with temperance
The most recent notable addition to
the altruistic agencies of the day is the
formal organization of the leaders of
) labor unionism in Temperance Eel
lowship. This has been perfected dur
ing the present month at the interna-
tional convention of the American
Federation of Labor at Toronto. In the
face of bitter opposition from the vest
ed interests of the saloon, the fore
most leaders of the workingmen have
. Joined hands with a representative OF
the Christian churches, to drive a
wedge that shall completely separate
; the saloon from unionism. At present
many labor unions hold their meetings
, in connection with retail liquor estab-
lishments. That bad custom is on it's
way to limbo. The American and Ca
madam workingmen are joining with
! their British brethren in great Tenn
perance Fellowship.
\ Cleaning UP Society.
Through all this there runs the
\ note sounded by Paul in the lesson
, assage-self-deni for the sake Of
others. The scientists have helped
j bring society to this new state of
mind They have hit hall the notion
: of dangerous individualisgp by isolat-
ing contagious diseases, and by clean
: ing up plague spots, however great the
inconvenience to the individuals.
\ Personal liberty is a plea given
scant attention when the board OF
! health officer comes around with his
quarantine notices. The welfare of the
. whole supersedes the privileges of the
' individual. Science says that willy
! nilly' men must be altruistic in Ger
D tain matters.
Of late cry has been raised which
= has stirred men to the depths con
lcerning the merchandising in human
a beings. 1t seems to be proved thai
2 there is an international white slave
traffic, and that the infamous business
has political ramiications. The same
4 wave of altruism which has driven OIL
y the liquor saloon from wide areas will
( ultimately stop this business. Before
3 that end is attained, Christian mel
and women will have to arouse them
3 3 selves to relentless activity. If thu
ideals of Jesus are ever to prevail, hi
@ disciples will have to contend for then
vigorously. 1t is a shame that selfis!
q lawlessness should be more shrewt
and diligent than lnelfish humanitar
ianism and Christianity
O The Positive Side.
No platform of negations ever per
manently wins Mere prohibitions car
. not commend public allegiance. Jus
as a child cannot successfully b.
y. brought up on "don'ts,' so progress
u may not be expected if men are re
n CURED only to abstain from doing cei
" tain things. The positive side of ten
g, perance and religion needs to b
:. stressed at all times. The glory an
- dignity and power of self-control Q
u the tempered and altruistic life, mus
IS he held aloft without ceasing.
Paul taught the Christliness of otf
g. erism, He made plain the Christian
ry duty to deny himself for the sake O
lg a brother. Sometimes this teaching i
hit carried farther than the example 0
I'd words of the apostle warrant. And tn
lg weaker brother" is permitted to tyl
Sc annnize over the Christians libert
a and JOY. For Paul says in this lesso
he to both weak and strong, that on
lmay not judge his brother; it is t