The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-11-06


According to ancient histories which
we used TO study, the long suit" Of the
Greeks was beauty. Beauty they
sought in literature. painting. scuIp
ture. architecture or anything else they
tackled. One OF their wise men went
SO far as to say that beauty and virtue
were one.
We also learned that the Romans
went in strongly for political power A
well governed, word-embracing empire
seems TO have been their idea.
But we have passed far beyond the
Greeks and Romans in the present
age. We pass up beauty. political
power and things OF that sort except
as they contribute to profits. The ul-
innate test applied to any proposition,
whether it be art, science or religion
is. sWill it payg" Don't you remember.
when couple Of fellows said they
had been to the North Pole. truly
epoch making achievement from a
scientific point Of view. the first ques-
ton we asked was What's the use.
Was it worth the trouble?n
The ancient writer who declares
-Godliness is profitable unto all
things" must have intended his remark
for folks living in the present age. He
seems to have had prophetic view Of
the c0mmerciaIism that some day
would become the ruling sentiment in
the world and therefore be laid down
the business proposition that GodIiness
pays. #k@
Now be careful. keep the record
straight. don't misqnote or misrepre-
sent the sacred writer. He didn't say
that it pays 10 he church member.
although that may be true-it depends.
He said "Godliness is profitable"
He didn't say that it pays to profess
to be something which you are not.
He didn't say that it pays to say you
love God and then beat somebody out
of an honest debt. He didn't say that
1t pays to make pious pretensions and
then go around with all sorts of III
feelings in your heart for saints ana
sinners alike, if you don't happen to
like the way they act. He didn't say
It pays to sing loud and make long
prayers in the meetin' house on Sunday
and be mean as the Old Nick himself
the rest of the week, cheating and
swindling, swapping and snarling. back
biting, talking about your neighbors-
no he didn't say that.
Not that. unless you believe God is \
the kind of being that does all those
things. There are gods many, in /
certain sense, for most people have
their own ideas as TO the attributes of
the Supreme Being. but differ as we
may, all grades Of humanity from the
most ignorant pagan to the most en-
lightened philosopher agree in the
recognition of Supreme God. a
Power that makes for Righteousness
or an Ideal Of Excellence. Whatever
godliness may mean in an absolute
sense. certainly in its practical appli-
cation. 10 intelligent persons it means
moral rectitude. something that lifts
men above their animal propensities,
something that ennobles. making hu-
man character honorable, honest and
pure.
That sort Of thing is immensely
profitable, having promise Of the life
that now is aud the life that is to
come. according to the author we have
quoted. Ii isn't the sham appearance
which we put on for the sake Of max
ing respectable showing to our fel-
low-men; not the honesty that vie prac-
sice to keep out Of jail or the piety
which we have because we are afraid
o. he'll fire in the next world, but the
honor we have for honors sake, the
honesty we practice because It is right,
the piety to which we adhere because
we believe in it. That is the kind Of
gCdliness which is profitable unto all
things;' it gives us a conscience void
Of ofIense." makes us right and square
with ourselves and with all mankind.
gives us lasting satisfaction till the
end, and then.
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