The Washington herald., 1909-08-14
Big Business and Religion.

The Riot az Ephesis- Acts 1iX --3, 98i.
Here enters a many-named figure. which
stalks deathless through the centuries
like the Wandering Jew. on the present
occasion he is called Demetrius, the sill
versmith; sometimes he is known as
Vested interests" sometimes as The
System" sometimes as big Business
always he claims special consideration
from kings and church and parliament
and peasant: ever he is glib 20 profess
any faith that may serve his own inter-
ests, and always is he clever in cloaking
his own speclous pleas In the gar0 OF the
moments most popular cause.
A mark Of the wise man and tn good
citizen is ability 20 discern Demet.f,is ID
the garb OF capitalist OF labor agita'Nr OF
politician. II Is well 10 remember that he
is not a patriot but only a silversmlth.
Along with a wholesome trust IN one
fellow-men should ever go a careful Skep-
ticism concerning the motives OF popular
agitators. For DemetriUs Is the worst zoe
Of any people at any time.
THE MODERN GOLDEN CALF.
At the recent Christian Endeavor con-
vention in St Paul. Mr.. William Jennings
Bryan related how he had talked with
man CDIttIIlIh kEif TALJNNN VI N4tA+N--Aa
with the church The man at length con-
fessed that the reason he could nc De-
come a Chrstan-while frankly aomit-
ting that he should do so-was that he
was engaged in a business which was in
consistent with the Christi8n religion, and
given his choice between business and re-
ligion, ne chose business. That Is
twentieth century habit Our times
frankly delfy business. We are putting
ii above family relationship. personal
health. and happiness, and above honor
itself ii is not altogether an unknown
thing for persons 70 unite with the church
merely TO further their own business In
terests.
The crude. open. and Uuabashed fash
ion in which Americans eXalt business
above -w0rthier considerations has an IL
lustraJion IN the present discussion con-
cerniug the Chinese railway loan. Some
American hnanciers have expressed "a de-
sire 10 participate TO the extent OF few
million dollars I'm a loan 10 the Chinese
government The officials at Washington
have gone 10 great length 20 support this
entirely proper claim Yet in the Few
months that this subject has been under
consideration the newspapers Of the
United States have given more space 20 II
than they have given for eight years past
20 all the varied and Important interests
Of American missions in China. although
the latter represent an infinitely grelter
Investment. Thus do we disproportion-
ately put the dollar first. Similarly, al
the tariff discussion of recent months has
had as its background the shrewd and
sleepless insistence OF vested interests for
special consideration at the nands of law
makers. Every parliament on earth knows
the power of big business in demanding
more than common consideration. The
golden dollar Is the modern golden calf.
SOME PREsENT-DAY DIANAs.
The popular Ephesian deity was Arte-
mis-. or Diana. the Goddess of Life. who
was worshiped with vilest debaucheries.
Her great idol, which was sold in minia-
ture 90 the ceaseless stream Of pilgrims,
thus making a most productive industry.
was the principal object Of interest in
Ephesus; and her temple was one OF the
seven wonders of the world. Somewhat
analogous To that ancient situation is
the shrine of the Lady Of Lourdes, or
the ShintO shrineTs OF Iamada, In Ise,
Japan. or the Hindu temples at Ben2res.
in an these places the commercial life
Of the city is interviewer with the worship
and the pilgrimages. The entire popula-
tion would rise mp to protest against any
innovation that imperiied their business.
We need not 90 To heather lands TO find
analogies. Preseut-day Christians have
identified religion with institutions Our
Interpretation and expression Of Christ
iauity has become confused with Chris
tauity itself. SuppCe IL should appear 20
the conscience of most Christians that
organs should be abolished from the
churches. OF the reverse; or that all chOirs
should be put into vestments. What
row would Immediately follow Or. more
seriously, what If the enlightened Chris
tian conscience Of to-day should lead the
churches back TO the simple meeting
house Of an older day? What an Ephes-
ian not in behalf of the churches and
cathedrals would be created.
So most denominations have built up in
bricks and mortar expensive denomina-
tiOnal headquarters. They not only re-
ceive. but seek entailed requests; yet it
IS manifest that before many years many
Of the existing denominational lines must
be abolished. Great mergers are coming
among the churches; but see what bar
riers are erected by these property rights
and by these professional positions. 1t is
an open secret that the Northern Pies
byterian Church and the Dutch Reformed
Church do not unite chiefly because the
lawyers have said that the title to the
immensely valuable Dutch Reformed
properties would not hold valid in such
a union. Likewise. the proposition that
is being considered in several churches to
consoid boards is meeting with shrewd
and powerful opposition from the men
whose positions might be imperiled Is
not this an exaltation Of special interests
above the free course of truth and the
welfare Of the kingdom?
DEMETRIUs. AND SOME OTHERS.
This whole lesson hinges on the vital
question Of special interests cloaked by
religion. Let us not rant about Ephesus,
when in our own day Demetrius is -four
ishing in many quarters. Some Of our
denominations are honeycombed with &c
clesiastical politics. which put the inter-
ests Of individuals above the welfare OF
the church. Bishop Hamilton told the
Philadelphia Methodist ministers. at the
time of their last conference. that he was
shocked by their self-seekinE. and he bade
them 90 home and practice what they
preach The Northern Presbyterian de-
nomination lately took action in its high
est court against the use Of tobacco by
its members but 1t had not a word 10
say concerning the Demetrius OF eccles-
iastical political practices that would dis
grace the secular parties. in the name Of
the gospel that prevailed at Ephesus. the
church must have new courage to cleanse
herself. Christianity must be pure before
il can be powerful. Only clean church
can serve or save the world With the
relentlessness OF righteousness, the self
seekers and special interests must be
driven from individual churches and from
the denominations.
GREAT IS DIANAr'
The mob that Demetrius raised at Ephe-
sus. ostensibly In behalf OF the goddess
Diana, cried for two hours, Great is
Diana Of the Ephesians," Luke has drawn