The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-05-22
When Greed Becomes Deed.

Show me" is the slangy expression OF
the spirit Of these times The worlds at
litude to-day toward ali things IS skepti-
cal. Il accepts only the man or enter
prise that has made good" It wants a
demonstration that viii convince its own
judgment Mere empty profession in re-
Iigion OF in business IS treated with scant
patience. Belief that is barren is given
no heed. Our own day stands rather
squarely on the platform laid by James.
that the faith which is alive must pro-
duce- All eyes look for this practical ex-
preston OF their profession
The Sunday schools OF the world are
tbs week studying a fragment OF the m
tensely practical letter written by James.
There IS an intrinsic appropriateness in
the interruption OF the historical studies
from the Book OF Acts in order that this
letter Of James may be considered in
connection with the letter which he wrote
as president Of the council at Jerusalem
10 the Gentle Christians al Antioch and
throughout Asia Minor. The deeply prsc-
teal strain in this epistle has led many
TO question its right 10 a place in the
Canon. 1t was not until the council OF
LaOdices. about SCI. that II was formally
and finally admitted. During the early
centuries. however. It was always printed
as Immediately following the Book OF the
Acts, being more clearly related thereto
than the letters Of Apostle Paul Il was
JerOmes translation which disturbed this
order and made it likely that henceforth
the ecCleStine arrangement OF books viii
be followed always
There are several Jameses in the New
Testament and the question arises as to
the identity Of this one II is generally
agreed that ne Is not one Of the two
JameSes who belonged 10 the college Of
apostles. but rather the brother Of Jesus
Himself. He Is commonly called James
the Just. and there are many interesting
extra-Scriptural traditions concerning
him We know that he was presiding
over the council at Jerusalem, thus hav-
ing a pTimacy over Peter and John and
Paul during the first council He was a
Jew OF the stricter sort. and his letter Is
written as a Jew 70 Jews. Possibly IL
was meant 10 recall the church from an
Decentralization Of the teachings Of Paul:
for al who have been inclined 90 spirit
ualize the latter's words have found fault
with these writings Of James Luther
his whole being concentrated on the great
truth that the Just shall live by faith
did not Ike James apparently disparsg-
ing remarks concerning faith. and thus
he called this book "an epistle Of straw"
Later he is thought 10 have revised this
judgment and certainly his followers and
the church that bears his name have
come 10 a C0TTeCter Interpretation OF the
importance OF James teachings and OF
their place in the Canon
NO RELIGION TO SPEAK Or
One Of those busting persons who talk
as freely about the innermost sanctities Of
the spirit as they do about the crops or
the weather had approached profoundly
religious man with some casual inquiry
concerning the state OF his spirit ! have
no religion to speak Of" dryly replied the
latter. knowing that his interroeator
would probably not catch this double
ended sentence There are many who
have a deep sympathy with the man who
had no religion TO speak Of They feel
that the hoUsetops are not the places for
an oral confession OF faith The creed
that counts in the market place IS the
creed that expresses itself not in pious
phrases. but IN q square deal
In all charity IT may be questioned
whether the persons who are most prone
70 talk about religion are those who best
realize IL The deeply religious man Is
possessed Of q profound reverence. He
viii speak his faith, OF course. upon
proper occasion; but he does not wear
either MS soul OF his heart upon his
sleeve With all spiritual emotions there
may Be found a great dif8dence. A woman
does not talk Of her love for her chill
dren; she shows II. James makes a cen
ter shot at the talkative saint when he
writes: II man say'-stTessing the
word Say he hath faith. but have not
works. can that faith save him2"
THE FAITH THAT Is A DEAD ONE.
PiOus admonitiOns i'll nc. empty stom-
achs- The common religious salutation OF
the early Christian was peace" James
declares that the Christian who cries
peace to a hungry or naked person in |
need. withholding food and raiment from
him has by no means expressed his re- /
hg1On- Warm words are no substitute for /
warm clothes. A lachrymose pity which /
is ever plUming itself on its sympathy Is /
no point Of merit unless II has done its /
utmost 10 ameliorate the conditions over
which II weeps However high and far a I
mans spirit may soar. his feet must re- /
main sQuarely planted on earth. In this |
material world even spirituality must be
shown in material ways
James declares unequivOcaIly that faith /
without works is dead In the coIloouiaI
speech OF tO-day-snd James letters are /
extremely cOllOquial-he would declare !
that the religion which is not busy about |
helpfulnass is "a dead one The world is /
right IN judging creed by conduct. A man /
may not take refuge from his failure to /
square himself in the worlds ewes nv (
whimpering that he Is rot understood.
There IS a language that Is never mis- /
understood IN earth or in Heaven, and 1
that is the language OF practical conduct. !
If man is tght-fisted. crafty, usurious. /
unmerciful. and blind to the claims Of his 1
DeighboTs upon him. he cannot get 2 1
rating anywhere as 2 religious man 4
though he make prayers as long as one /
OF PauFs letters. and dot the Landscape
with memorial churches. As the BODY
apart from the spirit is dead. even SO I
faith apart from works is dead de- 4
clares James At times the church has /
sought 10 weed out credaI heretics. Bet
ter far would It be for her to pluck out
the dead members OF the sort described
by James. who are a contamination and
a reproach.
WHO WAS The MORE RELIGIOUS?
Two men were holding a controversy
concerning orthodoxy a short time ago.
OiiS "S-S l4Si4+ico 10 CeAy - All VINO Qld 4
not hQld his faith the right hand Of fel-
iowship CT any hope OF divine favor. He
would give them no hearing and scant
charity. IN his earnestness he cited by
name a person known to both, whom ne
said was away or In belief
The other rejoiEed: 7 grant that in
some matters Of belief this person is not
IS fixed as you or I, vet in the practical
religion OF actual good works and in the
spiritual attitude Of reverence and devo-
ton. which is the foundation Of all re-
ligiOn. she IS more religious than either