The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-16
A sATTTRDAY SERMON.


to you in sleeps clothing but inwardly
! they are ravening wolves. st. Matthew
VII:15.
This is some of the advice which was
given by Christ in his sermon on the
mount. Centuries before that time
Moses adrnonished the children of Is
rael in a similar vein. jeremiah spoke
likewise and told of Gods fearful judy
ments against false prophets. st. Paul
exhorted the Romans with thoughts of
the same purport. In fact, the Scrip
lures are replete with constant ad-
monitions against the paying of atten-
ton to false prophets.
If there were need for such admoni-
tons in the ages of long ago there is
much more need for them today. They
should be shouted from the housetops
throughout the length and breadth of
the earth. The world is now filed
with false prophets. There seems to
be more of them proportionately in the
United States than in any other sec
ton of the universe. They infest every
field of human endeavor. The political
arena is full to overlooking with them.
So is the world of trade, and particu-
ls rly the highways of finance.
In politics they are to be found chief
ly among that class who call them
selves "reforn,ers." Theirs is an avow
ed mission to better the conditions of
mankind. They announce themselves
as the colnpounders Of panaceas that
will heal the sores of society. They
rant against everything that exists as
It has grown and been developed by
years Of experience. 1t is only in such
way that they can attract the at
tention of the passing crowds. Often
they get a following which IS large
enough to put them in power for the
time being. Then the hard demands of
rracticability explode their fine and
high-sounding theories. and before
long they slip quietly away into obliv-
ion. They do more or less damage but
it. is not OF the lasting character. Their
reign is never for very long time.
Because. while the people can be fooled
occasionally they only invest in the
same kind of a gold brick once in their
lives.
Prominent among the false prophets
in the business world are the men who
promote the get-rich-quick schemes.
The variety of them is almost limitless.
The fake companies that have been or
ganized .d are being organized daily
to exploit fake enterprises are without
number. They prey upon public gull
libility, just AS do certain classes of
politicians. Most of their propositions
are attractive on the surface. But they
are as unproductive of profits as is
sailed mine. Although many such en-
terprises have gone to the wall in fail
ures most disastrous to every one in
terested in them. except their promo
ters-ard occasionally the latter land
in jail-a great number Of people are
ever ready and willing to sink their
money into them. The promise of large
gains Is too tempting lure for them
to withstand frequently, though, the
damage done by these false prophets of
the business world is Of the irreparable
l,ind. The savings of 1ifetimes are sap
ped up by them. The losers IRE too
advanced in years to lay up another
competency. Their declining days are
PASSED in poverty and misery.
jeremiah diagnosed the false proph-
cts rightly when he said: They speak
vision Of their own heart" To ex-
press this though more colloquially,
they have axes of their own to grind,
first, last and all the time, regardless
of the solicitous regard they claim to
have for others. or the desires they
may express to help others on their
way to better things. But there'l come
a day before long when the false proph-
cts Of all sorts will have harder time
than they now have to ply their trades.
It's up to the people themselves to has
ten that day along. They can do iC if
they will take the time and the sense
that God has given them to discern the
motives Of their false friends and act
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