Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-03-03

Those questions which affect the nober ideals OF people
long be restricted single field OF thought They
become universal problems Such question propose
tonight which appeals primarily to the lofty ideals OF
religion that vitality affects the welfare OF every
and nation, longer confined to the arguments OF
heoogans but problem discussed at universities our
press and, important of ALL the Preside That dis
Bible"
The centers OF interest colleges and universities
In an address delivered the students OF university
Bishop Williams OF the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Mc-
gan advocated the development OF the study OF comparative
religions at'the university saying that without that st-
tuition claim to give It's students an encyoPGdc view
the field OF human knowledge On the other hand Doctor
Charles William Eliot has given expression to what ne be-
eve will be the ideal religion OF the new century, religion
without miracles and largely without authority These two
alone expressing their opinions Professor carp OF
Syracuse Professor Patten OF the University OF pennsylvania
CiddUgs of Columbia, Professor Burton and Pro-
Mathews the University OF Chicago President Schur
OF Cornell Professor Nan Dyke OF Princeton and Pre
adey OF Yalea these endeavoring to solve this
great preenday problem Equally interested are the stu
dents of our educational institutions Never since the Relor
nation has there been such interest among scholars III mat
OF ethics and religion Moreover the secular press again
and again refers TO the same theme ne arCeS III me AM
erican Magazine Current Literature The literary Digest
independent The Cosmopolitan and The North American
Review, not to mention others would alone STIR the mental
activity the apatetc And as for the hresde
will dare deny that the subject OF conversation in
intelligent home what our great men and our maya
zines furnish us; The universal mind OF the country IS
wrestling with the problem.
In the heat OF the conflict assaults have been made
the Bible That this Treasure OF our Mothers should be
considered ethical guide is dcued that should be con
dere dvney revealed scorned In the October number
the Biblical World the editor calls attention the diff
cues be encountered in using the Bible as compen-
dunn precepts Iow shall we, he asks account
the fact that Old Testament heroes INDUCED poygamy
forbidden by modern laws? How teach total
abstinence from Bible which represents Jesus partakng
of wine feass and which tells how he mracuously
produced wine from occasion when the supply
fell short How Christian gain intelligent under
standing OF the stake in the modern conflict between
capital and labor il he simply confne himself reading OF
the Bible? How he gain deensble moral convictions
concerning the ethics of child labor he confne his attention
to literature which meyer dreamed the possibility OF mod
factories and machnery Such questions fairly repre-
the attacks upon the ethical value of the Bible while
saus claim inspiration find expression i'll such state
God turned sone-mason and chseled commandments
rock; and There be such thing earth as
their order In the first place maintain that the Scriptures
still the safe guide OF moral conduct for the Bible is book
great principles, broad human experience deep the
OF the souvita principles enduring through ever
changing manners and customs In failing to realize this lie
the difficulties so-caed, OF the critical editor OF the Biblical
World We rightly revere the memory OF that exemplary
patriot that sku general that wise President George Wash
ngton and draw inspiration from his life Notwithstanding
the Father of his held practice
morally reprehensibe but also positively illegal And yet
the editor asks how for the fact that Od Tesla
heroes heroes dead for thirty centuries induged in
polygamy forbidden by our modern laws Whence came
these modern laws if from enlightened conception
of the principles of home-e laid down in the Scriptures
Where is the difficulty in teaching total abstinence from
book, OF whose precepts is: 1T is good neither
flesh, to drink vine (to do anything whereby thy
brother umbleth or is offended is made weak? Thus
against the of strong drink the Bible the great prin
cpe OF atrusc selfdenial The settlement OF the conflict
between capital and labor be brought about by the right
aDDcation OF OF
1t may bcrhat the Bible is "a literature which dreamed
OF the possibilities OF modern factories and machinery but
the great Central Figure of the Bible did hesitate in spite
OF protest take child to HIMSELF and make that the
ideal subject OF tis Kingdom How book in which both
precept and eple teach the principles OF the brotherhood OF
and the Universal fatherhood OF God fail supply lofty
ethical standards for the solution OF the child labor probem
This handbook OF right living everywhere contains vital
principles that are directly applicable to the moral and social
conduct OF today.