The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-20
A SATURDAY SERMON.
,hcu shalt not steal-ExOdus xx:B.

Were this, which is considered by
many as the greatest of all the Ten
Commandments, kept religiously by
each and every person on the face of
the earth then, indeed, would that
! wonderful millennium be at hand.
There Is much more to the admonition
contained IN those four words than the
mere taking of another's property by
stealth. which is defined In the Grim
inal statutes as theft, or tbs taking of
such property by force. which is rob-
berry. They encompass. as matter
of fact every variety of wrong doing
whereby one individual deprives an
other of anything that is his by right
and justice.
It may be taking or keeping what be-
longs to another against the owners
will. It may be destroying or damag-
ing another's property wilfully, ma
liciously Selling things that are not
what they seem to be. Taking undue
advantage of a persons ignorance.
Wanting things which do not in fact
belong to you but which are entrusted
in your hands in your employment.
Neglecting your work and idling away
time for which you are paid to labor.
Taking brides for any purpose whatso-
ever. Contracting debts without any
prospect of paying them or refusing
to pay debts which are justly due. De-
frauding laborers of their just wages,
no matter how humble their positions
may be, or even failing to pay them
just wages. Demanding and accepting
usury. And even expressing the poor
and helpless.
All these things and many more are
forbidden by: "Thou shalt not steal"
But 1t would seem from their actions
that many people do not think so, or,
if they do, they do not pay attention
to such thoughts. They appear to go
on the theory that as long as they
don't operate as does the petty thief,
and steal purse or some actual. tan
gible belonging of another, they can
indulge in all kinds OF sharp practices
that the laws of man seem to fail to
reach. They can do anything, they
figure, that will help themselves on
their way regardless of the fact that 1t
is at the expense of some one else.
Thou shalt not steal" Is but another
way of presenting that paramount is
sue, the rights of man 1t has been
the great question Of all ages, ever
since humans were placed on this
earth 1t has been more pressing in
some eras, as the history OF the world
readily shows. than it has in others.
Read up about the nations of old that
enjoyed long reigns of peace at home
and abroad during their variegated ca
reers. You will find that in those
periods everybody was accorded the
highest measure of justice in all things
not only by his neighbors but by the
state which he and they created.
Many pee pie have an idea that the
rights of man" need more attention
in this and other lands these days than
they ever have before. This may be true.
But the fact that all the activities Of
the hour are being directed to work.
ing out plans whereby all men will
come nearer getting their rights than
they now are, disproves the assertion.
Where there is a disposition to eradi-
cate an evil, it Is not as sore and press
ing as 1t would be If it were being dis
regarded.
The solution of the great problem,
seeing that every man gets his rights,
will be FASTENED along by each and
every individual lending a helping
hand, and being careful not to enter
the realms of theft that are brought
forcibly to their attention by the
Eighth of the great Commandments.