Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-21

worn principles of an obsolete Puritan
ism, is to propagate an anarchistic spirit
which will corrupt society and subvert
the foundations of it's most sacred and
necessary institutions. Already we are
seeing some of the fruits OF such teach
ings.
Entertainments are fearfully increased
during each successive year. The amount
of money stolen by such crimes amount
ed in 1908 to s1S,0o0.000, and In 1910 to
$25. 100000. And why not? If self-indul-
gence is the climax OF human life both
in thought and action, why not seize,
by fair methods or foul, the means Of
indulgence? II the future life is hazy
and uncertain, why not grab for the most
in the life that now is9 Must not men
and women have plays and routs? must
they not have gorgeous apparel and
sumptuous fare? Shall their pleasures
be restrained by prudish and sour
Purintanism with its rigorous rules Of
life and its solemn teachings. concerning
future rewards and penalties?
Again, suicides are increasing at an
appalling rate. In 1909 they numbered in
the United States 10, 40, while in 1910 the
number rose to 12,60S Why should life
be thus recklessly thrown away in land
so young and so hopeful as ours? In no
country in the world are the opportuni-
ties of life so open and inviting to. all.
and yet an army of people destroy them
selves by suicidal acts. But why not, II
mans origin be so ignoble and his des-
tiny so uncertain as some would have
us believe?
Homicides increased from S,1Os in 1909
to s,s75 in 1910 Men learn by loose teach
ings to hold the lives Of others. as well
as their own lives, cheap. And why not,
II man Is only a higher sort of animal,
riding the highest wave of an irresisti
BILE evolution? Let him slay as he rides.
knowing that it is decreed of nature that
the fittest shall survived
These and many other excuses and
crimes are the fruit of a sowing which
diseards the truths of revealed religion as
evil seeds. and scatters with open hand
whatever human reason, in rebellion
against God, conceives and puts forth.
Meanwhile we talk much of our chari-
ties and benevolences. After opening
the veins of society we take credit to
ourselves for our efforts to stop the
flow of the blood which runs from the
wounds we have made. This Is always
the method of a faithless generation. An
age which is unsettled in Its faith and ir-
regular In it's morals always puts great
store by Its philanthropy. Panied by the
consciousness of having lost some in
valuable possession. the loss. OF which 1t
is unwilling to acknowledge, II seeks to
comfort itsdlf by recounting its benev-
olences. Having cut down those trees of
life which yield the fruits OF christian
character. it multiplies all sorts Of arti-
fetal fruits In order to persuade itself
that it has not suffered by its own mis-
guided deeds. In all this self-deceiving
work it Is further stimulated by q de-
sire to put out OF sight all things dis
agreeable which interfere with its en-
joyment 1t provides an alms-house for
Lazarus in order to prevent him lying
before the gates OF its palace, clad in
rags and filled with sores. attracting too
many dogs for the comfort of the chill
dren Of luxury who dwell within.
A crowning characteristic Of such an
age is that all its moral conviction con-
centrates itself In one virtue which II re-
CARDS as an all SUFFICIENT grace, ample to
cover all it's sins and to make up for its
lack of all other good. It's moral per-
lection is sought in the perfection Of
what 1t calls tolerance" 1t tolerates
every form of religion except that OF or
thodox stianity,-Buddhism, Moham-
mechanism. Spiritltsm, Theosophy, and all
the other isns now existing or which
may in the future arise from the erring
brain of sceptical men. Had the apostles
Of such an age of tolerance been with
Elijah on Carmel they would have saved
NhC AANCS VI LhC pAAC5Nc VI 0ddA CF~h a.
the cost of killing the T1shbite to res
cue from his holy Indignation the rep
fresentatives of idolatry.
Butrts their tolerance such virtue
after all? How much Of 1t is due to in
tellectual Incidence. which is ready to
allow all sorts OF falsehoods to have
place rather than put itself to the dis
comfort and Inconvenience of discover
ing the truth and defending it7 How
much of 1t springs from cowardice which
shrinks from any contest on behalf of
truth? How much OF 1t springs from a
weak desire to be popular with certain
classes? How much OF 1t is produced by
Vanity desiring to make a reputation
for observation-disclosures and wide culture?
There is certainly a tolerance which
amounts to nothing more than indiffer-
ence to truth and righteousness. 1t re-
quires no faith, no grace. and no cour-
age to practice such tolerance. All that
is needed to bring such tolerance to per-
lection is a subtle scepticism, which be-
Ileves nothing except the dogma that
everything may be false and any thing
may be true, coupled with the cowardly
conviction that there is no truth so GER
tainly ascertained and so unquestionable
essential as to be worth lighting for. The
concurrence of these two things is the
birthplace Of perfect apostle of toler-
a1ce. But how far Is II removed from
where the Elijahs, Isaiahs, John the
Baptists, Pauls, Luthers, Knoxes, and
WesIeys. found the spiritual springs Of
their immortal lives and the sources Of
their addressing careers