Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-05
C Eathass sSsSss@sga e. t5ysNkeAIE I@d2

what that value has been than to note the
conditions in those countries IN which the
church thrives before and since its intro
duction. And that we NAV not be accused
Of unfairness by any one. we shall take
into view. not the more distant and I'm
civilized provinces Of earth. but those chief
countries where all the light and moral
vigor Of the heather world were concen-
trated. Such provinces were Italy and
Greece II was here that the much boosted
philosophy held its court; iiteratures and
the arts were cultivated with the utmost
devotion and success. But a certain emf
nent writer who lived IN that age describes
the heather population OF these civilized
people as given up to the vilest. most un-
natural and beastly affections: filled with
all unrighteousness and degrading wicked
ness. fun Of envy. murder. deceit malig-
nifty: disobedient to parents: covenant
breakers, without natural affection. i'm
plscabe unmerciful not only committing
such things as were worthy of death. but
having pleasure in them that did them.
In their religion this saws writer says:
Processing themselves to be wise they
became fools; they changed the glory Of
the incorruptible God into an image like
20 corruptible man. and TO birds and to
four-footed beasts and creeping things"
They multiplied their gods until there
was a god for everything and anything
answered for a god; and so anxious were
they that everything should have a god.
and that every god should have his offer
ing that they erected affairs to unknown
gods" And what these gods were said to
have been in their lives. their worshipers
arfga oil To-, hal
shame" said one who knew them well.
even to speak of those things which were
done Of them in secret" In Athens and
Rome, those ancient cities that stand for
the best in the past the worship Of many
idols consisted in the sacrifice of human
beings. The state of public morals when
the gods were the patrons OF vice. and
their rites encouraged both cruelty and
obsceneness, is easier imagined than de-
scribed. The great Seneca exclaimed,
How great is the madness of men,
But what has become Of these deep
rooted deformities? Where are the re-
mains of the denominations we have de-
scribed? Crime remains. indeed. but only
in hidden dens: laws do not afford It coun-
tenance; public sentiment drives it into
concealment. There has been a mighty
change; only those who will not see OF
who will not hear will deny the change
But what has produced this change? The
heather religion has not brought II about
for where the heather religions exist these
conditions still prevail. Philosophy has
not accomplished 1t. for the philosopher
have never reformed either themselves OF
their disciples. What. then. has brought
about the changer History has but one
answer: Reason has but one answer: The
Church OF Jesus Christ with its word and
sacraments alone. single handed. The per
secuted and despised church began tn,
wonderful change, and under the favor o.
God, has accomplished every step Of THU
great advancement. For this wonderful
| achievement II commands the admiration
and support of every man and ever
woman who has a faculty Of appreciation
| o. be thou faithful unto it even unto death
| The church. with the word and sacra
ments. is the gate, and the only gate, int
the kingdom OF heaven. In days of health
and strength and prosperity it is difficul
to realize the Importance of thoughtfully
considering the life beyond the Joys and
comforts and blessings and association.
| of eternity are not a twentieth part al
prominent in our minds as the anticipated
| joys and comforts and associations OF mex
month. or next year, in this life. And ye
all these. temporal things are so shor
lived while eternity. great eternity, vas
eternity. is before us. and the church Il
the only way and has the only means o.
preparation for It.