The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-05-12
SATURDAY NIGHT
IA;2ISERMONS
,WAM By
p REvSArfUEL
WPURVISDN
YOUR LITTLE CLAY GOD.

thlng."-Ex. Xxx. "a.
1t happened in Philadelphia. Yes,
in the very city of homes, churches
and orthodoxy. Searching for II plas-
ter of paris figure, stumbled into an
idol factory. They were rushing to
finish large order OF Buddhist idols
for Korea. l rubbed my eyes. Dream
ing? No. | could see the statue OF
william Penn on top OF city hall from
where stood. | knew we had been
sending rum and cigarettes to our be-
nighted Asiatic brothers-but idolsl
| Wonder what they will tell "the child
| like people" about those idolsf That
they are the gods the great American
people worship? I'd hate to be mis-
sionary standing about when those
boxes are opened. Wouldn't like to
have to explain to the puzzled people
| just how Christian nation happened
| to be sending idols to perpetuate SUI
perstltion and degradation among
these simple folks of the Land OF the
Morning Calm. | picked up small
image, n hideous little clay thing with
pot belly and slant eyes, and smiled in
a superior Anglo-SaXon sort of way.
"They That Make Them
! And yet somehow | could not help
lGinking as | stood among the sky.
scrapcrs at Broad and Chestnut streets
few minutes later not only OF the
idols and idol wOrshipers. but the idol
makers. How about their conscience
and principle, men who In the light
Of the twentieth century, in the third
largest city of Christian America, are
making images for heather to worship?
A Scripture verse kept boring in on
me, They that make them are like
unto them" As | stood on the corner
gazing about me, visitor from MarAs
like, | mused: "Worshiping God I'M
der the symbol of little clay image
or putting dependence in some other
human made thing, living as II there
were no God. Where's the difference"
But those idol worshipers are cred
ulous and superstitious, aren't they"
| know it, but listen. At dinner par
ty last week in cultured Boston the
hostess said, I've no superstition at
all in regard to thirteen, but it's best
not to risk anything" A waitress
made the fourteenth guest. The whole
navy seemed to rebel few months
ago when 1t was proposed to commits
sion battleship on Friday. No girl
would marry on that day, of course.
They feel relieved when the day is
fair-"auspiciOus," they call it. Heav-
ems! The very word and superstition
our barbaric ancestors had centuries
ago when they feared stars and
eclipses. Splitting salt, breaking mir
rors, black cats, new moons, will surely
work us i'll, while horseshoes, rabbits
feet, lucky stones and charms will pro-
tect us. Shades of Salem witchcraft!
Meanwhile police departments conduct
raids regularly to keep down the num-
Der of palmists, clairvoyants and their
ilk. What is the sin? Attributing eff
fects to things belonging to our own
lowest creations and emotions instead
Of to him from whom cometh every
good and perfect gift"
A Shelf of Idols.
Then our American people have idols
things that take the place of God.
Truly. For instance: In the market
places on Wall, Chestnut and State
streets there is a big, arrogant, swollen
image called Success. American school
boys are taught to bow knee to this
god every day. Not much said about
the means. Sometimes least said the
better. Moloch stands for cruelty;
sweatshop. mine and child labor fac
tory Is his temple. He hides behind
screen of corporation or trust and
his priest calls. Am l my brothers
keeper"
Mammon's enshrined behind bars OF
gold. His thirst's Unsuitable. His dew
otees rob man and God. Baal. god Of
lust. blinks balefully under red lights,
his virgins fallen women; white slaves
in wide eyed terror from their brothel
touches cry piteously before his lecher-
GUS priests. Meanwhile the mills Of
the divorce god grind on. Deep an
swering to deep. The seats at the fame
Of Eros crowded with boys and girls
in dark motion picture show, the most
fragrant liberties pass unnoticed by
uniformed usher-these souls represent
nickels, forsooth!
Your Little Clay God.
| far from all Inat, are you! None OF
those hideOusly sinful idols for you?
Good. But remember the little images
Rachel hid under her skirts, protect
ing them by wOman's sure defensef
Not even Isaac suspected her. Any
images hidden under your gown Of
nonsuspicion? | know a man who's
adding acre to acre, children robbed Of
education, wifes health thrice broken,
once mentally, under the strain-but,
no matter, the little clay god is fatten-
ing. There's home in an eastern city
where a wife dresses her image-self.
Hats, gowns and furs are lavished on
it. She attends a court circle where
others bow before proud, fabby god
called Society. Her husband2 Prison
doors opened for him once, but Ii
friends covered the ENFORCEMENT. An
your little clay god? A child, gluttony
drink, pleasure, business, vile image
you have locked up in the secret cham
Der of your soul? Are these real pow
ers in your life or only poor little clay
Images of your own making? My mind
persists In going back to the little clay
god with its pot belly and slant ewes in