Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-26

ingIess things of chance, but infallible
signs of His divine nature, and power. If
his influenced were withdrawn, We would
see how quickly all these blessed effects
would disappear from the earth; and
this fact we should lay to heart.
Perhaps many imagine that since in
our country the institutions and safe
guards which belong to a christian civili-
zation have already been secured, we
may continue to hold them after we have
lost our grip on Christ, that we can
never lose what we have once obtained
from Him. But let us not deceive our
selves with such vain delusion. AS Well
might we hope to retain perpetual
spring-time with the sun blotted from the
heavens or wandered away to the far
South, as to expect the sweet effects Of
christianity to linger with us after we
have allowed the Saviour to depart from
US.
We have recently seen what men can
do even in christian land when they
have renowned allegiance to Christ Two
young men, scarcely beyond the days
of their youth, confess that they DELHI
erately and in cold blood arranged ex-
plosions of dynamite by which inno-
cent and unsuspecting people were blown
to death in a moment They offer no
better defense for their horrible deeds
than that they were engaged in an In
dustrial war with certain capitalists. or
in terms more plain that in a contest
about mere material matters, money and
wages. they ruthlessly destroyed human
lives against whom they had nothing to
charge. If all men in our country were
of like mind where would there be a
safe, spot left in the land? If all were
as Christless as these men, what home
would be secure?
Any civilization out of which Christ
has departed is big with the elements of
its own destruction. 1t will create the
very forces which viii overthrow it.
1t is christianity with it's quickening in
fluence upon the productive powers of
men which has created the wealth and
the wages Of christendom. Heath
en- nations are filled with the
most abject poverty and wretched
squalor Of unrewarded labour; only in
christian nations is found vast wealth,
ingenious devise for producing more
wealth, quickened intelli gence. living
wages. and fruitful industry But unfor-
tunately we see a considerable number
OF goddess men with capital in their
hands which imparts to them a power
most dangerous to their fellows If ii be
not welded under the authority and ac-
cording to the will of God. We see also
a far larger number of men armed with
the vast power of organization, and
many of them using the power they thus
have without fear of God or regard for
man. These forces we see arrayed
against one another in a contest over
money, and concerning money which
neither could possibly obtain if they
lived outside the influence of the chris
tianity which both are disposed to set
at nought. In this conflict there are the
most tragic consequences ahead of our
country; consequences which can be
averted only by bringing both parties to
the contest into subsection to the will Of
Christ Power, whether welded by Ia
bour or by capital. which is not held sub
ject to the authority of God Is irrespon-
sible and perilous power. Wealth is not
the supreme good; God only is worthy
of alteration; and both capital and la
hour must learn the great truth that
1.-THE life CONSISTENT not in the things
which a man hath" They must care
more for goodness than for gain. If
they defy lust for gold and cruelty
the Lord of Life, they viii destroy each
other and imperil all who are associated
with them in the lands called christian.
| Let all classes at this glad Christmas
season, which comes again proclaiming
| the advent of the Prince of Peace, open
| their hearts to Him with all the broth
erly and loving, impulses which He IN
spires Let us be thenkful for the safe
homes and the social security which
have already come to us from His loving
and powerful hands. Let us love Him
with true hearts fervently, and love our
Neighbours as ourselves. So blessed
| in Him and blessed by Him, we may re-
joice in the peace and serenity which
His presence assures. and as we go to
rest ON this Christmas Eve sing with the
psalmist Of Israel. II will both lay me
down in peace, and sleep: for thou.
Lord, only makest me dwell in safety"