The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-19

refusal 10 look into the heart OF his
characters, not Mr.. James. with his
uhra-cosmopoiitan view that sees no
religious intent anywhere: not Mrs.
Wharton. whose cigaretteSmokins So
ciety devotees know no God save the
Lord OF an oath.
To be sure. there's Mark Twain.
who - being held up by modern writ
ers as the great American phiIoso-
pher. since. back or all his humar
his was the essential spirit Of Amerl-
can life. zone can imagine that NJ
Clemens. with becoming irrevercnca
and a Twainistic "cuss word" might
request the ages TO pass that joke
along. ecaus il - so good. Think OF
Mark Twain as being other than tn,
colossal jokerD
An American must needs turn TO
Europe for an Interpretation Or
modern life-to Bernard shaw. H.
sen, 10 Maeterlinck. My dear Nr.
Hinohara. we Rave no Interpreters OF
our own lf- We depend on Europe
for such things. II VT tiers over there
decide that religion is a thing vital
enough 70 he studied along with the
Weaknesses % human nature ali Well
ana good. If they decide THAT the sins
the enslaNing passions. the tragic sad
ness Of life have naught to d. With
mans spiritual nature his
dole thirst after God, again Il il
Well and good with us.
With thoughts like these flashing
through my brain. what could | do
but point my friend TO Victor Hugo.
with his Les MiSerables.' and TO Toll
stoE. with his eyer-present passion
for righteousness
So much for American bellies let
tres OF tie hour. We cannot claim
for ii that a sincere follower Of Christ,
| M a l. n n 1ttYIy - - ,-S:1 L1rAl,. IL 4
much to the native power and SIM
phcity which the God OF all the na-
lions has given him.
Wien We consider American life
and conduct We may rightfuliv trem-
BILE for the effect unless we felt sure
OF the Students steadfast inner life.
Iherc is no doubt Of the fact that
our are CSening in their
broadening" tendency. What shall
we say when told that tae
Church of Japan demands OF its con-
NertS entire abstinence from tobacco.
while the 1911 alumni banquet Of our
students American Alma Mater had
the courses interiuded and interfused
by clouds Of tobacco smoke? ] am
not here to attack or defend tobacco.
Our g~randmOthers wer able TO smoke
their pipes vita no apparent injury.
but that was before the day OF the
deadly cigarette. Struggle as | may n
plant in my boys mind some Of my
own uncompromising hatred for Gig
a%rettes. what good will that do when
my son goes out into the world. to
school or elsewhere, and finds pnys.-
clan eacher, preacher, and fellow
student Haunting the weed in his
face? Will my boy believe that l
alone am wise? Or will he conclude
that lis mother is disposed to be a
good Woman but is pitifuily narrow ?
VIII he not flatter himself that he is
v onderfIily indulgent if he listens
with some show of respect or patience
to my continued exhortation about a
Eabit which. to him, seems a mark or
manliness?
AS With my son. so Of the youthful
Japanese church which We are trying
to plant in that far away country. IL
the maturer organization here IN
America gives countenance and en-
c-Ouragement to this habit. o can
our young minister preach aSaiust it
with whole-hearted power?
The dancing girl of Japan stands in
front of Christian progress there.
Her 1.-the limbs and nimble feet form
a barricade behind whica Japanese
men are ranked. row after row. Does
the dancing girl Of Southern Method
ism suggest a hating place for Spir-
itual forces Does she hint OF the
progress of a mighty Churcl, Mill
tant for the Master. counting service
and self-denial a joy, if SO the lives
of men may be won for the S~ov1our?
If our student friend should attend
q ball given by a great Church
school. would he be likely TO have
clear and ~unconfuscd notions Of SUCH
things? Would he be able to preach
with greater power and simplicity
against the evils which hold men to
a life of the senses?
l shall not apologize for mention
ing the geiS1a girl and the society belle
in the same breath. The crux Of the
matter is this: Does the life OF
ether END to the growth and perfec-
ton Of that spiritual nature vic1in us
which turns from The grOSser thing
around us and reaches out with infl-
mite yearning to lay hold Of that Love
which is ice source of power and sim