The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-01
REV. GEO. G. WILLIAMS
Paul's Words, "Bear We One Another.
er's Burdens and SO Fulfil
the Law Of
Christ"

tended service at the First Congrega-
tional church yesterday morning.
The pastor Rev. DR.. George G.
Williams preached very interesting
and instructive sermon, basing his re-
marks on the Sixth chapter of the
Epistles to the Galatians and the 9th
verse Bear We one another.s burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ"
The speaker said that discovery and
new uses of them was one of the laws
Of progress. When old worlds were
overcrowded, and Adventures sought
other lands, they put new heart and
hope into the jewellers who we're seek
ing for some outlet for population, and
for more territory, and next for the
wealth which these countries offered.
The last, thing that received any at
tention was the welfare of those
whom they dispossessed. and the good
of the aboriginal dwellers Years pass
ed and the philanthropist and ethnolo-
gist found that these also were hui
man, and entitled to consideration.
And finally they recognized that as
truly as ourselves, they were children
of God. In religion the same thing
had taken place.
Theology busted itself with the or.
dering Of thought and the expression
'of faith, but it had been reserved for
these later days to show that the
preston Of religion in life was the
only adequate expression, and unless
the inner faith should bear fruit in
the character both formed and ex-
pressed it did not mean much in the
progress of the world and humanity
1t was needed in these times that re.
ligion should thus take account of it.
self If it was to fulfill its highest
function. For the spectacle which his
tory presented to ,is at this time was
/ the realization of humanity as /;
brotherhood. The rise of the new
democracy in which the people were
feeling out after and demanding theil
rights, the imminent self assertion o.
the, new democracy. and the growing
Impotence with long standing wrong.
must be reckoned with. Whether we
like 1t or not, this is a condition which
will be permanent. and there Is nj
putting back the hands of. the clio,
As in discovery, the beginning Is with
the material enrichment, SO the new
movement has to do largely witt
things. This is not to be wondered
at. None can even criticise the de
sire for larger share of the products
of their labor.
When the struggle for existence is
taken into account, as soon as we ris=
above that, all are eeking for an in
crease of material wealth. And it is
here that all brotherhood begins. II
finds an expression in cooperation
but this is not real brotherhood. Thai
| is to be found in the law of Christ
and 1t means that all M'Ho have more
of anything whether material or spirit
ual, mental or religious should help to
make the burden lighter, and lessen
/ the strain upon strength and energy
AS long as the world lasts, there will
be stronger and weaker men, and 1t is
part of wisdom as we'll as of ethics, tc
SO build society that there shall be ar
i equalization of all things. All cannot
be artists, nor poets, and all have moi
the same keenly developed moral
sense. The strong have even in the
/ higher realms simply been content
with their own possessions, and it is
| time that we abolished and changed
| the spirit which has looked upon re
ligion as privilege rather than as a
duty. The first expression of this is
seen in seeking after brotherhood
| And where there were good and true
hearts seeking to help the world with
kindness and love, these were fulfill
/ ing the law of Christ.
/ The speaker concluded by express
/ ing the hope that we should make tbs
material the stepping stone to the
better and higher things. Tha
though we should begin there We
should not end there, put make it the
commencement of better order o
society, and the larger obedience tt
| the law of Christ.