The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-27
vox PopUL1.
SHALL THE LIFE SAVING
/ SERVICE BE EXTENDEpi

-AeSb~@ S@ @NA 6ts 49, ~
Editor Pensacola Journal.
In presenting these thoughts, the
Writer is constrained to give his con-
ception of the position the church oc-
cupies in the world today.
From Maine to the Florida keys,
from Dry Tortugas to Brownsville and
from the southernmost point Of Cali
fcrnia to the northern coves Of Alaska,
our government maintains a system Of
lighthouses for the guidance OF all
mariners.
When all's well aboard, these guide
posts or light are sufficient for the
safety OF these travellers. Even when
a storm is raging on the outer deep
these beacons of safety still fuihll
their purpose and the pilgrims by fol-
lowing the reckoning hands are soon
in q haven of safety, driven thither
by the very storm itself.
But let a hurricane strike and wreck
the rigging, let q fog arise and shut
out the light, let the driving shaft snap
on an ocean greyhound, or a rudder
get loose or torn from it's place. OF
what use is that light on the shore
new, except to tantalize? Those
aboard cannot help themselves, and
the light, no matter how brightly it
shines. is of no use to them now.
It beckons them on, just as the
AOSA
souls cannot come. They are bound
down by their environment. They
cannot overcome their surroundings. $
But harki The keeper of the light
house sees from his lofty height their
signals of distress. In fact the wire
less tells him exactly. before he sees.
the condition and location of the now
fast sinking vessel. On wings Of the
air his commands are given to the life
saving crew. just across the channel,
Go quickly and save these lives
How grandIy and efficiently these
noble men do this work, with a sym
pathetic and providing government
behind them, is a matter of yearly OBJ
servation to all.
The church, from its higher eleva-
ton, naturally sees these wrecks first,
and although ii will be a fearful ac-
cusation. yet the writer firmly believes
the church will be compelled to final
ly face the charge that It saw men
perishing and only sat with it's light
shining. or possibly sent out a little
skiff to battle with the rescue instead
Of q grand old sturdy lIfe-boat. the
best that brains could build or money
buy; a. service sustained and en-
couraged by enlightened Christian
government.
Far from me to urge the unity of
church and state All that I urge is
an application OF Christian principles
to government, in an efficient, prac-
teal, life saving manner.
There Is no longer any use trying
to make people believe. Christ did not
intend them to enjoy the fruits OF His
! earth
He has already proved to them, by
multiplying these fruits, just as he
! did the leaves and fishes, that there is
plenty for all.
...sF4
that there Is shortage OF any OF the
blessings that ought to accompany any
well-rounded, useful life.
Such q shortage would be an excuse,
that a division would necessarily re-
duce or eliminate entirely somebody's
| share; that there would be some
ground for governmental inability to
| rightly divide the shortage.
Such has been the condition until
Christ in His infinite goodness raised
| the productiveness OF his people dur
| ing the nineteenth century.
This hasy-~been a wonderful CEN
fury. Machines OF almost human in
telligence and ingenuity are hurled by
electricity and steam to do the work
OF hundred men and beasts.
Agriculture and horticulture. the
main sources OF our sustenance, have
yielded up their secrets to the labaoa-
tory and the field.
Where one blade or leaf grew to
each soul at the birth of this wonder
| full century, at least ten now grows IN
proportion to increased population.
| And still production increases
There Is now no limit being placed
upon the possibilities OF the future
and all admit there Is no shortage OF
anything.
/ Even the most humble and simple Of
US know most assuredly that this
great blessing has been bestowed di-
rectly and freely by the Lord. Surely
none are so ignorant spiritually blind
/ no matter what their calling. who
cannot here discern the handiwori OF
their Maker.
/ Just 20 surely as we see this. we
can also see tho only thing that pre-
vents the Christian teaching from
conquering the whole world By love il
that we have not yet learned to dis
tribute this blessing 80 that Il WITH dc
/ the good the, Lord Intends.
Many have learned to trust Him
| individually, but some nation must
| trust Him as q whole before He car
begin to rule over the nations OF the
world in reality, aslHe has done over
the hearts and hvesscf countless thou
sands already.
| I believe America "a going to be the
| first nation TO trust Him.
The whole world Already knows her
/ as the land Of the Tree and the home
i of the brave.
The church is mating a tremendous
mistake in ignoring the mortal needs
or its members.
/ While teaching that mans future
welfare depends upon his present life
she fails to order out the life-boat
when he 10 sinking.
Like the lighthouse. she naerelS
shines; Her keepers have trimmed
their lamps and gone to sleep.
Nor do I here refer to a necessity
for an institutional church. The in
| stitutional church ID good enough &C