The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1912-03-22
STRIKES AT ROOT
OF PRESENT APATHY
The Commercial Club Luncheon
Creates Enthusiasm.
c. ID. THOMAS TALKS ON BROTH
ERLY LOVE AT SESSION.
Applied to All Citizens of this
City.

City.
At the Wednesday Commercial Club
luncheon G. D. Thomas was listened
to with marked curiosity at the topic
OF brotherly love was given out as
his subject which quickly changed to
marked interest as he went straight to
the real source of community apathy
and the real solution of the commu-
nifty boosting. The Times prints the
whole speech regardless of whom it
hits, because it believes that all broad
men are open to suggestions or cri-
ticism and that Mr.. Thomas view
point may be the means of stirring up
every member of the community to
activity.
"The subject assigned to me Of
'Brotherly Love- is one that we natur-
ally have to go into the religious
point of in order to sustain Why such
a subject was assigned to me is more
than | have been able to decide. 1t
surely was not assigned to me on ac-
count of any peculiar trait of charac-
ter that | possess-and my wide ac-
quaintance here both among the
business men and the people of the
tract would bear me out in this state.
ment-and in attempting to discuss 1t
I will have to base my opinions, first,
from religious standpoint, and, Sec
Ond, from the business mans stand
point
"The basis of brotherly love is the
Fatherhood of God. If God is our Faith
er, then man is our brother; and the
basis and foundation of all churches
and of Christianity must be founded
upon the Fatherhood of God and then
upon the brotherhood of man.
''If this is true, and it undoubtedly
is true, then why do we have so many
church divisions? If the basis OF
Christianity is brotherly love, why
cannot the churches unite under that
one standard-which is the Fatherhood
of God-and do their work in the name
of the brotherhood OF man?
"To my mind baptism Is nothing;
the Lords supper is nothing; fore-or-
dination is nothing: the creeds and
principles that divide churches are
nothing, when we take into considera-
ton the great universal idea of the
brotherhood of man.
"The church of today, in my mind,
is too much like the priest and the
Levite. You will remember that story
| WuCI0 JHC lTdNclcT WCHL ITOIu JGTu8d-
lem to Jericho and he fell among
thieves, was robbed and wounded and
left by the wayside in his distress. The
priest of the temple, who was the
representative of the church, passed
by and did not even cast his eyes upon
him; the Levite, who had charge of the
incense of the temple and who, as it
were was an elder of the church,
came by, looked upon him and then
passed on the other side. At last his
enemy, the good Samaritan, who was
an enemy to his race, to his people,
and to his religion, came by, and when
he saw him he ran to him, raised him
up, gave him food and protection, and
J helped him out of his difficulties.
What we need in the church today are
good Sanaritans-men and women
who are filled with the brotherhood
of man; who can go out into the world
and help the sinner of today and try
!, to raise him to a higher standard o1
living
1--WE have once during the year g
Christmas time in which all Chris
tians, and people who do not profess
Christ, go out and practice peace or
earth and good will toward men," We
go out and hunt up the poor, the sici
anu Ju0 uc0uy, anu uSlp tuOuu, alt
then fifty-two weeks in the year we
live In the same old way. What VI
want are Christian people that will
live fifty-two weeks in the year the
same as they attempt to live al
!. Christmas time. Let the broad mantle
: OF brotherly love SO influence theil
characters that they can meet men q
all times with peace ON earth, goot
will toward men,
IF we had a minister OF this city
and this city is no different than AMI
other city-that would visit not ONLY
the members OF their church, who dt
not particularly need their aid. but
also visit the people Of the city. q
among them, get acquainted viii
q them. find out their hopes and theil
ambitions, and help them, and WIND
will when they visit the downtown o.
e business sections Of the town. q
e among those who are not members o.
It their church. who are not believers II
/. Christianity, extend welcoming hAn<
Is and the helpful word, that ministe'
+ will never want for congregation Il
/ his church. We would lesl that q
I were welcome to D church that WouIl
), be broad enough to Include, " al IA II
+. bfqt therhpo4. That n8n Would nc
|. nd to st&dy hisf sri ot Ia hin l
braTy.. as his vart@ aticn wit
men who are not beli&refD In CAra
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