Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-31
THE CALL OF THE OLD
YEAR TO THE NEW YEAR
By Bishop
W. 4. Gambler

sense of most" we should prefer to call
the common conscience of all. 1t is
conscience which must regulate the af-
fairs of men and nations, and conscience
enlightened by christian truth and ener-
gized by the forces of life in Christ
Jesus the Lord. Wherefore christian
truth must be spread to the ends of
the earth and christian life must be
propagated in all lands
But We cannot spread the gospel I'M
less we submit ourselves to it. A
christianity of a corrupt type can no
more meet the needs of mankind than
can other debased religion. The times
call for an intensive christian, move
ment as well as an extensive one.
Christendom must be more christian,
if 1t is to lead the whole world to
Christ. We can not teach others how
to be christians If our own conduct be-
lies our creed. It is the peculiar prop
erty of moral truth that he only can
teach it successfully who obeys il.
1t behooves the christian nations.
therefore, to put away the sins which
easily beset them. The legalized traf-
fick in intoxicants to De used as bev-
erages that debauch and destroy souls
must be put away; 1T is an unchristian
and immoral thing to give any man a
commercial interest in the temptability
Of his fellow-men. Christian nations
cannot allow vice to be capitalized I'M
der law without losing their christian
character. Making merchandise of the
weakness of men for drink must stop.
So also the white-slave trade must
perish. 1t is idle to talk about the i'm
practicability of putting these and 9TH
err like evils utterly away: they are
obliged to go. The religion of Christ
and these things can not 1--WE together;
the conflict between them is Inevitable
and irrepressible; no compromise is
possible. To some who are sOdden in
sin and enslaved by vice it may seem
a visionary thing to propose the extir-
patton of these ulcers on the moral
system; but all such persons are blind
ed by their prejudice, and can not see
afar off. What were mere ideal things
yesterday are the actualities of today;
and in the long run that only will be
found practicable which is right. Rev.
olutions to destroy these enormities
have already begun, and these revolu-
tons will not go backward To some
they may appear as only transient NOR
al commissions, but they are not
Doubtless there will be action followed
by temporary reactions; but in the end
there awaits destruction for all these
wrongs.
1t is worthy OF observation that dur
ing the year now drawing to close
there has been q distinct advance in the
moral standard of our own and other
christian lands. Acts which a few
years ago might have been done with
out loss of social standing would now
put man beyond the limits of re-
spectability. The moral level of the
nation is higher than 1t was. and dur
ing the last year it has been steadily
rising 1t is not yet as elevated as 1t
ought to be. it is far below the plane
of the Sermon on the nouns. never
theless it is higher than it was former
ly and not as high as i is goin go be.
1t belongs to the part Of every good
man to do all in his power TO make
every good thing more practicable and
every evil thing mare impracticable
during the year just now at hand
And il appertains to all christian peo-
pie to spread by all means possible the
ruth as it is in Jesus to the uttermost
parts of the earth. The events Of he
Old Year have given us he opportunity
TO make the New Year the best the
world ever saw. The cry of the OLD
Year to the New Year is: Hold fast TO
the good things and make them better
as fast as you can.