The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-06-28
Principles More
Than Life
Pathway Of American History Written in
Blood and Sacrifice.

Almighty meant 1t 10 De; out
principle. and especially reli-
gious principles, are a greater
treasure than life. Somehow or other
it seems that all great principles have
made their way up over the sacrificed
lives of martyrs In the right. The
pathway of American history Is writ
ten in the blood and sacrifice Of the
fathers from Plymouth Rock to now;
so of the Church. The torture and
the stake have been the steps to the
freedom of religion from the shackles
of religious tyranny. What wonder
full path the path of history Is! When
a man or a woman loves principle
more than self or life, there will be
an effort to establish 1t. Had not the
founders Of our State and Church
stood for the principles of free gov.
eminent and conscientious action In
religion, neither our present glorious
State or Christian civilization would
ever have been attained.
Religion is nothing without the
truth. Ancient history shows that
all teaching, philosophy and worship
were false and vain without revela.
ton. All the progress Of modern
times in the greatest nations of the
world is due to the presence and spirit
and influence of the truth of revelation
and of the Gospel Of Jesus Christ. So
when this is committed to US with this
injunction, go We into all the world,
it is not for us to question expense
labor or results. Our work and mis-
sion Is to act. This refers to women
as well as to men. And, indeed, this
experience is essential to the develop
ment Of true disciplineship in each
individual man or woman. Hence We
urge upon laymen and laywomen tc
identify themselves with this noble
cause. First, for the sake of the
truth, for the sake Of the kingdom Of
God, that it may be spread abroad
upon the whole earth. And then, sec
ond, for the reflex influence upon
yourself. This kind of work Is ne
cessary for the development of the
truest kind Of a religious spirit. II
We are not working for others or fol
the kingdom, we grow selfish and dim
inish our personal enjoyment Of reli
gion.
Barriers to Success.
Activity Is as essential In religion
as in physical and mental growth
Loving life and loving self Is ouI
greatest barrier to success In all I'm
dertakings, and as well In religion
Had our fathers and mothers in the
life of the Christian church or of the
State loved their lives more than the
principles for which they stood, what
would have become of civil and reli
gious liberty? Now we can look al
the way back to Abraham, Moses, the
prophets, and apostles, and coming
down through centuries we find along
the pages Of history the lives Of saints
patriots and martyrs that went out or
the altar OF principle. Men and womer
of the twentieth century, the principle
Is the same. We must take an active
part in the development Of character
patriotism, church work, and the
spread of the Gospel If we are to save
the nations, the Christian church, and
even our own lives. Principle mus
be elevated over life.
This is the greatest and most mo
mentous age in history. If we art
ever going to save the world, 1t mus
be now. Over the graves of patriots
heroes, prophets, martyrs, apostles ant
missionaries may be written thes,
words: They loved not their live,
unto death. Patriots bleeding, wound
ed, suffering and thirsty and faint la!
all day and night on the battlefield o.
behind prison walls that you mis- hit en-
! Joy goodly country and prosperous
and happy life and home. Saints ant
martyrs have gone to death with song
and prayers on their lips that you ant
1 and coming generations might hav'
the truth.
Shall we not be true to these things
Shall we not maintain this noble char
acter as a sacred heritage? This II
the measure Of heroes and saints
These are the men and women wht
have made history. They are the an
cestors other nations and ages worship
as deity. Shall not We stand, then
where they stood and for the sam,
thing for which they stood? Shall no
we join the great Christian forces, ant
start on In this splendid life? vii
We let all Of this burden fall on others
| Shall the work cease, or will We rail-,
| to the rescue? What Is your respons,
today? Morals, truth, religion and tn.
world need the missionary spirit NOR,
than anything else. We need it In sc
ciety, politics, the world and tn
church. And perhaps more than all II
the individual heart and in the home
We must quicken the Christian churcl
and its members until they reach tn
spirit of sacrifice and of forgetting O
self. Men and women who will rep
resent great religious interests an,
stand for them In the great moral an,
religious issues Of this century. ar
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