Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-23
LEARNING TO WALK.


[Geo. D. Perkins in Sioux City Journal.]
For ali people will walk every one
in the name of his god. and we will
walk in the name of the Lord our God
for ever and ever
All people have their god and they
know his name. 1t is common for
them to capitalize their god in their
speech. and yet they may be of such
learning as to know that the distinc-
tion belongs only to the name of the
Lord our God" These miscellaneous
gods do nothing in common. They
work to cross purposes They are the
creatures men create-and men are
Of cunning hand in the creation Of
gods. At the best they serve a tenn
porary purpose: and however attrac-
tive for time the gods may be, men
tire OF them, and cast them of. That
is one reason why there is SO much
business in the courts and SO many
broken homes. There Is hardly any
thing more depressing than q broken
home. No amount Of luxury can con-
ceal its wounds. The debris OF life
is all around. These gods which have
no license to use the capital letter are
no better than the men who fashioned
them and are as variable. They quar-
rel among themselves. They are in
endless conflict to establish which Is
chief among them; and they are heed
less Of the poor and the suffering.
They have no voice to say. Come
unto me. all ye that labor and are
heavy laden. and will give you rest"
But things are changed for the bet
ter the moment men undertake to
honor their gods. The appeal must
be made to their fellowmen, and their
fellowmen, in their judgment of where
honor is due, set up the standards that
represent all the people. and these are
the standards that represent, feebly
perhaps, but in some measure, never
theless. the standards OF the Lord God
Of Hosts. So 1t Is that men who seek
to win a good name for their gods
are compelled to initiate, where they
will not honestly accept, the ways OF
the God over all and in all. Thus men
in the name of their gods engage in
good works. They give to charity.
They aid benevolent institutions. They
make their automobiles common car
riers for flowers to the sick and Ian
gushing. Whatever the spirit may
suggest, short Of cutting the threats
of their gods. they do. If they are
questioned. many are able to answer
with the young man on a certain very
interesting occasion: "AlI these things
have l kept from my youth up: what
lack I yet?" The demand upon him
was that he go forth and cut the throat
of his god; and that stumped him. for
he had great possessions"
No doubt men deceive themselves
many times; but more frequently they
do not deceive themselves but think
they are deceiving other people.
Nearly every one at some point is a
fool; bu. ct this point where men
think they are deceiving other men 1t
is always possible to find crowd. It
is a misfortune for people TO think
they are SO smart as that, when In fact
they are so stupid they should be heart
lily ashamed Of themselves. Men do
! deceive other men, and men of pretty
clear insight, but such as succeed In
the deception are unusual men-men
possessed Of rare gifts, including pity
when they are exposed that their ex-
traordinary powers were not better
employed. Every little while some
| notable example Of the poverty and
final failure Of life of deception Is
presented through the avenues Of pub
licity to exert its influence for good on
those who read though they run-run
all the time in mad gallop. What
| men are disposed to say is that they
| will land their fish before they are
/ caught as trespassers; and after they
| are caught the fish have the appear
ance of having been taken at extrava-
| CANT price. The consolation left to
| some men. not repentant OF their sins.
is that in their day they deceived the
| very elect-by which they may refer to
men chosen by the people to places Of
exalted trust.
Sure 1t is that when ones god is in
| disgrace no one can feel very proud
of himself. He has fallen down. He
has failed to achieve stake in life
worth while. He has not gained the
things that supply comfort, that nour-
ish his soul, that lead in the way of
the love Of men.
It ts worth while to be true. 1t is
worth while to be able to say in the
rich accents Of the love of God. THE
Lord is my shepherd. / shall not
want
| For all people will walk every one
in the name Of his god, and we will
walk in the name Of the Lord our God
: for ever and ever"