McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-06-27

WOrld Wltn1n the
past sixty years, especially to Europe
and America. Instead of the hearts
of the prosperous uplifting with graft
tude to God, the tendency seems to be
away from God, and especially away
from His Son and from all thought Of
a share in His redemptive work, or q
need for it. Business activities and
prosperity have dwarfed the prospects
of Messiah's Kingdom.
But with the growth of wealth have
come saner and more reasonable views
of justice. The folly of accommodating
money for others to squander has i'm
pressed itself. The rich Of Europe and
America are giving themselves more
leisure in the prime of life, leaving OPP
portunity for others to take their places
in the commercial world.
None could wish that our great bust
ness men become sluggards. Our wish
should be that their maturer years
might be gratuitously devoted to the
promotion of philanthropic plans for
the aid of the lower classes. Doubtless
millions of money would flow into such
hands for disbursement along broadly
economic lines.
There is room for such benevolences
in every land, but especially in coun-
tries under British and American con-
troll. where commercialism absorbs
some of the ablest talent, leaving COM
paratively little opportunity for the
less progressive. All over Great Brit
ain and in nearly every state Of the
Union there are splendid opportunities
for such work. Then there are the
teeming millions Of India, existing un-
der conditions not fit for good dog
These are our brethren of the one
blood. as St Paul declares. None dis
pute the necessities of the case. The
sympathetic are appalled, at the money
and labor necessary to cope with con-
ditions. Heaven looks with interest to
note how our showers of blessings af-
feet our hearts.
The Responsibility of knowledge and
Riches.
Amongst the rich are many noble
Christian hearts in perplexity as to
what to do with their wealth. The
Pastors suggestions are based upon
his observations In all parts of the
world. He thinks that the Lord is
pouring out wealth upon professed
Christians to test them From this
viewpoint. the world is under Divine
inspection, and God seems to be warn
ing the prosperous that their present
course is not wise.
Let us make no mistake. said the
speaker earnestly. Pleasure-seelSing is
the trend of the whole world. God Is
being forgotten by both poor and rich,
and the end of the lane is near-"a
time of trouble such as never was"
With the awakening of true Chris
tianity has come Observation-Disclosures
ianity. For years Christian faith has
been declining, under the attacks of
Higher Criticism and Evolution, and
the neutralizing influence Of love of
pleasure. One Bible doctrine after an
other has been dropped. while Church
ianity has come forward as form OF
! godliness, but destitute of power.
Apparently the modern attempt to
ignore doctrine has been u great mis-
take, which is now bearing its legiti-
mate fruit in that very few Christians
know definitely what the Bible teaches.
The effect on the rising generation is
disastrous Seeing the doctrines of all
denominations discredited. they per-
ceive that the Bible is classed with the
creeds. This is the alarming mistake.
The sooner we are rid of our creeds,
the better But if we lose the Bible,
are We not losing the very foundation
Of faith and hope beyond the present?
The Loss Is Greater to Some.
The average man needs the Gospel
Message of hope in order to make the
trials and sorrows of life endurable
In order that these may so operate as
to serve as lessons in character-devel'
opment and produce desire to be &c,
ceptable to his Creator. and to attain
everlasting life.
The Pastor trusts that ministers may
be encouraged to proclaim the Gospel
/ of Hope beyond the graye-for the
sanity hope of joint-heirship with
/ Christ in His Kingdom, and for the re
mainder Of mankind a hope that they
will Receive only just punishment fol
sins proportionate to their wilfulness
ard that the Lords gracious arrange
ment is to grant all an opportunity Of
restoration to human perfection in 6
worldwide Eden - brought about by