The Washington times., 1913-03-08
Christian Enoeavor

BY Rexford L. Holmes. president OF
the District of Columbia Christian En-
deavor Union.
Topic for Sunday. March 9. "Obeyins
,, Conscience I John. 3: 1924. "a lead.
erless meetinE.)
Conscience Is defined as 1.-The faculty,
! power, or inward principle which de-
, cldes as to the character Of ones own
actions, purposes. and affections" A
good conscience has been called 'the
best lookins-glsss of heaven and "the
soft whispers of the God in man."
The question has doubtless occurred to
nearly everyone, What wonderful old
world ours would be II everybody hon.
estly tried to follow the dictates Of his
own conscience! Indeed. It would be
wonderful and splendid: the age would
be a foretaste Of heaven that Is ia
, come. Everyone would love his neigh
bor as himself and do unto others as
!, he could have others do unto him." God
would be entnroned in every heart, and
"the soft whispers Of the God In man
would control all business and social
and political relations, war would be no
more. and we would live in an era OF
, peace on earth and goodwill to man. T"
,, And after all. this is the sort Of world
God would have ours to be; II Is only
the perverseness of man that now pre-
vents such a condition on the earth.
But some one says, IF I let my con-
scious get hold of me. will find myself
In a hopeless minority. striving against
conditions which I cannot alone con-
troll. striking my head against a stone
wall of dissimilar conditions. trying
vainly alone to do absolutely what my
conscience tells me is right And nave
We not right here the secret why men
| will not follow the dictates Of con-
| science: 1t Is simply because they fear
| the other fellows will not do the same.
! and thus that they will lose in power
! or wealth or worldly ambition through
their desire to do that which conscience
says Is right. We have II in word
selfishness: that is the great stumbling
; block in the way Of conscience
1t should be noted also. in this con-
nection that God does not require that
' A should answer for the sins Of B. The
4 Word commands to obey the law of
God. and holds him responsible for his
life and works: similarly B IL to answer
at the Judgment for his acts and fall
ures to act: but. save in 80 far as every
man Is responsible for the salvation OF
his brother. and B viii not be called
to answer for the life and acts Of each
other. Hence no man can refuse TO
| obey the dictates Of his own conscience
upon the plea that other men are rot
obeying their condolences. Each must
answer in the last great day for him
self. And It may be observed further,
some against the conscience rule" as
expressed above. that those who follow
closely the urRings OF conscience are
not In SO homeless minority as they
often may think. We recall, in this
connection. the lament Of the prophet
Elijah that he alone was true to the
Lord: whcreupon God showed him that
thousands OF his followers had not
bowed the knee to Baal. And so with
those who consider that they stand
nearly alone as followers OF the voice
| of God as expressed through the con-
, science. II their eyes could be opened
! they would see countless hosts with
their eyes on the Great Leader intent
upon doing His will-humble followers
] Of Him, doing whatever He would like
I to have them do" as the Christian En-
deavor pledge has II. and accomplishing
, this splendid service through a careful
following Of the dictates Of conscience.
A noteworthy example of the awaken
ing Of the public conscience may be
found in the great countrywide senti-