The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-10
PEOPLES FORUM
Mr.. Tyrec and the Bible,

Editor of The Virginian:
Sir.-I am sure you misunderstood me in a
former article which appeared some days ago
in The Virginian. Had you thoroughly grasped
the idea that I tried to express there would
have been no need for the uncorking the viais
of your editorial sarcasm and dumping the con-
tents upon my devoted head. Really there was
no need to compare my effort with that OF
1.-The temporarily distinguished Mr.. OHara, of
Illinois to fix scale of weekly earnings where
nv the virtue of working women might be as
sured." Everybody knows wages have nothing
to do with morality-that is, everybody that
amounts to anything | will admit there are
a few unthinking dsturbers of the peace, mere
nobodies. who say our wages or income decides
our standard of living. 1t decides whether we
live in a suburban bungalow or a crowded ten
ement. These same boneheads say that environ
ment has much to do with morality; put OF
course, they are mistaken. No, wages nave noth-
ing to do with any of the virtues, believe me-
The thing that seemed to merit your greatest
condemnation was the declaration that God did
not require the Israelites to worship him until
He had delivered them from bondage. You
say: 'As matter of cold fact, the 1sraelites
were delivered from Egypt because they wor-
SHIPPED Jehovah. and served him as they knew,
as their ancestors had done before them. They
were not offered deliverance a bride to In
duce them to worship" In the deliverance from
Egypt there was bribery, but they were de-
livered that they might be able to worship,
that they might have the means and leisure.
The Egyptians may have allowed the Israelites
lots of leisure and day each week in which
to worship but 1t is not recorded.
The cold facts in the case they are re-
corded are these "And Moses spake unto the
children of Israel, but they hearkened not unto
Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bon
age" Their task such that they were too
busy to listen to Moses. Pharaoh needed the
bricks.
Again the cold fact IN the case is this: They
were not worshiping Jehovah. for Jehovah said
again and again, Let my people go that they
NAV serve me- Had they been serving Jehovah
in Egypt it would not have been necessary to
leave Egypt TO him; and if they had not
worshiped Egyptian idols, and Aaron had never
made them and did not understand the art of
making gods, and unless he inspired in
the Wilderness that golden calf was bum
job.
Mr. Editor, ii is because / stick to cold facts
that you accuse me of curious of the
Scriptures, blasphemy and absurdity' If 1t is
blasphemy to quote the Scripture 1t Is re-
corded. ! am guilty of blasphemy; If to claim
that God is with the oppressed and against
the oppressor is blasphemy then ! am guilty
of blasphemy. You say. There in this
life wrong. oppression. heartess greed cruelty
and poverty" and you admit I'VE face many
conditions we cannot understand If you are
unable to understand some of the simple prob
lens of economies: II you are unable to tell me
of material earthly things how can you tell me
of heavenly things? IF man say, l love God
and hateth his brother he Is liar; for he
rAAak-~ laa;ath~ not his brother whom he hath
seem how can he love God whom he hath not
seen7" lst John 4: -. And Jesus said. Thou