The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-30

see It wage Observation-Disclosures
and accomplish. The church of God
goes forth to war;" We need to see
her blood banner streaming gal
iantly In the thick OF the fight
And to fight the battle against mod
ern conditions OF evil she must choose
the weapons that are most effective
She must change them. for the ages
are ever changing. The stone AK OF
the Neolithic age Is no longer effective
IN the twentieth century.
Legislation, wisely directed for tho
public good Is tho keynote OF develop.
ineht 1t is the one Irresistible and
deadly weapon. BY 1T alone may any
widespread and lasting reform be &C
complfshed. Since immemoriai ages
have wise and good men banded to-
gether and framed laws for the better
ment OF the evils OF society. And sad to
say. since immemorial times have good
mon risen and opposed them. vainly
anu pitiably clinging to the tattercd
remnants of some old order OF things.
These things are history TO he read
by all. Especially do we lind II SO
In the history of the great struggles
Of the church.
Is 1t not as ridiculous TO think OF
all good men rebelling against the laws
of nation because they feel they do
not need them, as to say that the good
men OF the church Will be insulted by
this measure? An unsoiled man can
be no more affected by it than an
honest man could be outraged By laws
concerning the punishment of thieves.
Has not the United States recognized
the value OF physical examination. not
only for its men, hut for its officers?
Is ii too much to ask that the men OF
the church OF God enroll themselves
in a vast standing army for the pro-
lection of womanhood. for the guar
dianship Of young manhood? For when
these things arc made public much
that has been hidden shall be revealed,
and much that has been distorted shall
be made clear With the disappear
ance of ignorance n clearer conscience
shall spring to life for the we'll
being. the very life of many OF It's
little children. Such measure should
rouse every chivalrous instinct in the
breast OF a true man.
Public opinion is the lever that moves
the world Stir Its multitudinous waves
pcrsisjcntly with an absolutH truth, and
they must swell into n mighty ocean
that Will in time sweep mankind into
its mcasureless current. IT would take
more bravery than the average spcci-
men this measure is aimed against pos
sesscs TO stand up before its rcsistlcss
tide Sin and shame stink into covert
at the whisper of publicity. Such a
man will not go quickly attempt matri-
mony as in these days when there is no
bar to his selfish wishes. And IF the
woman goes with him 10 tho magistrate
after the terrible warning Of the
Church She goes with opened eyes And
few will be the women VINO will so
dare
pr Mason thinks it would impair The
chUrch's influence to try to control
people in matter so personal and
sacred to them by an arbitrary rule"
Can marriage he sacred 10 n man who
knows that he Is unfit for It? He
fears such measure would simply
succeed in sending him elsewhere to be
married" Shall the church of the liv-
ing Christ sanction such marriage?
God forbid, He says that no good wo-
men rest the stamping out Of this
dread plague. 1t is Impossible for good
women To know. There is no way to
know but by tho wise and safe way Of
trusting the examination to the ply
stefan DR. Mason has but n poor
opinion Of the Doctors skill and a
poorer ono OF his integrity. But ex-
perience has proved this nobIest Of
callings 10 be as honorable as IT is
wise. We need not fear IL trust this
great question to the family physician
None knows so we'll as ne its dread ana
far-reach!ng results.
Christ scourrcd the rnoncv-chanrers
from His temple In ringing tones He
dared the jccrinG crowd TO throw the
hrst stone DID He stop 10 consider
whether He Was infringing on per
sonal subjects then? There is no sab
Ject 50 personal or sacred" that the
church must not have her declared
opinion upon. Yelled and sacred she
must be--a solace for the aching
heart a balm for the weary feet. an
Inspiration for tho battling soul-but
she must also stand In this world like
the angel with the flaming sword. say
ing Thou shalt not"
AN EPISCOPALIAN or RICHMOND