The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-25
DUTY OF CHRIS TIANS.


Kansas City. May 25.-sFor some
years the churches have labored with
the souls Ct men, forgetting that they
had bodies. Now, coincident with the
movement in all public institutions to
get into q more intimate relation with
the lives of people they deal with, the
churches have rediscovered human
nature"
This. was the statement made to the
general assembly OF the Southern
today by the Rev. ]. s. Lyons OF
Louisville. KY. as preface to the
Introduction Of the report Of the joint
committee OF the Presbyterian bodies
In the United States appointed to pre-
pare a united declaration on Christian
faith and Christian service. The re-
port urged that the churches take q
more aggressive part In the social and
Industrial life of the community.
I'VE believe that the church is not
only the appointed means OF salvation
from eternal death. but that with the
state and the family" the report says,
"she has a distinctive work in better
ing the social relation of men in this
present world. The vast increase of
just distribution. the development of
great business corporations which dis
charge many OF the functions once
belonging to the individuals and as the
result OF this the weakening Of the
sense of individual responsibility for
social wrongs: the fostering Of vice as
an instrument to private gain. and the
lsubmergence of the lower classes in
ignorance and poverty, all are reasons
why the church should apply those
principles ana quicken those motives.
Which are essential to all true and
lasting reform.
Duty OF Christians.
''It is the duty of Christian citizens
to observe those principles Of our re-
ligion which require that every man
shall do his full share Of the work:
which oppose injustice and tyranny
even when they are entrenched in the
usages of our civilization.
I'VE should endeavOr to lead men in
q self respecting Godfearing way, this
self maintenance being understood to
include fair return for labor, suffi-
Gent to support the man and his fam
lily, conditions of labor that are safe
and healthy, opportunity to provide
against all illness and old age and re-
lief from labor one day in seven.
I'VE believe that inasmuch as many
of these evils are rooted in the past
and have grown with the development
of civilization they can be cured only
by concerted and organized effort on
the part of all good citizens Our
churches therefore should always en-
courage voluntary organizations for
the betterment of social conditions,
and urge their members to cooperate
in them"
Equal representation basis, minis
terial relief, prison reform and pub
LEGATION and Sunday school work were
the subjects scheduled to be taken up
today. after the standing committee
had reported progress on the bills and
Overtures it has in hand to the num-
Der of $50. The committee on min
isterial relief has under consideration
the proposition, preached in the last
assembly, to establish a fund Of &c.
100000 for relief and sustenance.
The attitude of DR.. Maitland Alex
ander, moderator of the assembly, to-
ward evangelism campaign was made
clear when he declared himself in
favor of revivals, even if some thought
them lacking in dignity