The Prescott daily news. (Prescott, Ark.) 1907-1941, 1914-01-26
PAGAN OR CHRISTIAN.

the Kansas Clty OJaT tnOuSH not CIV
on a place of great Importance on the
news page, is of striking significance
in its meaning and Importance to our
civilization. 1t is nothing more than
q report of an address by Charles A.
| Ellwood a sociologist of the UNIVERSE
tv of Missouri in Kansas City. The
feature about the address seems to us
10 be that it contains so much that is
truth that is not realized by the pres
ont age. AS between Pagan and
Christian in many communities is it
not serious question just now as to
which is uppermost? We always say
the latter perhaps, but a careful ana
lvsis of our thoughts, acts and beliefs
by disinterested minds, might prove
quite the contrary in spite of our own
notions about it. Merely saying a
thing does not always make it true
bv no means. Throughout the fabris
of our present day civilization, the
speaker undertook to trace the faint
of paganism.
We do not agree with the speaker
In his criticism of the church and the
Daboring man. What he says may
be true in some localities, but it is
bot generally true. In many places
the church is made up almost entirely
bf aboring men. There is however a
vast amount of truth in regard to the
standard set by people of wealth in
ocial influence Just whatever is
post enjoyable is exactly what is
light.
Turning to the business world Mr..
,llwood brought out a burst of APP
lause when he began: "Under the
guidance of a Christian President our
usnesS commerce is making turn
pward Christianity and the service of
nankind For fifty years we were
ound by capitalistic idea of no
leas, but dividends and profits no
batter what the expense to humanity.
fear it will take the work of humid
I'D years to undo the work of that
fly.
The fault is not with the system.
all goes back to the lack of charac-
in the individual and that goes
Pck to the lack of dominance of
pristian ideals We can no longer
ntinue half pagan and half christ
b. say that as scientific man.
|clety is at parting of the ways.
Their paganism will engulf Christ
pity of Christianity will stamp out
ganlsm in the next decade"
The modern dance, modern dress
q other evidences of decadence
long the wealthy are not in them
yes deadly sins, but straws which
ow which way the wind blows" he
O. 1T Is evidence not that all, but
R' a vast majority of the people of
eat wealth are regardless of any
hdard save that of their own con
hence and enjoyment. AS to the
ehatlon of the laboring class from
Instantly, it has been said by
of leader that the American labor
man hates the very shadow of the
re of the church.
The doctrine of class war which is
'ached is really the doctrine of class
r. They tell us it is the only thing
ieh Will lead us out of our trouble.
On believe it. We never got any
rig IRON hate and war but hate and
We are hardly certain when
'ss may come to a bloody clash be-
eh capital and labor. | am not
ming the laboring classes for their
''uoe toward the Church. The
urn mas not existed for them. 1t
neid aloof from them.
NOW the educated classes. Are
pagan or Christian? In litera-
''ie most quoted poet of the day
mar hhayyam, who is so bad that
not even read in Mohammedan
=. ms verse, however, expresses
p'i' oil our age. What is Walt
a a"an but an absolute pagan in
aOV'rlne of the Qualification of the
9, ana natural passions? Ibsen
oa a""w and the whole modern de-
49,: School regard the ideas of
of rot" w 'e''