The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-08-17

and the refOrmcT, sometimes poln u
fees being united III one man. A
world without these idealists would
be hopeless indeed. Consider how
far Judah had deteriOrated from the
great days Of David and Solomon.
Nobody, be he the greatest of kings,
can establish a social order that will
endure permanently: but he can
transmit to his sons the lmpulse and
the purpose and the vision to main
tain life at high levels.
This "gleam' had been passed on
to Asa. Where there is no vision,
the people perish; and without the
diviner conceptions of life which burn
in noble breasts this old world would
soon perish of it's own ~rottenness.
Always these reformers are derided
by their own generation, just as
"practical' men today sheer at the
prophets who proclaim a coming day
of inevitable social justice, of peace
on earth, and Of world brotherhood.
The administrators in Asa's court
gave him scant encouragement in his
reforms. They Knew human ma
ture"; by which they meant that they
understood the baser side of people.
Nobody truly knows human nature
who does not clearly perceive its ca
pacity for idealism. Judah for a
time rose to Asa's lofty expectations
for it, even as the peoples at war to-
day have shown a heroism, a self
sacrifice, a devotion to great ob5ec-
tives which a year ago the cynical
observer never suspected.
A wise reformer enlists the highest
motives that can possibly be attach
ed to his cause. So Asa, because he
minded young man, made his appeal
to judah on a religious basis. He
rallied the people to the God Of their
fathers. All the force Of the cove
nants which had been made with Je-
hovah by Solomon and David and
Moses and Jacob and Abraham was
directed to the reinforcement Of the
new movement. Let it be said over
and over again, that true reform a
not com on any other basis. Not
prudence, not prosperity, not enjoy
ment, not ~self-interest, is an adequate
foundation for a change in the social
! order. Only religion, which trans
= forms h heart Of man, can make
: : over h world in which man lives
g That is why a Billy Sunday cam
:. paign does more to clear up a com.
.. munity than a political reform move
. ment.
\ The Man With . Hammer.
Some things have to be smashed
= in any true reform. That is where 8
S certain type Of mind balks; it would
cover the old idols with floral wreath:
and draw a curtain before the temple
debauchery, and provide a symphony
orchestra to drown out the cries O
the oppressed, and of those sacrificed
to Moloch. This sort of person would
withdraw from the sweat and strif'
and suffering Of life, and in harmon
d lously furnished parlors meet will
n kindred aesthetic souls to talk abou
the true, the beautiful, the good. Sucl
a one may save his own soul {per
haps, though l am doubtful), provid
ed there be a soul hidden away il
k that mess of mushy sentimentalit
n which he calls his Ego; but it i
certain that he will never abolisl
evil or erect good. The man with
, hammer, like Asa, who dares go GU
q. and break up the idols and tear dow
the heather groves and Danish tn
l. prleStesSeS Of SenSuality, is the on
l. on whom the world counts He wi
is make mistakes and he will make en-
s. emies, but he will serve his time.
r. Even the a~ll-powerful il Dowage
es Queen Mother Maacah, had to b
is fought and removed, ere Asa's refor1
is could be effective. 1t is the way {
reform to come very close to HON,
I'D No end of vested interests" upO
It. which Asa himself was dependent fe
1g revenue, had to be o~verthrOwn Hee(
IS less of these practical" considers
II. tons, Asa pushed his work to tt
ed end.
OF course, there were uneXpecte
he rewards. The best people Of Isra
a came fiocking down to judah, whe
lip they found that the worship Of Jeh'
IT yah was being restored. A great a
lr- cession of the most desirable sort
.al citizens was a by-product of the r
An form movement. There is a real e
en- tate value to righteousness. Coo
tn neighbors are the best asset of al
lily community, as good people are Il
he best customers of any business.
err Likewise, the kingdom of JUDI
nd was so strengthened n inspirit'
that it became able to resist, t.
ID years later, the great Egyptian inv
m sion. So long as Asa trusted in t
lie; Lord, and kept his nation pure, Jud;
vas was all right prudence, tn
insidious tempter or old age, supe
seeded faith, then Asa relied on dip