The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-09-24
is THERE A DECLINE IN
FAITH?
Wall Street Journal.


lie who believes in a future life is
citizen of two worlds. He moves in
his, but his highest thought and in
Spirations are fixed on the future To
such person, what takes place here
ana now is not unimportant, than
"hat shall take place hereafter. He
'ooks upon his life here as a prepara-
ion for the life to come. His ex-
neriences here, whether of ioy or n,
sorrow, are of value to him only as
'hey enable him the better to meet
the everlasting demands of the life
after death. He is not Indifferent to
me rewards which may come in this
world to industry ,endeavor and on
Dorsunity; but failure, illness. pover-
" abuse-what do these amount to
20 man who believes he is to enjoy
ne sublime privileges of eternity?
'e measures everything by the in
mite. Wealth. luxury. power. dis
'ction-he may not despise these.
but he looks upon them as being but
given as tests of his character.
Falth in eternal life smooths out
every inequality and injustice of the
present life under the great weight
of the infinite. 1t makes the Moor
feel rich, and gives to the unfortu-
nate sense of heirship to the AL
mighty. 1t makes the rich feel n
sense OF grave responsibility and
trusteeship.
Now. it Is not needful for this dis
cussion to consider whether such a
faith is reasonable or not. The Wall
street Journal has no concern in
theological discussions. 1t takes no
part for or against any creed, but IL
is intensely interested in the eco
nomfc and political effects of any
change in the thought, the habits
ana lives OF men. IL there has peen
marked decline in religious faith.
tIat fact must be OF profound far
reaching significance. 1t alters the
basic conditions of civilization. 1t
becomes factor in the markets. If
changes the standards and effects the
values of things that are bought and
sold. 1t concerns the immediate in
terests OF those who never had such
4 faith almost as much as it does the
lives of those who have had the faith
and lost it.
The question therefore, is of prac-
tcal, immediate and tremendous i'm
portance to business men. Has there
been decline in the faith in the fu
ture life; and if so, to what extent is
MS responsible for the special
phenomena of our times, the eager
pursuit of sudden wealth, the shame
'ess luxury and display, the gross
and corrupting extravaganza, 1.-The
misuse OF swollen fortunes" the in
Inference to law, the growth of graft.
he abuse of great corporate power.
The social unrest, the spread of
1emagogy- the advance of socialism,
he appeals to bitter class hatred? To
nd out what connection exists be-
tween decadence in religious faith
and the social unrest OF our time,
due, on one side to oppressive use
of financial power, and on the other
TO class agitation. might we'll be
worth an investigation by a commits
ion of government experts if it were
possible for the government TO enter
INTO such an undertaking.
Whatever may be mans own per-
sonal beliefs, there is no one who
would not prefer to do business with
a person who really believes in fu-
re life. If there are fewer men of
such faith in the world, it makes
big difference; and if faith is to con-
inue to decline; this will require