The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-11
REFORM SIAR7ETH
NOT FROM THE TOP
PRIVILEGED CLASSES ARE JEAL-
Gus OF THEIR HIGH PRE-
negatives.
FUNCTION OF RELIGION
REV. w. A. COOPER FAvORs Es.
TADLISHMENr OF DOMESTIC
RELATIONS AND JUyE-
NILE COURT.

In his sermon on The Relation of
| Law and Religion at Central Meth
odist Church, South Richmond. last
night. Rev. w. A. Cooper said that
the great common people. like those
Jesus SPOKE to from the Mount, were
the conservators Of truth and the
leaders of every social, moral and re-
liEious advance.
1T is fact" ne said. that no re-
form ever started at the top of So
Getty. The privileged classes at th.
top have always been reactinnaries,
jealous OF their preroystives and OBJ
struciionists in the advance IF the
Kingdom"
MIR. Cooper said in part:
Every liberty that we enjoy and
every right that we possess came to
us over battlefield. and were only
"ranted TO us when the privileged
classes were overpowered by the
righteous anger of the people
Religion and Law.
The multitude to whom Jesus
spoke were Jews. in whose hearts
was the ancient hope of the race.
OF the theocracy, or the kingdom OF
heaven. John and Jesus both had
preached its advent. Jesus therefore
4eccssarilyy discussed the relation of
The new to the old theocracy, and
said. Think not ] am come TO de-
stroy the law and the prophets. am
not come to destroy. but To fulfill or
establish
But how shall these principles Of
law he established? Jesus answer 10
that he came to establish the law by
the of ha
OF the old order was not in the law
The aw is good and cannot be re-
pealed
Yea said ST. Paul. we had not
known sin except the law had said
Thou shalt not But the law is weak
through the flesh or the unregenerate
nature OF man. This Ia also" de-
clared Mr.. Cooper. the weakness OF
MARKHAM socialism. II seeks to re-
construct society without the recog-
milton of God or the unregeneratc
nature of men. The flesh covets an
others goods: it is hred with the pas
sions of murder and lust and selfish
greed The weakness of law lis you
cannot legislate Righteousness But
men raise this cry when the regen-
crate conscience of a righteous peopls
demand the enactment of just laws
They raised this cry in the carn
T.
Christian people of Virginia were not
seeking TO legislate Righteousness
they were seeking TO enact righteous
legislation. which is the function of
religion. II is the enlightened con-
science of a religious people that de-
Tands the enactment of laws against
murder and lust and lying and selfish
greed.
Era Of Righteousness.
no f,Ata n
against the crimes of covetousness and
oppression and fraud declared that
the Messiah would usher in an era
OF Righteousness and happiness for
the oppressed and the poor OF the
earth. and Jesus declared that He was
the Messiah, that He would esta blsi
the law by grace--that is. by the re-
generating power OF His Spirit: that
men would no longer be the victims
OF hate and lust and greed. but would
exemplify the beatitudes in their
lives by being humble, meek, pure and
making heroic struggle TO esta biish
these principles of Law in human So
ciety.
THE day IL Fastening when the
Christian people will demand the en-,
actmen; of righteous and equita bic
legislation. which will grant to every.
person liberty OF development and
c2oS.tts oi opportunity winch Is lie :
rnanded by the law OF iovo. Law
without love Is cruel. Love without:
law is mere sentiment and weakness
Jesus must establish the kingdom OF
heaven. or the new theocracy, which
Is also q brotherhood. for heaven and
earth may pass away, but not one 10.
nor little OF the law shall pass until
al shall ne established
AS mankind advances the form
of punishment must change. We
have abolished the more cruel forms
already, and are becoming mora
Christian Ia our treatment OF moral
7 deiinquents We have now the juve-
nile court and. l trust. will have tho
domestic relations court. and the time
will come when all crime will bo
looked upon as a species Of insanity.
and the criminal be .given custodisl
care and medical supervision"