The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-22
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
The Refu &c of Lies.
To the Editor of The Republican

visions for the future. All men feel
this necessity, though in doing it some
are much more earnest az prudent
than others They make their plans
and arrange for the disposition of their
time so as to accomplish their purposes.
They labor to acquire happiness ard
wealth. They build houses and furnish
them com fortably; they have business
schemes: they pillow and SOW and gather
the fruits of their toll; they are careful
to provide food and shelter, raiment
and every necessary comfort for loved
ones, and rightly so, for ''He that pro-
videth not for his own and especially his
own house, hath denied the faith and is
worse than an infidel" Why DO men
organize and support governments but
for the protection of the weak against
the strong; of life, person and property
ard the peaceable enjoyment of their
rights? 1t prepares for war in time of
peace though the wisdom of this may
be doubted, unless it is solely for de-
tense.
Men use all means to secure comfort,
safety, peace and happiness of thel)ody
Suppose you visit all nations and tribes
of people you will find the belief in a
future life that the soul lives after it
has left the body. Some of these ideas
of the future existence may be crude,
nevertheless the belief is universal and
there is the general expectation of a
day of final accounts. when we must
answer for the deeds done in the body.
You will find also that men have some
plans by which to meet these demands;
some hopes that it will be night with
them in that great day. Behind these
schemes they take refuge In them
they trust and build their hopes of
eternal happiness on such sandy foun-
dations and think them a sufficient
shield from the wrath of the Great
Judge
All realize the necessity of refuge.
The destructive storms, the blighting
frost, suggest the need of a covering
house into which we can retreat, so
when the irresistible tornado sweeps
across the face of the earth and spreads
pail of darkness over the land, we
seek place of safety-a refuge from
its fury The ship makes for harbor
and when we discover the signs OF the
coming storm we drop our work and
hike to the shelter where we hide until
its fury is spent. 1t may be the home,
the cave, or the rude dug out of the
prairie, still it is a refuge from danger
that we instinctively seek. Nature
suggests the wisdom and necessity of a
suitable refuge. This necessity is felt
because of the enmity between man
and man. He thirsts for the revenge.
One man killed another and the friends
of the slain avenged the death of their
kinsman by the blood of the slayer
This gave rise to the provision Of the
cities of refuge In Israel.
War and it's dire caiamities suggest
the same thing. The wise commander
provides for the contingency of defeat.
If overpowered by the enemy he retreats
to the Notifications or seeks refuge be-
hind the strong walls of the fort.
From our natural surroundings which
embodies the best wisdom in temporal
affairs, the idea of refuge is trans
ferred to spiritual things. A foreseen
danger leads to the provision of a
refuge. God has said. "The soul that
sinneth, it shall de- and He has ap-
pointed day of reckoning. The great
mass of men believe this; they admit
their accountability but have some
plan for meeting it. They are resting
in this hope. as refuge against the
day of wrath unless they are plunged
into despair where they can rest but
little while in the flesh. Many a mar
is resting behind his false refuge il
peace and quoting his conscience
against the day of reck oning when wrath
shall be revealed against all ungodh
ness.
Satan is strategist. He hurrie:
some on in the broad way of oper
transgression, while he makes other:
the victims of special sins, as pride
cruelty or avarice. In others lie incite:
the spirit of disbelief of the truth
With some it is Indifference or inatten
ton to the spiritual things. Conscience
is its own accusser, and the transgres
sor, feeling the necessity of a refuge
often resorts to one of lies but all sucl
will be swept away.
A sense of guilt gives rise to the
feeling of this necessity. Transgressior
and remorse are connected unless it b,
in cases of obduracy. Even Pagan'
feel the workings of conscience. thes'
pangs of torture, hence the sighing'
for peace, longings for rest and desires
for refuge.
1t arises too from calamitous events
of life. A near approach of death give
rise to the same feeling. Men mock a
religion in health, yet quail befor'
death. Voltaire after life spent il