Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-19
In the Religious World
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


the people perish; and without the
diviner conceptions Of life which burn
in noble breasts this old world would
soon perish of its own rottenness. AL
ways these reformers are derided by
their own generation, just as "practi-
call men today sheer at the prophets
who proclaim a coming day of newt
able social justice. OF peace on earth,
and OF world brotherhood. The ad-
ministrators in Asa's court gave him,
scant encouragement in his reforms.
They knew human nature; by which
they meant that they understood the
baser side of people. Nobody truly
knows human nature who does not
clearly perceive It's capacity for ideal
ISM Judah for time rose to Asa's
lofty expectations for it, even as the
peoples at war today have shown
heroism, self-sacrifce, devotion to
great detectives which year ago the
cynical observer never suspected.
Awise reformer enlists the highest
motives that can possibly be attached
to his cause So Asa, because he him
self was primarily a spiritually mind
ed young man. made his appeal to Jul
dab on religious basis. He rallied the
people to the God Of their fathers. All
the force of the covenants which had
been made with Jehovah by Solomon
and David and Moses and Jacob and
Abraham was directed to the re-en-
forcement of the new movement. Let
lit be said over and over again, that
true reform cannot come on any other
basis. Not prudence, not prosperity,
not enjoyment. not self-interest, is an
adequate foundation for change In
the social order. Only religion, which
transforms the heart Of man, can
make over the world in which man
lives. That is why a Billy Sunday
campaign does more to clear up
community than q POLITICAL reform
movement.
The Man With Hammer.
Some things have to be smashed
in any true reform. That Is where
certain type of mind balks: 1t would
cover the old idols with floral wreaths
and draw curtain before the temple
debauchery, and provide symphony
orchestra to drown out the cries OF
the oppressed, and Of those sacrificed
to Moloch. This sort Of person would
withdraw from the sweat and strife
and suffering of life, and In harno-
niously furnished parlors meet with
kindred aesthetic souls to talk about
the true. the beautiful, the good
Such one may save his own soul
(perhaps, though l am doubtfuD, pro-
vided there be soul hidden away IN
that mess OF mushy sentimentality
which he calls his Ego; but 1t 1s
certain that he will never abolish evil
or erect good. The man with a ham
mer, like Asa, who dares 90 out and
break up the idols and tear down the
heather groves and Danish the priest
esses Of sensuality, is the one on
whom the world counts. He Will
make mistakes and he will make enc
mics. but he will serve his time.
Even the all-powerful old Dowager
Queen Mother Maacah, had to be
fought and removed, ere Asa's reform
could be effective. 1t Is the way OF
reform to come very close to mono.
No end of vested interests. upon
which Asa himself was dependent Tor
revenue, had to be overthrown. Heed
less OF these practical considera-
tions, Asa pushed his work to the end.
OF course, there were unexpected
rewards. The best people of Israel
came docking down to Judah, when
they found that the worship Of Jeho-
yah was being restored. A great
accession OF the most desirable sort
of citizens was a by-product Of the
reform movement. There is real
estate value to righteousness. Good
neighbors are the best asset OF any
community, as good people are the
best customers OF any business.
Likewise, the kingdom OF judah
was SO strengthened and inspirited
that 1t became able to resist, ten
years later, the great Egyptian inva-
sion. So long as Asa trusted In the
Lord and kept his nation pure, judah
was all right When prudence, that
insidious tempter of old age, super
seeded faith, then Asa relied on diplo-
macy and military alliance with Syria,
instead of on the God who had helped
him hitherto. That mistake had grave
consequences; reminding all Of US
that however we'll we begin, only
day-by-day trust to the very end can
avail us.