Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-09
ELITE SOCIETY IS
HIT BY A BISHOP
DIR. vi. Edward Fawcett Says Cruel
tiers of Christ Are Found in
the Palaces,
MORE THERE THAN IN NOVELS
Episcopal PreIate at Lenten Service in
Trinity Church Tells OF Mod
ern PhariseeS.

The crucifixion of Christ is being
daily repeated. We have been thank
full that the supreme tragedy Of the
ages did not occur in this generation,
but we forget that it is being con-
stantly rehearsed today under the gild
ed roof of a conventional Christianity"
declared Bishop NJ. Edward Fawcett,
Quincy, in his sermon last evening at
Trinity Episcopal church, at the open
ing of the Lenten season.
Bishop Fawcett took as his text the
words, IF they shall fall away, to re-
ing they cruelty to themselves the
Son of God afresh and put Him to an
open shame" found in Hebrews 6:6.
1T is proper upon the opening Of
this sweet season of Lent that thoughts
should be directed inward and upon
the motives which control our lives,
especially in view of the fact that a
mission is soon to be conducted here
by one of the greatest evangelists and
preachers of the country" continued
the speaker, referring to the coming
Of Rev. J. A. Schaad, rector Of ST.
| Johns, one of the largest churches Of
! St. Paul, to the local congregation,
March 10 to 26.
Hits Four Hundred.
The speaker then detailed those who
assisted in the crucifXion of Christ
n
were actuated by the same spirit and
had an equal moral responsibility. He
referred first to the Pharisees, whom
he called the -four hundred of Jeru-
salem," and compared them to the
best people in the town today.
IF today you were looking for the
crucifiers of Christ, would you seek
in the alleys and slums?' declared the
bishop. Il believe you would be more
liable to find them in the palaces. The
chief guilt of the Pharisees was that
they did not use their prominence
and influence in the right direction
and so today we find the cultured, in
telligent, refined people, who although
given the privilege of acknowledging
Christ and in a position to greatly aid
His cause, refusing to do So
1t was shown that Judas still is
alive, although he killed himself
Those who put money above principle
were placed in this class.
Pilates Are Numerous.
PLATE is represented today by those
who are double dealers, protesting be-
lief but practicing unbelief; who COM
pliment Christ but do not defend Him
The Sanhedrim, the judicial council
of the ancient Jews, which first de-
creed Christ's death because He claim
ed to be God, was said to be in ex-
istence today, its members being COM
posed of those who patroniZe and ap-
prove of the sympathy of Christ and
His sociology but call Him an impos-
ter. They try to praise the man, but
deny the Godhead in Him. The sol
diers who Knocked Christ and placed
crown of thorns on His head, and
the cowardly disciples who, although
professed followers, failed to stand
firm in the hour Of test, were declar-
ed by the speaker to be more numer-
Gus today than when the Messiah was
put to death.
"The way to avoid the crucifXion OF
Christ is to join in the coronation,
, said Bishop Fawcett in conclusion. I,
is our obvious duty to crown Him in
our daily lives and to align ourselves
with His most loyal friends"