Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-25

suggestive discussions makes
this profound observation, 1T
is a law of Providence, that while in
society knowledge DESCENDS. faith
ASCENDS: while science. DOUBT,
opinion, all ideas OF the understand
ing gravitate from the FEW TO the
Il a NY, affections, convictions,
truths of conscience and the heart,
rise from the MANY to the FEW
This fact is not accepted generally,
but IL is in perfect accord with all
recorded history. All the greatest
religious movements OF mankind
have sprung from the masses and
not from the classes.
In the days of Moses knowledge
was with the Egyptians, but the
true faith was in the hearts OF the
poor Israelites who were bending be-
meath the burdens and bleeding I'M
der the lashes of their hard task
masters. In the days of Ahab the
fashionable world. under the leader
ship of Jezebel, affected Baalism:
but pure religion was preserved b.
such poverty-stricken prophets as
Elijah and the seven thousand I'M
known saints who refused TO bow the
knee TO Baal. When Jesus walked
among men. the common people
heard him gladly" but the men or
position aspired TO cruelty him.
IL was no accident that the Chris
tian Church was set up by apostles,
the majority OF whom were fisher
men. The council at Jerusalem be-
fore whom Peter and John were ar
raigned noted the fact that the
Apostles were unlearned and ig-
norant men" (ActS "; 1S.)
The reformation was led by men
like Luther. the son of stone ma
son: while cultured men like Eras-
mus had great searchings OF heart
and great cOwardice combined with
their smothered convictions. Luther
was ready to so TO the Diet or
Worms though every tile on the
roofs were a devil; while Erasmus
wrote. 81 mean to be as good
christian as the time will permit.
The Wesleyan Revival in England
in the Eighteenth Century, which
saved the United Kingdom from So
cial revolution and French infidel-
ity. was a movement at first among
the masses: from il the classes
turned away in disgust. if not in in
dignation. II has required a cen
fury for men like Leckey, and Biz
rell to see the significance of that
benign movement among the plain
people of the English-speaking world.
IL we are to accept the teaching
of the Scripture, we must acknowl-
edge the correctness OF this profound
observation OF Martineau. st. Paul
wrote to the Corinthians, mot many
wise men after the flesh. not many
mighty. not many noble are called"
St. James in his Epistle said, 'Heark-
en-, my beloved brethrens Hath not
God chosen the poor of this world.
rich in faith, and heirs OF the King
dom which he hath promised TO them
that love him?"
The very nature OF matters or
conscience and things of religion is
such that phiIosophic ability is not
required to grasp these great inter
ests of the soul so much as the sin
gle eye and the courage of ones con-
victions. Hence, men who are bound
TO the world by many ligatures. of
wealth, social position, and personal
ambition can not perceive clearly,
nor dare resolutely concerning these
lofty matters. The poor and incOn-
spicuOus, being free from such re-
straints as the world imposes, are
more apt to recognize clearly and
receive gladly the simple and sub
lime truths of religion; they can af-
ford to believe and obey implicitly
truths which the more favored class
es are likely 10 consider as thorough
" impractical The masses acknowl-
edge the authority of the Ten Com
mandments and the Sermon on the
Mount; yet a Senator of the United
States has not hesitated to declare
that they are IAN iTidescent dream"
Even in things political all great
reformations originate with the
masses who feel that they can dare
10 contend for that which is right.
The Magma Charter was wrung from
King John by barons who could not
sign their names. At a later time
the plainest people under Oliver
Cromwell put an end to the tyranny
of the Stuart Kings. and incorporated
in the British Constitution other
great principles of fundamental
right.
All these things being true, we
can not fail to see that the masses
have a mission TO the classes far