Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-23

1t is to be feared that the mania for
public life is impairing, if not abso-
lutely destroying, the domestic virtues
of many people They profess much zeal
for doing good to others-to all others
except the persons in their own homes
They are devoted to social service,
but utterly dislike home service. Is there
not in this sort of living a selfish vani-
ty? Do not those who indulge such
living practice kind of Pharisaism
which delights in having it's good works
seen of men?
That is a doubtful type of religion
which enjoys doing good in public only,
and refuses to shed beams of love and
light upon those to whom God has spe-
ciallv bound one for duty and service
A great British essayist says, "A canule
that won't shine in one room is very I'M
likely to shine in another. IL you DO not
shine at home, if your father and MOTH
ell. your sister and brother, II the very
cats and dogs in the house are not the
better and happier for your living a
christian. it is a question whether you
are really one.
the heart, and if the heart be hlled WIN
if. out of the christian abundance oil THO
soul will the mouth speak ana the haiidS
toll. When publicity is required TO pro
woke christian speech and pious acts'
which never appear in the home, we
NAV be sure piety is not present In the
soul True religion manifests Its most
beautiful and tender forms in the quiet
nIaces of life. The Christ carried the
sorrow and sin of a whole world upon
his sacrifcial shoulders, but he had
time and heart to take little chIul en-
i'm his arms and bless them, and he did
not refuse TO wash the feet of his peas
ant APOSTLES in the upper room the nlShI
before he died on Calvary.
The mania for publicity produces ne
roles. but not heroism. The truest ne
roism is oftenest found in the secret
nlaces of life The most heroic man /
have ever seen was one VINO sacrlhc-d
all his ambitions and worldly prospects
in order to care for three invalid sisters
who did not so much as understand the
unearthly motive which glorlhed ms OWL
life and blessed theirs.
Charles Kingsley has said most forci-
bly,. DO your duty first; 1t will be time
after that to talk of being heroic.
have known girls think they were DONG
a fine thing by leaving uncongenlal
parents, or disagreeable sisters, and cut
ting out for themselves as they fancied'
a more useful and elevated line of life
than mere home duties while after all they
were only in the name of God neglect
ing the command of God to honor their
father and mother" Such conduct is
not conservation to God. but rebellion
against Gods will as revealed in his
Providential appointment of life.
The prevalent publicO-man1a winch
permeates modern society Is producing
pernicious results among
women. both young and old. Thousands
are fleeing the duties of home to which
God has appointed them and are run
ming to and fro i'm the earth screaming
hyterically for this measure of reform
and that scheme of social redemption
For Clubs" and conventions" children
are neglected who will need reforming
in mature years because they lacked
mothers care in the years of childhood
The effect of publico-mania is bad
enough upon men, whom God and ma
ture designate for most of the work of
life which must be done outside the
home; but upon women it is far worse.
What impairs motherhood and impov-
erishes home life is most desolating in
its consequences upon communities and
nations; it is nothing less than the
abomination of desolation subverting the
very foundations of society.
A revolution in the governmental sys-
tenn of a nation is dangerous: for once
started no one can foresee where il will
end. But when the fundamental bases
of society are crushed or overturned, the
case is far worse. When such fOunda-
tions are destroyed what can the right
eous do?
Our hope is in God and the Gospel of
Christ. That Gospel must be preached
with new power, and the sacred duties of
home-life which it enjoins must be en-
phasized. The fundamental virtues of
faith. truthfulness, patience. and love
must be inculcated, and men and women
must be called back from spectacular
performances to the cultivation of these
essential eXcellencies. We can get on
we'll without much of the "heroics" into
which multitudes are falling. but these
fundamental virtues are Indispensable;
we can do without clubs" and Com
ventions," but we must have homes.
St Paul was engaged In the most
public and worldwide services: but he
saw clearly and pointed out forcibly the
danger which besets one who would SUBJ
stitute performances of pride for the
first principles of piety. When certain
persons in the Church at Corinth were
indulging rivalries in the exercise of
snowy gifts, he wrote to them, "Covet
earnestly the best gift; and yet I show
unto you a more excellent way. Though
speak with the tongues of men and of
angels and have not charity, + am be-
come as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. And though 1 have the gift OF
prophecy and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have