Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-03

@HERE are many nowadays who wish to get
rid of God and the Church, but who would
not willingly part with the domestic 1nstltu-
tions and social blessings which arise in the
worshiping of God and the working OF the
Churches. They like the prodigal son, who was
very willing to get away from his father, put qulIe
unwilling to be separated from his fathers goods;
they want the fruits of christianity without chris
tanity itself. But this is a vain and futile desire
The very best things in our civilization rest
upon christianity, and we can not maintain any OF
the things upon which we most depended When the
people no longer attend the Churches and worship
God. The family itself, that fundamental institu-
ton upon which society rests, cannot be preserved
in the absence of religion. The Homiletic Review
has called attention recently to some Facts Whlch
reveal the connection between Church attendance
and divorce. That paper says
Judge Rooney has been Analysing the causes
of divorce and has arrived at the conclusion that
three out of four domestic troubles that have come
before him have been the result of the neglect or
either husband or wife, or both, to attend any
churchservce 1t is probable, OF course, That this
contributing is, in turn, the result of other
more fundamental reasons; but of the intimate
relation of the church to domestic happiness there
can be no doubt. The judge says Il do not care
what church one attends; but do think any man
or woman could spare hour week to pay rever-
to the Omnipotent. Every day have parents
before neither of whom attends church. How
they expect to have any influence on their chill
dren's moral training # they themselves do not set
the example of attending church?
I'VE may want to vary the proportfors-three
out of four of domestic trouble-to allow for
local pecuiarities and racial fangs; but 1t takes
right blunder which, sooner or later, is bound to
take toll of our happiness Such chickens always
come, home to roost!"
These facts reported by Judge Rooney, and
commented upon by him are Of the first Importance.
The breaking up of homes is the natural result of
the breaking off from worship. When men and
women depart from God they are very disposed to
separate from one another, just did the prodi-
gal son, who when he left his fathef, left his
brother also. God Is prominently the God OF
the family and the Preside; and when God is left
out of account in family life the results
surely and inevitably follow.
1t Is impossible to overstate the damage done to
children by the neglect of parents to regard re-
ligion and attend public worship. The effect is
worse than pagansm; for the children are taught
to depreciate and despse religion by the indifer-
ence of their parents to it.
The position of multiplied thousands of chill
dren in our country is pathetic indeed. They have
derived through their parents physical, life but
they have received from them little intellectual
stimulation and spiritual influence. The future
of such children is full of all possibilities Of sin
and sorrow; and their rreligious parents are lay
ing up for themselves the most agonizing dstresses
and humiliating griefs.
We may as we'll face the fact that no nation,
and least of all the United States dispense
with religion and still maintain high type of
civilization and a stable and safe social system.
Our republic must be religious government, or