Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-07
: BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER,

BY BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER.
Many men excuse themselves for
wrongdoing by pleading that under
the circumstances which surround
them that which is right is
not practicable They find some sort
of ease for their consciences by as
Stunning that they love the right well
enough to do it, If only it were feas-
ible
But there is no worse infidelity than
this theory that righteousness is i'm
practicable, and that wrong under any
circumstances is a necessity. To deny
the existence of God is bad enough, but
to affirm belief in the divine existence
and then assert the impracticability of
the moral law is In effect to deny that
God is holy enough to care for right or
strong enough to maintain right In the
universe Atheism is a dreadful mega
ton, but atheistic conduct is worse than
an atheistic creed; to believe that there
is a God and then to live as IL there
were no God is the very worst possible
form of doubt. To despair of goodness
is the worst infidelity to God.
To ask the question, "Is right FEAST
ble?" is to proceed on the assumption
that there is some object to be obtained
in life so much more precious than that
which is right that one may sacrifice
the right in order to obtain It, Is this
true? Is there anything better than
righteousness for a human being? Can
any sort of physical comfort compen-
safe for the loss of moral character?
Can any sort of earthly advantage off
set the loss of spiritual life? These
questions are all implied in the solemn
question of Jesus when he asked: What
shall it profit a man if he gain the
whole world and lose his own soul?"
In these times of disquietude in the
world arising from the war in Europe,
many people are pleading the law or
necessity as an excuse for wrongdoing
Such people condemn the Germans very
sharply for acting upon the theory or
necessity in international matters. The
German chancellor justified the VIOLA
ton of Belgium by saying it was nee
essary, or. in other words, he claimed
that the interests of Belgium might be
sacrificed for the interests of Germany
thus assuming that German interests
were of a higher and more sacred quail
ity than those of Belgium. In like man.
ner. he justified the sinking of the
Lusitania. with all it's helpless and non
combatant passengers, as necessity
of war. OF course, such pleading 10
extremely horrible, when viewed from
the moral standpoint, and the whole
world has felt as much indignation at
the defense of the crime as for the
crime itself The defense is as immoral
as the offense
But let US not suppose that the Ger
man militarists have proclaimed diff
ferent doctrine from that asserted by
every man who pleads necessity as an
excuse for his wrongdoing. The theory
is the same whether 1t be used as an
excuse for international crime or as a
defense for personal immortality. We
cannot allow for one moment the idea
that wrong is ever necessary.
When once such a theory of morals is
allowed the moral law is in effect total
ly set aside. Its majesty is made to
yield to some advantage of an inferior
nature and, when once the inviolable
majesty of the moral law is lost, 1t is
only a question of convenience with
with each man as how far and when
he will obey it at all. What one will
regard as so constraining.
With one man the possession of an
imperious appetite is sufficient excuse
for going on a debauch; he claiming that
he could not help it, that he was oblie-
ed to yield to the impulse for intoxi-
cants. Others will plead the constraint
Of various weaknesses. Still others will
excuse themselves by setting forth the
necessity arising from invincible cir
cumstances.
Once the moral law is set aside under
a plea of necessity. what one does is a
mere matter of circumstance There
is no longer any fixed principles in life.
and conduct. from day to day, is a mat
ter of uncertain and varying oppor-
tunism.
There is need for the proclamation Of
the inviolable authority of the moral
law. Such a proclamation is needed at
all times, and 1t is especially necessary
in a time like that in which we live. All
men must be brought face to face with
fact that righteousness is not a matter