The Detroit times., 1917-12-14

CIVIL tumult has often changed co
eial and even religious institutions
Wars effects are not all felt only ON
the battlefield. There are vast con
sequences 10 civilization involved
with which all teachers of morals
md religion should primarily con
csrn themselves. Religion herself
needs 20 be especially Figi'ant Jest
while devoting her most sacred ener
gies to the protection hy means oi
armed conflict Of the ideals which
are fundamental 20 civilization, she
lose certain heritages aF precious as
those for which civilization IS bat
thing Those are grave days for All
who have responsibility flr the
conservation and extension off the
great teachings ~ TIE Gospel Only
the most stupid and unobscrNant
person can fail 20 see that the moral
and social Consequences of world
war are by no means clear and as
sured
Asit is now. so lt wss IN the days
Of Nehemiah Ia this pertinent old
story, which has been assigned tof
study by the SUNDAY schools of the
world. We learn how life had grown
lax in old Jerusalem, under the
rtrsss OF conquest and civil GisoG-
ganization. "Out west" conditions,
as We knew them a generation aso,
prevailed. The usages Of the fathers
had been allowed 20 slip away. The
Jews who were dealing with the dis
turhed conditions OF the old city had
been so bent upon practical Ques-
tons that they had permitted The in
stitutions for which Jerusalem pecu-
iiarly stood, 10 lapse; while they
borrowed freely OF the laxer Gus
toms OF the surrounding peoples.
Amid an environment largely heath
en-, the sons OF promise forget their
inheritance.
Especially shocked Was- Nehemiah
bv the violations OF the Mosaic laws
OF the Sabbath. The foreigners IN
the city were largely responsible Tor
this. Just AS immigration has so deep
ly colored our own civil life. But
Jews AS we'll as hesthen we're buy
INK and selling on the holy day, and
treating II like any other day of the
week. They had been too busy
10 take cognizance OF the sabbath
of their fathers Like dwellers IN
foreign lands, they had impercept-
bly, slipped into the local disregard
for the day that had meant 80 much
when they We're back home. II Is
not unknown for persons who were
once church workers, and Sunday
school teachers. 70 grow slack even
in church attendance when they
move 20 new community, where
iaxer standards prevail.
a Strenuous Reforrner.
Some Of us would have felt a self
romplacent sense Of superiority
over the conduct OF these violators
OF Gods law, had we been in Nehe-
miah's position. Or else we should
have gathered together little com
pany OF the strlcter sort, hke-minded
folk, ana bewailed the deterioration
Of the times. Not so Nehemiah. he
was like an American, in that be
ever
Turned a keen. untroubled face,
Home 90 the instant need u things
SO Nehemiah spoke 10 the right per
sons in condemnation OF the shock
Ing laxity; then he shut the city
gates against the non-Sabbath-keep-
ing foreigners; then be threatened
persistent yiolators with the rigors
cf the law. But let US nave the
story Itself. as Nehemiah told Il;
''1n those days saw I in judah
some treadlDg wine-presses on the
Sabbath. and bringing ip sheaves,
and lading asses; as also wine,
grapes and figs, and all manner OF
burdens, which they brought into
Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and
! testified against them in the day
wherein they sold victuals. There
dwelt men OF Tyre also therein.
which brought fish, and all manner
OF ware, which they sold unto the
children Of judah, and In Jerusalem.
Then contended with the mobiles OF
judah. and said unto them. What
evil thing Is this ye do. and profane
the Sabbath day. Did not your
fathers thus. and did not our God
bring all this evil upon Us, and upon
this city? yet We bring more wrath
ppon Israel by profaning the Sab
bath. And II came 70 pass, before
the gates OF Jerusalem began 10 be
dark before the sabbath, I command
I'd that the gates be shut, and
charged that they should not be
opened until after the Sabbath. and
some OF my servants set 7 AZ Tho
gstes, that there should no burden
be brought in on the Sabbath day
SO the merchants and sellers OF all
Kinds Of ware lodged without Jeru.
salem once or twice. Then 7 testi-
hcd against them. and said unto
them. Why lodge Sc about tho wall?
IL go do SO again. ! will lay hands
on you From that time forth came
they no more on the sabbath And
& commanded the Levites that they
should cleanse themselves. and that
they should come ana keep the gates
10 Eancttfv the Sabbath DAY
Big Men for Hard Times
Something like the hard sonee of
Nehemiah is needed. in this time 90
transformation and obscuration %
moral values, 20 save TO civilization
fits Christian Sabbath. wits sid.
denness for which most OF ne were
; not prepared, our very life. as repre-
sented by our choicest young men.
has been thrust into the mldst an
radical conditions. and into contact
with environment wholly different
from those amid which they were
reared All tho old order is being
challenged. There are no sancuuos
beyond tho pale OF The question
marx In soldiers life IrfTo /.