Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-08
Is the Modern Church
Putting Second Things First?
1.-The Whole Tendency of the Church Seems, to Be Away
From the Spiritual Toward the Material" Says Secretary
Robert Lansing

of the minstra lions which the church
should bring to mankind Ii does not
behoove the church 10 put second things
first, but to insist that first things shall
always he first things.
Philanthropy we'll becomes the church,:
but humanitarianism is but a parody on
christian philanthropy. 1t is degen-
crate and worldly thing. which can not
| long supply even the lower wants of
men. In all ages charitable concern
| for the bodily needs of the human race
| has sprung from deep and abiding spir-
itusi sources When these springs or
philanthropy are dried up every enter
prise of mercy in the world withers
away and all efforts TO relieve human
want are paralyZed.
The apostle of humanitarianism was
Judas. who objected TO a beautiful act
of devotion TO his Lord and complained
that the Law of the Sabbath should be
Mary Amounted the aMster's head
should have been sold and given TO the
poor But the warm, impulsiye outhurst
of Mary's piety has fed more people
during these two thousand years er
christian history than all the calculating
Judas es have relieved since the world
began. The tenderest pity for men is
s.les from the deepest Piety towards
God.
goddess philanthropy speedily be-
comes an immoral humanitarianism. and
nroposes to set aside the fundamental
principles of christian morality in prose-
cution OF it's pretentious proposals for
the aid of the needy. For example
there are many among us who argue
that the law fthe Sabbath should ne
set aside in order to provide Sunday
diversion for the poor. Thus they make
the law of God inferio- in its authority
10 demands of mere pleasure seeking
The men who propose aRd advocate such
immortal schemes care no more Tor the
moor than did Judas. When they demand
the infraction OF the law of the SABBATH
I'm order TO provide diversions for labor
ing people they are really trying TO MAKE
room for their own worldly indulgences
This was made manifest strikingly IN
a hearing held by the city council or
Atlanta recently on the question or al
lowing moving picture shows to be open
on Sunday. For these miserable eX-
hibitions this miserable plea on behalf
NJ the moor was offered. In reply to
the plea one of the most prominent
leaders OF the labor unions repudiated
IL most vigorously: and he was entire
" right II was both painful and hu-
initiating to know that on this occasion
some appeared urging that the moving
picture shows be allowed to open on
the SaDOarn IN the AHtSAeSh VI sS''~
sort of a struggling educational enter
prise, as If an education secured oy
rebellion against Gods law could be OF
any sort of value whatsoever. Parties
making such a plea doubtless eulogizes
themselves for their practical christian
itv when they should have repented for
their real impiety.
Mr.. Lansing is right. The supreme
interest OF our people and the supreme
interest of all nations is found in the
spiritual And the highest bushes or
the church is TO promote the spiritual
life Every church in proclaiming its
mission. should be able to say with the
Lord of the church. II came to seek
and to save that which is lost" The
churches may do many other things
of a secondary sort. but this should
be their supreme concern.
The feeding of the poor is important,
and the clothing of the naked. and the
visiting of the sick: but all these things
touch only the inferior wants of the hui
man heart. They are the by-products
of christianity, and they will never fail
to be produced in abundance if the
churches keep ever uppermost in their
main business. But when the churches
forget their main business, and become
absorbed in mere ministration TO the
earth-bound needs of men, they will
soon forsake even these ministrations;
for they will have no heart nor power
for any work which takes their
strength or makes heavy demands upon
their unselfishness.
worldly christianity soon becomes
impotent to relieve even world wants.