The Washington herald., 1917-06-10

Is
cry Of the lower appetItes. The
iusficeS Rom. lis: "And every one
that doeth evil, hateth the light, and
cometh not to the light, that his works
NAV not be reproved." John $40. Now
don't misunderstand me. do not
want to say that all infidels, and all
ings Of faith and to reject its foun
da.ions, are devils-are black as the
ace OF spades. ! can point to many
who aspire to ideal life and who are
praiseWorthy In their conduct-edify-
ing their neighbors and doing good
to, the poor and nesdy; many who N.
religion and believers In all that
faith proposes. But too often intellec-
tuaI errors are the results Of moral
defects; and men AFFECT to despise
faith because Of the restraints which
faith imposes.
II you COULD get at the facts IN
every case Of those who have lost
faith, feel you would find that the
loss began when they became habitu-
ated TO sin and had resolved to cast
aside the bonds that so far had held
them back from iniquity. And the
very bottom reason for many for not
accepting the dictates of faith, Is the
fear lest they be compelled TO aban-
feel has been the source OF pleasure
though It has driven them to sin and
evil. am sure that never has any
one who was willing to sacrifice the
dearest for the possession OF truth
and to repress all base tendencies and
inclinations; whose will was right
and well ordered, determined to rest
not in pestilence and SIM am sure
that never has such q one been won
from the faith or been deprived OF
its light and blessings.
Faith Always Oppressed.
But from whatever cause. faith In
the unseen, conviction of the invisibl,
has ever been opposed and oppressed
Ignorance has risen against 1t and i'll
telligence has engaged 1t in deadly
combat. Material interests have vieC
with 1t for supremacy over the human
mind and sensual pleasures have con
tended with it for sway over the hu.
man heart. Virtue in the garb Of jus
Righteousness has claimed the honol
rendered to 1t, and wickedness has at
tempted to dislodge 1t in the esteem o.
shine 1t in the brilliancy of knowledge
| and progress has tried to relegate &
TO oblivion. Its teachings one by ont
have been put on the rack and tor
! tured, and its foundations have fel
the strong blows of the battering ram
ITO nave DcGn u
| crucial tests and its spirit has borne
Misrepresentation and mistrust. Oper
warfare from without, treachery iron
| within. assault and revolt have mao,
the EFFORT to undermine it. Every ag,
from the beginning has had its powel
| and influence, its genius and industry
to bear against 1t; and men Of ever!
Intellectual complexion have said thei
| worst to discredit 1t and demean anC
disfavor II. There has not been {
phase Of its nature and existence tha
has not been assailed; not a phase o,
persecution that has not been raiset
to destroy it.
Lives in Triumph.
But faith still lives; its Teachings
stu instruct and its hopes still ami
mate and inspire. What then? Is not
that a mark OF its undying character
OF its solidity, OF its divinity, Of its
truth? 1t cannot be crushed; 1t can
not be weakened: II cannot be de-
| stroyed: it will not die. Surely II
meets the needs and requirements OF
the soul; surely it answers all the
upward tendencies of the heart and
complies with all the exacting de-
mands of the intellect. II Is a very
congenial and natural act Of the
human creature.