Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-24
Applying the Golden
Rule to Life
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Text; st. Mntt. VII. .-I..

l" W obey thcn Ghcy appeal to
our sense Of right. TO our Judgment
10 our innate know ledge of Gods Will
"hcn We read or rccitc them, but the
struggle comes when we seek to apply
them 10 our own conduct Everybody
accepts with his mind the excellence
ana the necessity Of the Ten Com
I inandments. but each man of us i;is
MS own personal battle to fight wn-n
they touch conduct in the everyday
life. They are like machines. with
,helr splendid shape and their fittings:
put The product coming from their
working suggests struggle We all
love the golden rule. we can see whn,
"a splendid world this would be ir il;
was universally followed. i:ut oh. ho"'
difficult IL is To deal with men as You
would have them deal with you.
Yet that Is the ideal OF living which
must be kept before US, and we must
try hard to live up TO il. Being human.
the ideal for us Is always abov. the
real and many are our failures; but
We must keep UP stout heart ard
press on, rising on the mistakes W"
make Is 4 closer approach to the per
feet. Let us see what "" can do. by
Gods help. 10 keep our face and our
progress toward the light And, first.
let us recall that We have "a very prac-
tical opportunity just now in c"nnec-
ton with this great war In which VIC
are engaged. The conflict is between
righteousness and freedom and fellow
SHIP and purity, and the powers Of sin,
slavery, hatred and shame. Shall We
count II holy war wagcd In the
na'ne Of Him Who died and rose again
that goodness might conquer? II 50
then We suffer bitterness ana hatred
and reprisal TO rule us? Shall We re-
taliate for the wrongs done Ny our
enemies by doing cruel wrongs TO
them? Bccaus. .hcy drop bombs upon
O. n.,l
sc do the same?
NO RIGHT TO ACT
As IN AVENGED,
Some cry that necessity seems TO de-
mand IT, and that war knows 40 mercy.
But righteous nation has no right
10 act as AN aycUEer. We are 10 fight
for the worlds emancipation from the
d yoke OF autocratic oppression. hut we
cannot descend TO the level or tn.
brute in repcli!nE brutal principles and
deeds. So Is IL with the irdividual l.
IS not easy To hold down. the primal
instinct OF hatred and to Pray tor our
"rring brethren II demands /, stru.-
gle. But ScIf-r.Ncrcncc calls 10 sor-
rowing love and earnest petition. II
Christ prayed for Its cruel .neuiics.-
Father. forgive dem for they know
not what they do"--so must We fuli oC
compassion FOR u. nsan"lr biiud and
Wild people. wh" defy the CIVILIZED
world. lift voice ana rear, 'Ga' thy
may com" I" themselves tuo .vr thu
truth.
So In our own personal "%rt .irrc".
when men arc cruel and unfair. when
their tongues give biting criticIamS wu
must rise TO the high place wncr,. char
actcr controls and where pity triunphs
over wrath. And the prcaf tha, This
Is what God wishes It's 30 do IL found
IN tho quiet heart peace Of those v..o
give good for evil Anger passes. hll .
love. which pa-toms and pray. IN.
durcs
We mus, not think tina, tho Golden
rule condonos evil /, rr,her holds II
up to abholrcuce and scor.i and makc-
the true man indignant with e right
cous zeal born ~ ia" love Of good &.
ness Nay. II is right and necessarily
10 PUNISH IN" wronSdocr at tiincS. but
aI"H!s IN mercy. never In wrath
Christ prayed for the forgiveness az
iod--but Jerusalem was de- t-ov..l and
Rome fell ~ length High priest ana
Plate. i'hariS-e ana Centurion may
have accepted III" PARDON pray.i for.
but their evil deeds were me, h., i,s-
, iic". Yet Christ died for low and Ito-
man alike, and salvation was -iv.r for
All VINO would accept 1t. Jerusalem
and Rome fell bv their Own misi..de.
and their punishment was r.n.d!.,!. a
Part indeed OF their accompanies Of sal.
ratior. our golden rule means haired
OF the sin ana pu"ishmcn; o. TIA. an
ncr, but always love AID hoiu for III.
offender II lie will acc"pt il,
SOME TAKE ADVANTAGE
or MERCY ENTE\DE:D
Sometimes tho rule does not seem =,
work and men take advantage -,
mercy. Enemies think US cowardlv
because we do not rctaliate and ,hcv
And there are times when scvcro
thrash!ng must be given. Christ cam.,
10 bring peace: but peace itself often
has 10 be brought by the sword. and
so the Master said: Il came not :,
BRING peace chat is. outward peace
ont SWORD. But ii must be q
sword bathcd in Heaven" "A righteous
. casting out Of evil spirits. a cleansing
OF the temple of humanity with n
scourgc in the hand OF chris, him
self The duh world wonders at tho
vehement acts Of Christians why a.,
YOU cry out so bitterly against tn.
saloon? Why do you calf for force 10
/ wipe out houses Of sin? Why raise =
reforming flame against vile streets
and wrctchcd tencmcnts and The cruel
labor Of little children" Ana W.
answer: Chrisiianity will welcome
F with open arms any saloonll ccper who
leaves his evil business and gives his
receive tcnderly any fallen man o.
fallen woman who repcnts and longs
for purity. But in the name of her
perfect Master she will fight to ,ru
death these evils which are cursin;s
humanity. and until they arc swep.
away her sword Of righteousness will
not be shcathcd."
Perhaps personal Kindness is easier
when We try to return good for cvt,.
and yet there is apt TO come to us At
such times of gentle treatment a false
pride which spells orr mercy with sell :
graduation. "IIc will sec now how FOR
giving ] am; he will mark the differ
cnce between his own rudcncss and
my courtesy such fulfilling Of the
golden rule is full of danger. Rather
should we think of how we ourselves.
but for Gods grace might have fallen
and not count it as a virtue that we
forgive. but. rather he ashamed thar
such forgiveness demands an effort
The moment congratulate myself
upon good and kindly deed ron
it Of excellence. Iastnctivcly should
my heart go out to the offender, dis
eliminating clearly between his crrnr