The Washington times., 1918-08-25

Thy kingdom will earth it is in heaven
Give this day daily
And forgive VI o forgive debtors.
esdus moi temptation, but u
Is kingdom power
Amsn.-st Matthew vi, s-1s
There the most beautiful expression of belief God
the final perfect word the word Of beauty faith simplicity
power and deepest love:
"our FATHER which art in heaven"
Jesus insructng the multitude that followed him, had
gone in the mountain and told them of the blessed the
poor in spirit they that mourn the meek the mercfu the
pure in heart, the peacemakers
And then He taught men how to pray giving in just
sixtysix words, the only perfect prayer.
There many thousands and tens of thousands of
years Of ''worshppng'' before had advanced far
enough to look upon God "or Father which art in
heaven"
The picture on this page emphasizes it.
The first idea of God like the last idea of God form
ed in the mind Of man. is based mans effort to explain
that which cannot be explained except by faith.
Herbert Spencer says: "a religious creed is defnabe
as theory Of original causation" It represents s
efforts to explain the CAUSE of things.
The lowest savages says Spencer, do not ask how
things started but only explanation Of strange appear
ances and actions in Nature.
There are fifteen hundred million human beings on this
earth All Of them have conception of God. All
think and talk about Him. All wonder whence and how
that great Power brought US here. And all wonder ma
jory Of them with fear what He will do with when
short lives here are ended.
Scientists tell you that human beings the lowest
intellectually have conception of God whatever If so
they may be classed with the monkeys -unimportant
At every stage in the progress of humanity the idea of
God has And at every step in the progress of in
dvidua also when there Is progress the conception of
divinity changes and becomes higher.
As there is resemblance, grotesque but visible, be-
tween the most highly developed and the lowest human be-
ing there resembances Of grotesque kind between
the highest religion and the lowest
Flat his stomach the lowest savage prayed to his
hideous idol Don't kill me and will kill your enemies" "
Bowing before god of murder higher savage Of
fered to that god living children young men and young
women sacrifices
On their knees with hands uplfted looking in faith
and obedience the Power Above for few centuries
only have repeated the prayer taught them nineteen hun
But sti men traffic with their own consciences, still
they believe that the Almighty Power ruling the universe
is open to bargain and may possibly be persuaded to dis
cuss matters.
Lord Ashley fighting bravely with the last fragment of
the army Of Charles the First uttered this prayer
"God thou knowest how much have to do today; if
forget Thee do not forget me-
And Shakespeare, the most natural thing in the
world shows Henry the Fifth bargaining with God telling
him what he has done promising what he will do as one
king might bargain with another.
Thus prays the English King, asking God to let his
soldiers fight well:
"PIuek today o.,
today, not upon
My father made comprising
Richards body have new;
And it
Than from drops o
Five hundred n yearly pay,
Who twice day
Toward heaven l have built
Two ehantries, where oIennp priests
Sing Richards soul. More will ! 10"
Thus, the little king earth prayed to the King
Above offered yearly pay to five hundred poor as an
excuse for murder.
Do we need new idea of God?
Lord Ashley needed it. the English King needed it. the
savage with his face the ground saying Dont kill me"
needs it.
The American money king who also gives ten thousand
to his counts charity and steals millions from his
country pocketbook needs new idea of God
ii elioion Cd +ba
world needs, but MEN thinking new reverence
for the Power that treats justly gives opportunity
Furnishes through ourselves and steadily leads upward
AS men understand the king that frightens them
day they may understand nearly the just power
that rules them.
But never viii the vision be COMPLETE For man
the finite cannot understand Man