The Washington herald., 1918-01-13
Religious Fervor Better
Than Putrid Damnation
Any Time and Any Place
AFTERNOON SERMON
Pharisee and Publican

true, that other men and women were
murderers, adulterers, thieves: sup
pose what he said about himself was
true, that ne was all right Then
instead Of blowing for their misery
Git seemed to be a source Of grati-
fication TO him) he didn't lift his
finger TO try and make the drunk
ard sober, to try and lift the woman
from selling her womanhood. mol
No.
1t seemed 10 be a source Of graft
6catiton TO him that he wasn't in the
quagmire Of filth and Of degradation
with the unfortunates Of the day. He
folded his old arms and never lifted a
finger TO try and help them. Now.
then, II what he said was true-mind
you. he is an old lisr-if what ne
said was true. il men and women
were plunderers. murderers. and adul-
terers. and IL he was what he said
he was, all right. then he would have
gone to them and ina the name Of God
he would have used his influence and
power to help them get out Of whcre
they were into that what they ought
to be.
And IL ] find a man that's drunk,
it's none OF my business whether il
was hereditary, whether IL was the
result Of his environment, whether Il
was the result of his being a fool:
it's my business 10 help make him
sober.
And il find a girl selling her wou-
anhood, merchandising her yirture for
gain, It's none Of my business whether
that's the result OF deception or mis-
placed love or Of lust, it's your busi-
ness to help set her free and send
her home with the tears Of repentance
coursing down her cheeks
Perhaps II you'd been up against
what she was up against you'd be
what she is. so don't fold your skirts
OF selfrightousness about your old
carcass and thank God you are not as
other people are.
Don't imagine that there is an in
evitable Law OF absorption going along
IN the world. IL you come too closely
IN contact with the unfortunate You
viii have transmitted 10 you the virus
OF the sin that contaminates and in
tests and blights and infects them
like a pestilence and a mfldew.
He asked no help from God: he got
no more than he asked. He had
no doubt OF his own ability. On,
despise to see these people who act
as though there were something in
herent within themselves which. bv
culture, YOU can develop TO such 4
stage Of perfection that Cod Alrniehtv
will grant you salvation as a reward
Of merit
No! You get down on your knees and
tell God you are an old sinner bound
for hell and YOU ought to 20 10 hell
and II you get what's your due, you
will get hell.
You don't deserve 81. Don't act 81
, II God Almighty owes It to you; lie
doesn't. He owes you a chance 10 ac-
cept 1t but he isn't giving il TO YOU
because you deserve il. II you get
what you deserve, you'd get he'll.
every one Of you! So don't act as
though the Lord was simply paying
you what he owes you-he doesn't.
Jesus went around 10 a wedding
one day and noticed that bunch come
in He said, Come down from your
high horse; it's better TO say Coma
up higher than II is to say Come
down lower"
Proper Manner Of Praying,
So this fellow came in and l can
--a+- R-NNAA AAAAAEGAL INC a AeHGOGk
( on fence. and he irOned out his
garments and prepares for a per
I formance that made the recording
angel take refuge behind his wings.
and he bellered out and he said. Il
thank. thee. God, am not as other
men are-plunderers, murders, aduI-
! terers-"
Just then the door sQueaked on ii,
hinges and that old publican pokett
his head in and he said, even
that publican. 1 fast twice q week.
give uthes Of all / possess" and
/ out he went.
imagine a lot OF people are sitting
around and saying, That's my idea
I OF religiOn-no excitement.
O-h-h! Religious sensation is bet
/ ter than putrid damnation anv time,
That's our idea Of religion-no eX-
citement. no slang. no vulCaritv-
none" Yes, and they followed him
and they are all in hell now-aI OF
them. All Of them,
On, you've got Persian rugs and
/ the candelabra OF wealth on vou-
moor; the church is Good enough for
the 35-cent ingram.
! Insist on your views being sdonfo5
on all questions brought up befors
the church. And don't give in for
| the majority. This government Ia
run on the majority rule but in ths
church, the tail wags the dog
And when you are sick don't let
the pastor know anything about il,
Don't tell him. He is supposed to
ind out and IL he doesn't, then tell
people how ,disinterested he was In
you ana he never came near, when
you were sick.
Sis bet my life just by looking st
you that's just what you've been do
m You've got just that Kind OF q
map on you.
And II you see everything working
harinoniously, get busy and try and
I sur up a fuss and enEender strife.
You are writing a GOSPEL
A chapter a day
In deeds that YOU do
And in words that you say
Men read what YOU write
Whether false or true.
Say, what is the gospel
According to you?
What directions are you giving 10
people in your home? What direc-
tions are you giving in your societyr
Following you. will you lead them to
| Christ or will you lead them 10 the
! devil?
Two men went 10 the temple TO
I pray-one Pharisee and the other a
publican. The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus within himself.
thank thee, God. am not as
other men are-plunderers. murder
! erS, adulteners, or even as this u,,f,Y
can last twice a week. l give
tithes Of all that possess
And the publican, standing afar Of