The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-25
FLIGHT OF EARTHLY KINGS

The kingly breed is in flight, and when it is wholly extir-
pated man will raise his eyes and look up. The king idea is
debasing, When man has to look up to a king as some superior
being he feels his own low estate and that OF his fellows, The
difference and distance between him and his king is so great
that he feels his own ltleness.
When the overwhelming wave of democracy that has been
started submerges and obliterates the kngly race, as did the
waters of the Red sea the army OF Pharaoh, a ruler of the
people, elected by the people, will become a servant, and not a
demon OF despotism and absolutism, He will be respected and
loved because he will be a part of the people, and not a superior
being set apart and detached from the masses.
In the days Of old the king was not only above the masses,
but he was endowed with divine attributes until divinity and
kingliness became confused and interchangeable terms. When
the king idea is driven from the earth we may change Our con-
cephon OF the Deity, AS a heritage from the past we have
thought of Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Possessing all power and glory, the mind conceived Of Him
as a greater earthly king removed to a higher plane up in the
sky, who has all power and who alone shall Judge mortals and
deal out rewards or punishment, according to divine justice.
Vengeance alone is His, and He must be proptiated or con-
einated BY praise and fattery Just as used to be done to earthly
kings. His ministers are courtiers, and man, a mere worm Of
the earth, must bow down and adore, Under these circum-
stances the command, Love God with thy whole heart and soul,
and thy neghbor as thyself, for the love of God" is not one
that is easy to obey. When we attain to a new mental attitude
toward earthly kings it will be easier for US to conceive of the
Creator and Ruler of all ,hngs as a God Of mercy and loving
kindness, a gentle Father who loves us, and to whom we can
appeal at all times with confidence, and not an austere Judge
who will punish us for our manifold transgressons resulting
from weaknesses Of the flesh.
Earthly judges who administer Justice remorselessy are not
loved. and are not in keeping with modern ideas of what they
should be. Few people seek or are prepared for stern human
justice, and would more than likely despair at the approach of
divine justice. ~
Our Father which art in heaven we love and trust, and we
feel that His mercy is infinite, and that it endureth forever
When once Invested of all the attributes Of earthly kings we
will turn from the God OF the Old Testament and PROSTATE our
selves, asking mercy before the God of the new dispensation.
The world has been doing this more and more for a long time,
and the realization of a world democracy will complete the
change, There will be more faith, more love and trust, and
the idea of a "frowning Providence" will depart from us, and
we will See His Smiling face" when we visualize Him, even
through our tears.
OF course, God is perfection, and the same Yesterday. today
and forever; but our conception OF Him changes. We see
through a glass darkly; but, later on, we may see more clearly.
We will put away fear and replace it with love. We will look
upon ourselves as children, and not as covering culprits. We
will stand erect and go forward with hearts filled with songs
of Joy and gladness, Selfishness will disappear when we will no
longer think how we are to save ourselves from the wrath to
come. There will be no wrath and no kingly trappings. but
instead, love and mercy and the hand of the Father reached
out for us. The world will be better and heaven more beautiful
TO contemplate.