The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-14

says BiSnop ChaoWlch. Inc name
of God is abused when the
insincere and hollow professor joins
in the most solemn act of worship,
honors Him -with the lips when the |
heart is far from Him-nay, when one !
strives to reclaim his fellow sinner by |
the use of good and holy phrases in |
which his own belief is merely theo-
retical."
Quito as cutting is this further ex- |
tract from the same meaty writer: |
There is a large and powerful school |
of religion in our own day, whose |
disciples talk much more of their own |
emotions and their own souls than st. |
Paul did, and much less about God
and Christ Some day the properties |
will be restored" There is a profan- |
ity that is born of religiosity as truly
as profanity which springs from I'M
thinking irreverenceP both alike vio-
his friends, nor his foes may >trifle
with Jehovah's majesty.
Mans Veal Gods Will.
Even at the risk of shocking some
reader, let me say that Sabbatarian-
ism is by no means synonymous with
Scripturalisn1. The fourth command
ment has become overiaid with inter-
probation. One of the most pressing
needs of present-day Christianity is
fresh, honest. unprecedented and con-
structive presentation of the Sunday
question. At present it is too largely
confined to the hurting of futile prohi-
billions, which the preachers them
selves do not always observe, against
the established practices of the
navy. Too long we have been hear
ling, upon this vital> subject of the
Lords Day. only a series of past-cen-
fury Thou shalt nots," when the
church and the world are waiting for
a sweet-spirited and timely, interpre-
tation of This do in remembrance of
Me-"
As the fourth of the command
ments having respect to mans duty to
God, this law primarily enjoined only
rest, with an implied memorial char
acter. 1t was to be a rest day for
workers {not for idlers, who today are
the greatest Sabbath violators), in
recognition of the rest of the Creator
after his labors. The day was Gods
glory, but also for mans good. 1t was
designed to promote the highest physi
cal well-being of man, as well as to
insure time for thought upon spiritual
things. Any man who works seven
days a week. be he preacher or farm
err, is a Sa bba tn breaker; and he fails
to render, to God the honor which He
claims as His due.
Where the East Is Wise.
All Oriental peoples have the prin-
ciple of the fifth commandment writ
ten so deeply in their traditions andIl
and mother is carried to the extent of
ancestor worship. In this respect the
East has much to teach the West. We
have lapsed so far from the attitude
which regards parenthood as divine
that almost< everybody can repeat
shameful stories of the neglect and
even abuse of parents by, children.
Altho it appears customary in many
quarters nowadays for parents to sub
ordinate themselves to their children,
and for children to be hippant. dis
respectful and selfish toward their
parents, the fifth commandment still
remains in force, wise, beneficial
and binding social law.
Twentieth Century Crimes.
Read the annual total of lives lost
on the railways of the country, mostly
because of the greed of the companies
| Consider the more sanguinary roll of
employees MANNED and killed by ma
chinery. Look at the army of child
| laborers whose lives are blighted, if
| not destroyed. by insensate love of
gold. Behold the procession of collins
| filled every day by bad social and
economic conditions-then ask your
| self how well this progressive and en-
| lightened generation is keeping the
sixth Commandment, Thou shalt not
| KILL The deaths in a ruder state of
society, where everybody travels
armed and human life is reckoned
cheap, are few and merciful as COM
pared with this total.
| Civilization takes a mans safety out
of his individual keeping and puts it
] in the care of society. If society is to
| prove itself fit for this high RESPONSE
| bility it will need considerable toning
up. Society, as we have lately seen,
! has a right to call for a mans life in
public defense and service; but it has
| no right to cause needless waste of
/ life.
| The Shame of Society.
| Instead of anemic sermons on the
lrefinements of spirituality, these times
need fire-filled messages on the sew
enth Commandment. While this is
not as adulterOus a generation as the
| everyday newspaper scandals might
Head a superficial observer to believe,
| there is nevertheless a laxness of re-
| gard for the sacredness of the mar
riage relation that is ominous. Unless
there be awakened sturdy and mill
! tant sentiment for the purity of society
! in this respect, dark days are ahead of
us. And who will lead in this awaken
/ ing if not the. Christian teachers who
| hold the Ten Commandments as di
vine? The war after the war is to be
| for defense of our Christian standards.
| The United States war department has
| already put to shame the inefficiency
of religious organizations by its war
regulations and after-the-war propa-
| ganda for purity.
| The Moslem who is jealous of his
| wife sometimes cuts off her nose; I'M
| fortunately his wife has greater rea-
son, but not the power, to cut off her
! husbands nose. Lacking the inner
| restraints of a law written on the
;hearts, many Orientals pay tribute to
| the great truth which underiies the
| seventh Commandment by keeping
their women secluded "behind the
! curtain But in vain: the moral COR
ruption of the East is the prime factor
! in it's political, commercial and social
| oackwardness.
| On the other side Of the world they
do not understand our popular word
| graft" perhaps it is little difficult
| to explain why We should create
| euphemism for any of the forms of
stealing. The CRATER is a thief. and
a violator of the eighth Command
ment. whatsoever, be he clerk or di-