Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-11-19
PEOPLES FORUM

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n subject so broad Of suggestive
ness as that the human mind can
not, Of course, apprchend it iii its
entirity. We all wish to follow
the thread Of our endcavor in all
its individual points to its final
end. This cannot be done in the
study Of the decalogue. The sub
jcct has such a mystic aspect to
it that only the more obvious cle-
mcnts Of it can in any sense be
apprchcndcd, and these elements
are Of such an abstract existence
that intervals must be invcstigat-
ed by naked faith, and faith in
such IL subject cannot be exercised
only by the spiritually minded,
Then, the discoveries made Of this
subject are condemning in their
revelations. They not only reveal
The mind Of God toward man, but
also the true thot of man toward
God. And the latter is no. apt to
effect an unpleasant experience.
Hence to avoid the experience we
must avoid an exploration Of the
subject. This, doubtless, is the
main reason why the Divine law
is termed IA "dry" matter. But to
the honest truth seeker, who is
willing to face his wrongs for the
purpose Of moral gain, will make
the decaloguc his principle subject
of study. To such the subject is
really inviting. Because there is
in each observation gained a re-
lection Of the supreme objective
Of the whole subject. SO that,
though the observation may not
be entirely unravclled, the reveal
ed objective of the subject proves
IN incentive to further study and
investigation, And so, as he merge
into the incomprchensible scope Of
he matter he finds himself in
wrapped with the beauty and fas-
cination Of the subject.
One of the matters of discovery
made in the investigation of the
Commandments is, its unity of
principle. Altho the Command
nents consists of ten distinct parts
yet it has the unit character. There
are constituent principles of this
world which admits of an elimina-
ton of one or more Of their parts
without the principle suffering
my appreciable injury. There are
other principles of a composite
nature which, if the slightest elm
nation is made the whole con
struction is seriously affected con
sequently. The decalogue belongs
20 the latter class. AS it is scrip
urally stated, whatsoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet offend
IN one point, is guilty of all. :"
What delicate matter, than, are
we all subject to. What a break
able object we are all forced to
carry thru life. How extremely
careful we ought to be in the hand
ling of so detachable matter. How
erect should we walk. How we
should let our eyes go straight be-
fore us, lest the side allurements
Of the world might draw us from
the path of moral rectitude.
How terrible to think that he
who violates but one Of the ten
involves himself in the guilt of the
violation of the whole decalogue.
This is the equivalent of that VIC
Iator coming under the Indictment
of murder; theft; fornication
idolatry-yea, all the negative as
well as all the positive forms of
crime included in this world s
category of unlawfulness. Imagine
one living in the consciousness of
such universal guilt, thru the con
'Scious disregard of but one of the
commandments. Yet, according to
the Interpretation of the divine
law, such is the position of every
one out of the realm of repentance
and grace.
But what, may be asked, is the
reason for such a unitedneSs of
individual matters? First: As a
unite principle, and only as such,
the commandments are representa-
tive of God, the givcr of them.
The character of God is singly
stamped upon the whole decalogue
So, that to deface any one part
is to dcface the whole. Things of
this world stand in representation
of the power that gave them exis.
tence. The ten commandments
stand for the character of God
10 dcface that principle is to leave
| an incomplete representation
which could but reflect an incom.
Iplete author of them. God is toe