Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-09-30
WERE CHRIST IN ABILENE


WERE CHRIST IN ABILENE
Rev. r. p. Bess Found What Folks
Think He Would Do
Before q congregation that filed
the Christian church last evening the
pastor, Rev. Troy p. Bess, gave an
unique sermon on the subject: "What
Would Christ Do II He Were Dictator
Of Abilene?" Mr.. Bess prepared for
the address by interviewing over
200 Abilene men and women In every
walk Of life, asking them their ideas
OF what would happen were Jesus to
take charge Of the town and a COM
posite Of their opinions made the
sermon which was listened to intent
ly. The substance Of the ideas as
presented by the pastor was:
Would Awaken Ills People
"If Jesus Christ were debating
here there would surely be an awak-
ening among His people. A great
many nominal church members seem
to be asleep on the job Paul says,
Woe unto those who are at ease In
ZiOn.' 1t seems to me that the people
are not at ease. They are either not
In Zion or else they are 80 III at ease
that they cannot face the worship in
the church on Sunday. A lot Of peo-
pie are members Of one church or an
other because they think It will give
them prestige or larger volume of
business. When Jesus was here in
person he drove those out Of the
temple who were using their preten-
sions Of religion for commercial ends
that they might profteer or the peo-
pie who were innocent. We know
that He would do nothing less than
this were He here tonight. When
the church people get down to bust
nesss and finance adequately the
Lords institution, and present the
gospel message In businesslike way,
then that message will have a kick
to 1t and the Lord will use his own
institution to make Abilene the COM
munity 1t ought to be. If Jesus were
here he would not use political
party, lodge. women's club, welfare
organization or any Of these to build
Ip our town, he would work through
his own institution. The number of
would likely be decreased
md efficiency increased.
Cleaner Home Life
"Home life would come in for a
cleaning. The sacredness of the
marriage would be restored, and the
livOrce court would lose some Of its
There would be less
lirting with other peoples husbands
md wiyes, we would think more of
Tod and purity and less of material
rain and selfishnesss. A great many
mpty, heartless, childless homes
would have children, love and happi-
less In them. Separate standards of
wing for husband and wife would no
onger be tolerated. People would be
allied back from living beyond their
means. Much embarrassment and
lard work would be removed from
ur banking institutions because few
r short accounts, overdrafts and for
'eries would occur. Neither would
he community with and through its
Ulcers be compelled to look after a
,t Of children on the streets, and es-
ecially young girls at late hour in
he night.
There would surely be startling
evelations and revolutions in our
ublic school system. Students pass
ig through our schools would have
lore altruism and less selflshness
lore good English and less profan-
y and cigarettes on our streets.
esus would say to each teacher, BE
lou clean; Blessed are the pure In
cart Every teacher would have
ne pattern, the Model Teacher.
"Unfair practices and policies
'ould be rooted out Of business or
anizations, and more perfectly
commercial system
ould be necessary. Strict honesty
nd truthfulness among merchants,
'urtesy to customers and from
lem would obtain.
Society Would Change
Society would be cleaned up. II
woman is down, everybody kicks
er but the man who put her down
ay be hero and is respected. II
ssus were here, he would tag every
erson so that when we would
eet a man on the street the world
ould know If he were a prosti-
tie, a thief or an honest man.
and crap shooting would
Ave to 60 with a lot Of street loaf
g and vulgarity. Jesus would
" to the public official, You can
vt govern as my people should be
'verned unless you are a follower
Me-
'Last winter when the folks
lought they were to see a leg
low,' all the standing room of one
our entertainment houses was
ken. On the same evening when
Harold Bell Wright play was be-
g presented, a fair audience at
nded and on the same evening
hen great music company was
wing one Of the greatest pro-
ANS Of the year in the splendid
ew high school auditorium, only
IF crowd was in attendance. I
n afraid that II Jesus were here
J would saw as OF old. This men,