Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1920-06-24

W.
/ sion, uncertainty,
= fear taking hold
of the masses Is there any indication
that there is similar staggering in our
day?
What is stable nowadays? Witness
the uncertainty, unrest, agitation, so
c1al confusion The holiday season
that has just passed has been one of
the most remarkable in the history of
the country-a period of wild extrav-
agance, indeed, of de1irium, with
utter disregard to God and religion.
and to even the commonplace of NOR
atty The contentious in industrial
life are more bitter than ever. One
strike follows another In rapid sue
cession. In the moral sphere we find
that there is an increase in profan-
fty. dissertation of the Lords day
and sensuality-aH of this notwith-
standing the formal destruction of the
liquor traffic AS a rule churches are
empty or sparsely attended, or, where
the congregations are large, the peo-
pie are attracted to them for the same
reason that they attend the movies
entertainment; there being, of
course, some exceptions. Orthodox
churches fraternfze freely with Ifber-
al and skepticaI churches, because
they are not sufficiently consecrated
to maintain the truth at sacrifice to
themselves. yet fear to give up all
gering-and why?
Men Are Blind.
The first of the reasons for similar
conditions in Israel assigned in our
context is that the people were blind.
They did not see. They had so per
sistently declined to see, that God had
taken away from them the power to
see- The blindness of today is chief
~ spiritual. Men will not look at the
truth Many in Christian churches to-
day are not informed on what is in the
Bible, simply because they will not
open their eyes to see. They have
been taught to believe certain things.
and when anything different is present
ed, their prejudice prevents investiga-
tion- While declining to go over to
the ranks of the rejectors of the truth
openly, they withdraw from active
Christian work and sink into the mass
of the non-churchgofng world.
Man says, 81 am not learned Is it
true that today we have a condition
of ignorance as to religious truth? In
vestigate the so-cal1ed purveyors of
truth of today. They are either fg-
norant of the truth, or, being informed
of the truth, are false to 1t. Do the
preachers know the truth? Or, if they
know the truth, are they so degen
as to conceal it? Ignorance Of the
truths of the Christian religion is the
uh0cEiylAS cause OI tie success Oh re-
Hgfous fads of the day. The knowI-
edge of the truth is a bulwark against
error. 1T is not sufficient for a man
to say, ST am not 1earned;'' he ought
to be learned.
The prophet says that it is because
| the leaders of the people are blind
and ignorant ssThe prophets and your
rulers and seers hath he covered The
| true prophet, the good leader, God has
| taken away; but unfortunately there
| are those who pose in their places and
The seers of today are mere guessers
| at the truth, giving out but the '<pre-
cepts of men"
What Is the Remedy
| Let the leaders and the people open
| their eyes to the truth. But where
are we to find the truth?'' one asks.
There is just one answer: We are
/ to find that truth in the Bible. We
do not have any hesitation In saying
1 that we should stand on the old Book.
The Catholic church broke down AT
/ ter many centuries of trial, and Prot
/ eStantfSm came to the front; but
now Professionalism is breaking down
| The church has lost its grip. and its
present movement to rehabflitate it
/ self by such efforts as the raising OF
vast sums of money and by scientific
| Investigation and organization Is
/ doomed to failure God In these
movements is largely forgotten. what
| ever may be the protestaIons 20 the