Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1920-01-08
RnLlGION A FORCE
OR a FARCE FOR 1920


OF course we know thar many utter
ances OF the phrase was empty
sound. signifying nothing" But
many more were the revealing of
deep desires, Joined with the knowi-
edge that it takes both wisdom and
effort to make good wishes come
true. And those who are sincere in
their wishes will not despise counsel
in regard to the essentials for al
happy year. 1t is doubtful If the well
meaning people of the world ever
felt deeper chagrin than at the end
of 1919. 1t is nearly fourteen months
since the armistice was signed, with |
the armies that fought for human
rights; and yet at the end of that
long period of staying arms" there
was as much suffering from famine.
cold. despair. and Illustrations as on
December LIST, 1918. The reason for
this Ia that the ''idolatry of force,
as embodied in rival states had dis
closed its diabolism, to the extent
that no counsellor dared propose it's
re-enthronement. and there was no
voice that carried weight to propose
anything else: no masterfu body OF
people in fact who believe in any
thing else. BIT there veto great souls
who knew all the t;llr. not inerely !
since August 1914 hut since 81 GER
tain day in Eden thai God VIII. ,
L., 7
options for humankind. \ few of =
these have been bold enough to get =
themselves crucifled for holling ond =
uttering their faith. But it Is not y
possible to refute this Indictment in 4
a recent publication; 1.-The Christians V
constituting the Church today do Z
not know how to frame a social or
der founded on moral knowledge
that will work as successfully as the
physical order ordained by the I
State" And again, "They do not
know how to re-organize the instltu [
tons of private property in the inter
est of human liberty and social pro-
gress''
But there are indications that inn
becility on this point is passing !,
There are STRINGS in the Church :.
which make it very hard for one to
repeat h
My Soul II
Would sit and sing herself away s
To everlasting bliss
There are also uttefances from q
without that signify a new IooH to y
ward the Mountain from whence help =
cometh. The words of Editor Henry "
Watterson, have already been quoted
in the Enterprise, but they will bear
repeating: is
Democracy is meaningless word e
without the Religion of Christ to
make it an actual program q
Also from the Pittsburgh Globe" .
editorial Divine intervention land u
Divine aid, to a people on their n,
knees in prayer, is the only hope of b,
saving our Nation from .ne plunge W
into Chaos oil
Vice-President Marshall greets us IN
at the dawn CT the year with this: g
The bla IN .ss OF despair would ser :. :.
tie over cur laEl bit Cor the fact 70
that now aDid sth Faith, Hope, and NJ
Love faith that a deeper knowledge S,
q the worth of our institutions will
bs impaired to every son and daugh
Ter OF the Republic-hope that all
men will turn more and more from IA
he contemplation of Their Rights. u, n
% consideration of their Duties =, -,
owe to all those who are enbittered -,
~ real or fancied wrongs, but who Ct,
!ro not vicious" rel
And to turn again to Mr.. Croly's to,
Indictment of the Church, referred an
o above, he has this for construc- mi
i've conclusion 1.-The love and rever gr'
nee for human life born Of the imi up
alton Of Christ Is the truth that can wv
ct men free. They who hold 1t could ~.
ontriye Immediately operative meth no
dis of liberation, and they could ~
uild civilization whose security SIN
,onld rest upon the moral authority Wis
I a Church, not upon the victorious
orce OF Nation. Such a Church
ill consist of men aud women who
Understand what 1t means to '1oyo sal
our netghbor as yourself, and are me-
apab!e of living in that light to a.,
ne end of their days" COZ
i is quite certain that few out Is
de the membership of the church call
are aware OF the awakening al, VIII,
sady effected. Unless we be repro, girl
ate we will never again allow II n sec
unchallenged, that the reason for Ina
nman associations into government ,la'
TO get advantage for ourselves aor
enceforth II Religion is to prove how
rec and not farce 1t will be recos, stu,
zed that to perfect men into the tere
zenaaS Of God 10 tho oulv c+o+oc fest