South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-27
DIR. GREENE TALKS
ON "HYPOCRITES'
Defines Term and Says Very
Few Exist Within the
Church Body.

At the First Methodist church
last evening Dr.. J. y. Greene
preached on the subject OF "Hypo-
critics. what they are and where 10
find them. lie explained that the
term "hypOcrite' was used COM
monty by the Greeks long before
modern sinners began applying It
10 erring church mem bers. Liter
ally the term means to be under
another" or cotrolled by another
person or influence The term was
originally applied TO the actor on
the stage. who was controlled by
another ideal or character not him
self The actor playing Hamlet
would not be himself. but would be
controlled by his idea Of Hamlet.
The actor Is literally a hypocrite,
because he is playing a part and is
not himself
In modern usage any one who
plays part not true 10 his real self
is hypocrite. Hypocrites in this
sense are found everywhere as well
Is IN the church. DR.. Greene spoke
OF them in the realms OF society,
commerce, politics and religion.
Continuing ne said in part;
Assume Culture.
In society some people are hy-
pocritical IN assuming culture when
real culture Is lacking. Temporal
advantage IN the way Of riches and
position is not culture. Real Gull
lure does not consist in extravag-
ance OF style but in qualities OF
heart and spirit 1t is the spirit OF
Drotherliness that grasps warmly
tho
loused with toll can enter into
sympathetic fellowship with worth
and manliness whether they be
ciCther in homespun or braa icioth.
and can overlook in a humble but
r ncere life the efrurs OF language
AMI mistakes Of etiquette bO-n IF
limited opportunity. Assuming
hnerE OF dress n0s wJIranted by ne
ocketbook, or EiLtepd!ng a friend
i7eSS for another not felt IN the
heart. are forms GO 81 al hyp Ocrisy.
Commercially men evidence the
spirit Of hypocrisy by submitting 10
the control of the craze for wealth
This is the one of the dangers Cs
our age. Many men are not them
selves but are slaves Of the financial
craze. Akin 10 il is the craze for
business supremacy. Many men
bave a desire for conquest in the
commercial world as real as that
Of Napoleon in the world of politics
They are not themselves but con-
trolled by their ambition. The re-
suit often is that they come TO be
classed where a president OF tns
United States once classed Harri-
man the railroad king, among the
undesirable citizens"
Political HvpOCrftoS
Naturally too we find hypocrites
in politics. There are several types
Of them. We have the barney with
words Of honey, who can shake
hands with the men he would not
would not recognize had he not got
ten into politics. We have the pro-
miSCuOus promiser who will pro-
mise everything before the election.
We have too, the trifler in politics.
the man who takes obligations for
the enforcement Of the laws and
then tries with his oath. and be
comes the tool of evil forces while
law and Righteousness are outraged.
When city officials permit blind
tigers TO run in defiance OF the law
and the expressed will of the people
they have shown themselves polit-
ical trifiers.
Not all the hypocrites are in the
church as some would have us be
leve In fact there are fewer hy-
critics TO the square inch in the
church than in most any other
realm in life. Not all Christians
whom the world calls hypocrites are
such Many are supposed" 70 be
hypOCrites by a badly twisted sup
position. One OF the commonest
sins in the world is the sin Of sup
posing Nevertheless, some hypO-
critics exist in the church. But tina.
is nothing 20 the discredit Of the
church nor OF the Christ who was
promised 70 deal out 10 such their
Just share of woe. The important
thing TO know is that woe follows
all forms of unreal hypOcritical liv-
ing. God gives 10 each one an ideal
Of life to reach. As we are unrea-
we defeat Gods plan. AS we are
real we help realize the divine ideal
II Is our business not 10 play a false
part, but 10 be the real men ant
women God intended us 10 be-"