South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-26
WHY DESPERATE THE CONSTITUTION
AND CHRISTIANITY BY MIXING
AT SO IMPROPER a TIME
rIDEVER go Il - b -

w is Christian nation: well. he must be
lust another one Of those pharisaic gentlemen who
think declaration Of law makes thing true, even
though it De false and who recognizing that Chris
DAINTY has failed 90 Chrstianze IN fact. would
desecrate both the constitution and Christianity by
substituting for the fact with legalized theory.
A constitutional declaration OF tho Christianity
OF the United states will no more make Of Us a
Christian nation than a profession Of faith IN a
Christian church makes a Christian. Chris
tiany regardless OF declarations or professions is
a fact not theory. The theologlans have in some
respects been ChristianIty's worst enemies There
is enough hypocrisy in the Sin God we trust that
dscorates our American dollar. Among the bright
spots IN the late Theodore Roosevelts life was
his effort 10 have that hypocrisy removed.
Despite our 3e.OO0.O6O professions OF faith:
thousands OF church spires piercing the heavens;
ne bells that summon US 10 worship; colleges
on a thousand hills; hospitals and other phil
anthropic institutions; schools and parks. and
modes OF transportation our industries. commercial
system and count what you will-sgnihcant OF
Christian civizaGon,-ve are still. a people. the
most tenacious pagans the face OF the eartn.
We have never learned how 70 use these things
for Christian service, but the contrary seek to
appropriate them all TO our own personal adj
vantage. which is rnaunmonish-and you cannot
serve God and mammon.
This is rot suggesting tina. all should quit
work and run up and down the streets praising
cod; that men must become so Dramatically Tious
that they must breath the name of Jesus in their
every speech should give UP everything else
70 a study OF the Bible. or that industry and com
merce must surrender TO the commune. II doesn't
indorse the Sunday blue laws that being
proposed to congress; nay, nor the and-tobaoco
fanatcisnl. Doubtful Jesus would indorse any Of
those things. He might countenance them 81 ne
thought It would be better protection TO society.
but individuaIlst, no never very long
on making men good TO themselves by law 1t Is the
spirit which pursue Hfe's work that
makes us Christian or not; the spirit in our lives
not the Language OF tongues.
What IS the spirit OF the United States today;
ne prevailing spirit? You know what It is; sori!d
selfish, distrustful-and excusably so.-everybody
in quest his own, determined to get all that
he can while the getting Is good The spirit Of
service dead II not dead, at least cornatose
Pretty much everyone is doing little and ex-
changing little they possibly can, for the most
hat they possibly get.
Landlords are proceeding upon the theory tina:
with the other costs OF living coming down their
tenants should have more money with which TO pay
rents: too. with the present high price of eggs
The hen that not laying at least day should
Je ashamed 10 eat the farmer corn but she Isn't
These are only illustrations The preacher governor
Of Florida who is threatening to go after an editor
with a double -barreled shotgun loaded with
buckshOt" exhibits indications of miltancy rather
man an exposure OF the other cheek.
Which IS the gist OF the whole matter. No dues-
ton but that the law OF the survival OF the Attest
is a natural law. but Christianity proposes 10 LEI
nature #. and itself work at raising the
standards OF fitness. We have out-Nletzscheized
Nietzsche since the close or the world war. We are
az literally worshipping force and might against
ruth and right the plotters OF Potsdam did
~ IL Christian for them. Il isn't us-and
we cannot Ss Christian nation, constitutional
amendment or no constitutional amendment, until
We get out Of that rut
we pray and Iegisats, and iegislate and pray.
and Pile up professions OF faith until their echoes
resemble the ancient rams horn the discord and
bray or which caused Jericho 70 fall but until the
IA jority OF u.s. and the majority At our lives
and our purposes m life. to our prayers and our
preaching, cannot have Christian nation
Whatever sets at the summit or mans ambition
- bis God; profess what he will II may DO gold
70 may be learning It may be pleasure. It may oe
sensual; may De self-sradfying influence or power
Just nov, fear. IL Is greed for gold and for
power.
I, has bssn said that beauty explains Greece, and
glory Rome; that wealth the Vice Of Spain.
hcklsness the plague OF France; that power is ever
Ensland's dream. Well. what OF America? We are
indeed. nation OF many bloods and many races
The IDEAL UPON which shall eventually stand be-
fore the world has suffered come awful setbacIls
Of late. Let's not amend the constitution and de-
clare ourselves Christians until have readjusted
ourselves pre-war basis OF Christian idealisns
az least.
The proposal Is decidedly inopportune. Just now
We hypocrideal enough a nation without
having It read into our fundamental law.