Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-27
A LAY SERMON
BY Richard II. Edmontls, Editor Man.
ufacturers Record.

We constantly hear that the world
is looking to America for spiritual
leadership. This is not wholly true,
but, If il were the worlo would look in
vain until America ceased to be phar.
asaical as to it's own righteousness
and realize that sin and crime and ir-
religion are rampant throughout the
land.
Until America has a new baptism
of righteousness, until the protesting
Christians of the land realize their
own shortcomings, and consecrate
their lives, their time, their talents or
brain and money to the service of God
ana man, until politicians and bust
ness men, employers and employees,
producers and consumers alike, give
full heed to the Divine Command to
love the Lord thy God with al thy
heart and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thy
sef, and do unto others as they would
that they should do unto them, there
will be no righteousness of nation fit
to lead the spiritual forces of the world
to higher ground.
There is spreading over our land
the accursed athci9tic teachings of
German philosophy, more powerful for
evil than were all Germany's armies
and navies, and If America does not
give heed to this menace its downfall
will be as certain as was Germany's.
The life of the nation, its every busl-
ness interest, in the bank, in the fac
tory or on the farm, is staked upon n
new and powerful call 20 righteous
living and Christian service. When
moral rottenncss exists unbluShing in
places of great financial power as re-
Gently shown in New York, without
loss Of caste, when men lie and che1t
In business, when men seek to wreck
others for their own personal gain or
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or power, whom men
murder others because they are V illing
to work the domination OF alien radi-
cal labor leaders, and 80 unpunishcd
for their crimes and are commended
by their fellow members; when n great
government institution year after year
seeks by backmailing or bulldoz!ng TO
force others into its power Or else 10
destroy them, and no national protest is
made. and thousa nds of business men
OF ht, orli In
difference, and refuse to fight against
the immortality; when the roluptuous
dances that would have disera2ed even
corrupt Rome and Ephesus at their
worst sweep over the land; when men
of position and influence proclaim that
some laws cannot be enforced because
the criminal power is greater tiinn the
governments and that the criminal
element must therefore be given full
sway by repeating the laws the Grim
inals do not like, what right has our
country to claim the spiritual power
to lead the world?
On monument erected in one Of
LIle HlBHCSl piSSt5 vi the NiNlto ~
commemorate u peaceful settlement
of n threatened war between Chile
and Argentine. are carved the words:
Sooner shall these mountains crum-
BILE into dust than Chill and Argentine
break the peace which at the feet Of
Christ the Redccmcr they have sworn
IN maintain,
Until America in the spirit of that
pledge puts GSidc AL self righteous
ness. sees its own shortcomings rs Al
mighty God sees them. and humbly
seeks Divine forgiveness and Divine
wisdom, il cannot become Il real
spiritual leader OF the world, for it
cannot hold aloft the uplifted Christ
as the only salvation of the world from
sin and wars. The welfare of busi-
ness, the safety of our country and of
the world from wars and endless
crimes, are stakcd on this, and woe
bctide our future if we fail to read the
signs of the times and call the nation
TO a revival of religion, pure and un-
dcfiled. In vain will we talk diSarm;: =
mcnt. in vain will we dccry war and
expect peace while the world is ruled
by sin and while America fails to fiji
itself to become moral and spiritual
leader of mankind.