The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-04-21

to our religious duties, failing to read
the word Of God and to pray daily,
to attend church services regularly.
We cannot believe our Lord will ex-
cuse any one from attending all the
services Of his church after he has
declared his allegiance for the king
dom, unless providentially Kindred.
The financial appeals of the church
causes him to grumble and he can
see no good reason why the church
should be calling for SO much money.
The writer has known individuals
and communities to become bank
rupt as a result of dealing in cotton
futures or in some wild cat specula-
tion. but has yet to learn of an indi-
vidual or community bankrupt by
1t is readily recalled how Gods own
people, the Israelites, suffered as a
| result Of this ungodly spirit 1t rep
resented Him that he had made man
and but for Moses their fearless lead
er who boldly plead with God, man
in all probability would have been
leSterminated. The ancient cities Of
Sodom and Gomorrah. Babylon,
IChorazin, Bethesaida and Jerusalem
were destroyed because of indiffer-
ence. While every nation upon the
earth has falln except our own great
nation We have a lesson from the past
which teaches us that should we
drift into this great stream of indif-
ference the same fate awaits us as a
nation. Less than fifty percent of our
population are not members of any
branch of the church and while am
far from passing judgment l am
afraid that not ten percent Of these
lives is as God would have them. 1t
was this spirit in Napoleon disregard
ing the rights and liberties of others
that came near wreckIng or destroy
ing France. Great Britian's disregard
for her colonies caused the Revolu-
tionary war. Germany's lack of faith
in God and the twentieth century
Icivilization incurred the great world
war. while the North disregarded the
South and war was brought on be-
tween the States. With all the faults
and shortcomings however of this
Indifferent class they are not alto
gether unappreciative or desirable.
They should not retard the religious
or physical progress of anyone in
tentionally but on the other hand
would do all in their power to furth-
er same if it had only occurred to
them. They are simply unfortunate in
life and there is an opportunity r
them to repent.
The class however to which 1 re-
fer now. the moralist is more pois-
onous to the world and mankind than
the sting of an asp, probably robbing
the Kingdom of more souls than any
one sin.
To this class the Sermon on the
Mount offers no efficacy in this life
and nothing that is sweet or assur-
Ing in the life beyond. Their religion
is confined to the brain only. Their
attitude on all life is of a mental ma
ture. They can brilliantly relate the
great work accomplished by our Lord
while on this earth but they fail to
make Personal Savior of him. They
subscribe to the letter of the law as
did the rich young ruler who came
to Jesus by night. The joy (Which
passeth all understanding" never en-
ters into their lives. They emphatical-
ly claim that no man knows when
he passes from death unto life, or
when Jesus comes into his heart. He
is exceedingly careful as to his So
cial standing and would say or do
nothing that would bring discredit
upon him for anything. He is usual
ly more popular with the masses
than Gods people. He is harsh crit
ic and is full of egotism. If indeed
the church or his neighbor is full Of
the Christ spirit he recognizes them
as fanatics. He usually attends Sum
day school and church but never
prayer-meeting and boasts that he is
J just as good or better than those who
do these things. Unlike the indiffer-
ent class there is little if any probab-
ility OF his ever entering the King
dom of God or heaven.
The writer offers no apology for
writing what may be termed a. relig-
lous article to the secular press. Our
people are so full of the reduction in
cotton acreage and fertilizers, strin-
gency of the money market and poll
tics that diversion might be of some
service
We are passing through the most
perilious time in the worlds history
and We should live as near the cross
as possible of him who gave his life
for us. Then and not until then will
the innumerable evils in our lives be
reduced to minimum and our lives
Ill harmony with divine life.
LITTLE BOY DROWNS