The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-15
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cause III IS eSLmSu IL ACS q uAhhsho0S - AaSh' ~ WV
mines the development or decay Of communities. It's the means
Of lifting or depressing the life of the whole country"
Civilization is founded upon two Observation-Disclosures in
the arts, sciences and literature and the moral principles OF
Il hristtanit 1t will not survive, unless there is q combination :.
Of material progress with the spiritual element. Rome was
the eonquerer of the world, but the only part OF its civilization
that has survived is the Roman or Civil Law, which was founded
upon justice, equity and morality.
When the institutes Of Justinian were being prepared the
codi6ers compared their work as It progressed, with the moral
precepts Of the Bible; and it is by reason Of the fact that the
Civil Law is based upon principles Of morality, justice and equity,
that it is recognized today in fve-axths Of the nations OF the
world.
The following language from Frondes sketch OF Caesar,
shows how Romes civilization was destroyed BY the blishting ef-
fects Of great wealth, not only upon the masses OF the people,
but upon the owners when used for unlawful purposes:
IA constitutional government the most enduring and Ii.
most powerful that ever existed was put on it's TRIAL and found
wanting. We see It in it growth; We see the cause which IN on
dermined its strength. vi see attempts to check the growing
mischief fail, and we see why they fail. .,~.....- ..,,
Il was an age Of material progress and material civilization,
an age Of civil liberty and intellectual culture. The rich were were
extravagant for life had ceased to have any practical interest,"
except for it's material pleasures. Religion, once the foundanon
Of laws and rule Of personal conduct, had subsidized into Opinion.
The educated in their hearts disbeieved it. Temples were stl
built with increasing ~spendor; the established forms were
scrupuloussly observed. Public men spoke conventionany OF
Providence that they might throw on their opponents the odlom
Of impicty; but of genuine belief that life had any serious mean
ing, there was none remaining beyond the circle Of The silent,
patient, ignorant multitude. ... -
The difficulty Of conduct does not lie in knowing what is
RIGHT to do, but in doing it when known. Intellectual culture
does not touch the conscience. It provides no motives to over
come the weakness of the will, and with wider knowledge it also
brings new temptations.
With all his wealth there were but two things the Roman
noble could buy-poltical power and luxury. The elections once
ru,e became matters of annual bargain between himself and his
supporters. The Romans ceased to believe and in losing their
faith, they became as steel becomes when it is dennagnetisee;
the spiritual duality was gone out of them, and the high society
of Rome itself became a society Of powerful animals, with an
enormous appetite for pleasure"
In regard to the problem of capital and labor, we have an
instance of the manner in which the differences between the en-
ployers and the employees were successfully adjusted. Several
years ago there was a strike in New. Zealand. After the en-
ployees and their families were almost reduced to a state Of star
walton, they surrendered but not until they had caused their en-
ployers to sustain great financial loss. There were men on both
sides in that strike who were determined, if possible, to prevent
a recurrence Of such an event. The employers instead OF gloat-
ing over their victory went to the employees and expressed their
deep sympathy for their suffering and suggested that the two
parties agree upon a plan that would do justice to all parties con-
cerned. The employees entered into the spirit OF the suggeS
ton. The parties agreed upon a plan but recognized the fact
that the public through its proper officials was a necessary party
to their agreements, thus in effect making three parties to their
contracts.
Legislation was enacted carrying into effect such plan, and
the method of forcing higher wages by a resort to the strike was
abandoned.
The parties in New Zealand successfully resorted to the
Golden Rule as the basis for the settlement of their industrial
disputes which is as follows: GAIL things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do We even so to them" Ims rue
was promulgated Dy III NV uuHuico "a oSVAS S"N0
in a negative form, to wit: EDO not unto others that which you
would not have them do unto you" Furthermore it was adopted by
Justinian five hundred years after Christ in these words: Live
honestly, do no hurt to any man, render to every one his dues"
The Golden Rule was not intended merely for the spiritual
guidance of individuals in order that they might enter the King
dom of God but likewise, for the conduct of mankind in their
temporal affairs. 1t was one of the principal rules followed by
John Hay, one of our greatest diplomats, while holding the office
of Secretary of State. He was asked what rules he relied upon
in dealing with other nations, he replied that the principal ones
woro h Eo1dan Pu1o and the Monroe doctrine.
Neither this country nor any other nation can hope to solve
its problems, until there is a change of heart and the spiritual
quality becomes the dominating influence through the adoption
of the Golden Rule.
In a material aspect Germany, perhaps had no superior IN
efficiency, yet her lack of the spiritual quality, due to the fact
that she defed the Golden Rule, was tie principal cause of her
downfall. ."'. ~ ~... ..' So.
"The perpetuity of 8 nation depends not upon its material
petty achievements; it depends not upon its culture or its learn
ing; not upon it's castles; not upon it's right living alone. 1t de-
ponds upon finding for itself the secret Of the worlds life, upon
its finding for itself the spirit, the informing spirit which makes
a nation to live because it is doing the work of the Divine Ruler