The Denver Jewish news., 1922-01-18

lf 1t be said that evil SIN ana dis-
cease have been in the world through
out generations and centuries and that
thus far in our battle with these we
have miserably failed, the only answer
that needs to be made Is that no
truly high effort is failure. On the
ether hand, deny that the battle with
evil and disease in the world has
been failure If failure there has
been, it was inevitable because OF the
stupendous and overwhelming i'm
mensity of the task. The battle with
disease has been one of the noblenesses
of the human race. Some terrible
diseases and scourgcs of humankind
have been conquered. Others are on
the way to being overcome. The time
may soon be when there Will be
minimum of disease in the world, not
because of verbal denial OF the faets
but because of ceaseless and unrelent-
ing conflict Herewith.
Within a century we have looked
upon some mighty victories In the
war Of science with disease. Small
pox has been almost eradicated: ::
typhoid can be overcome: tuberculosis
is coming to its last stand against the
resistless determination of n righteous
ly socialized human will. Human in
genuity and diligence and skill and
wisdom are pitting themselves ms
never before against those diseases
which have tlesolated and rayaged the
human race in past ages. To hold
that the battle with disease has been
vain is not only to speak that which
is untrue but to belittle some Of the
noblest services and achievements that
been wrought by the human mind and
will
Take the battle with evil and dis
ease and sin out of the world and life
becomes little more than drenry,
vapid. inane, lotus-eatins carnival
Leave diseas Sc and evil unchallenged
and not only will these overcome man
but man will not remain worth saw
ing. 1t is his endless battle with
the forces of wrong and sin in the
world that are mans redeeming, that
constitute his transfiguration.
This pulpit will not be misunder-
stood when it declares that it rejoices
in rather than deplores any honest
challenge that comes to church or
synagog from the world without, from
any one of the great forces in the
world today. / rejoice in the Ethical
Movement founded generation ago
under the high leadership of DIR. Felix
Adler, for it performed service of
very grcnt value to the cnusc of re-
ligion in america. For that move
mcnt rendered to religious societies OF
America of all creeSls the very great
service Of helping them to see that the
minimum emphasis must be upon the
outward form and rite and the maxi
mum upon inward righteousness. 1t
was the Ethical Society which through
the powerful voice of its leader made
thew Arnold that conduct is three.
fourths Of religion. This great truth
synagog and church needed to learn
anew and they have learned it in part,
nor will they ever forget it,
Again / rejoice in the challenge
which comes to all organized church
I,.I tnl; TOT ant
that challenge which has resulted in
n new insistenee on the part of the
wiser and more prophetic of the lead
crs of the church--evcry church shall
emphasize that religion must mean the
right ordering of human relationships
that the world of human affairs
must be sOciaIized or rc-socialiZed
that. marking back to the unforget-
table accents of the Prophet Amos,
Justice must flow like waters and
righteousness as a mighty stream.
This is my charge against Christian
Science. 1t points TO no new duties.
1t imposes no new burdens. 1t offers
10 new responsibilities. 1t makes no
new demands. Its pathway is that
of least resistance. 1t is II revival i'll
or transfer to, the religious world of
what in the economic world has long
been known as the laissezfairc theory.
The cause of the strength ana
growth of Christian Science is not far
10 seek Men yearn for health and
strength and youth. and more than
ever at such time as this when the
forces that are operative against
health and tranquility are numerous
and compelling. To those who urge,
that one cannot hope to do battle cf-
fectively against Christian Science m
less one has something to offer to men
1T I