The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY BEN NEWsOME

crncd, not for the personal pleasure
OF those IN auth lrity. The proper
motive OF officials is not to enrich
themselves but to serve the people.
otherwise there IN no excuse for the
existence or government II there
is no recognition of the rights OF
others, no protection Of the weak, no
promotion OF the common good
why would it not bc better TO live
without any authority
Community Good First.
The fundamental idea OF the
scheme of democratic government
like ours Is that each man must
yield some OF his rights and privi-
lcgcs for the common good OF all
The man who thinks he has license
to do the best he can for himself
and ignore the rest of humanity Is
contrary TO the cdiCt Of the creator
and to the plan of government. Every
man Is granted tho fullest measure
Of individual right UP 10 tn" point
where he impinge5 on the rights OF
another or inflicts a damage on the
community In which he lives, Each
CitiZon must contribute a share Of
personal sacrifice in order that his
ncighbOrhood may have equal rights
with himself. The man who Is pos
sessed OF so much authority or In
flucnCe or money that he cag have
his way at the cost Of loss to his fell
low men is following the lead Of
Ahab and the Lord condemns him
for It. The use Of the injunction as
method Of restraining corpora
lions or individuals from infliCting
wrong on citizens is laudablc. but
not 20 when II IL used ms a method
Of contributing TO individual pleasure
OF gain by blocking the activities Of
n public service which would con
tribute moro 10 the happiness nnd
convenience Of the general public
than any damage II does TO the OBJ
icCtor. And the courts arc' often
guilty OF granting these trivial in
functions without any substantial
plea for their necessity, except tn"
plea Of Ahab. that it gratificd him
self to purchase tho vineyard Of Ma
both.
Rights and Duties,
Our duties are clrcumacrlbcd by
tho rights Of others. No mans
whims are supreme and none should
DE granted that imposes a wrong
on somebody else. Jesus did not at
tempt to issue code OF laws TO guide
human conduct lie put men in
possession OF great moral principles
and left them 90 make the appllCa-
tiOn. Just principles are plim 10
be understood our only error Is
when we wrongly apply them. No
one has a right by violence or fraud
to take the property Of another says
Doctor Eachus. TO which we viii
all say amen But people do II
frequently and many Of such sinncrH
maintain piOus dcmcanOr and claim
to De Of Gods people, but their
sins, as are murder and theft. No
one may utter false statements o.
sIandorous words against another,
for "a good name Is valuable prop
crty No one may take advantage
of the necessities the misfortuncs or
the Ignorance Of others. Profltoer-
ing IN business, taking advantage
of legal tochuicalities keeping with
in the letter OF the law but yiOlat
ing It's spirit are forhidd =. And
every man has tho inalicnahlc right
TO think his own thoughts have hiH
own beliefs, and have his approach
TO God in the way that approves IT.
self 10 his own conscience, The
Christian should he more than iust,
He should be kind and generous ana,
like Paul think not so highly Of his
own rights as Of his obligations ia
his fellow man. The law OF rights
should give way 10 the law OF love,
brOthcrliness and service
An InoOnVcnIcnt Religion.
Ahab believed In his authority. He