Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-09
MANY in PATH
OF DESTRUCTION
MINISTER
Half of Great Falls Youths in
Bad Way, Declares the
Rev. TOtten.

text and sermon follow:
Thus saith the Lord, Stand We in the
ways and see, and ask for the old
paths, wherein is the good way, and
walk therein; and you shall find rest
for your souls.-Jeremiah vi, 16.
WI are in a world of trouble today,
just as the prophet Jeremiah found it
in his day, and largely for the same
reasons. Their world was upset by con-
tinuous wars and international strifes
just as our world is today. Their indus
try and trade was paralyzed as ours is
today by the economic waste, political
laundering and international riValries
and ~jealousies. Selfishness was the
ruling passion and all spirit of coop
GRAFTON and good will was lost. States
men had no vision that led to a sue
cessful future. Clouds of horrors were
in the air and hope died in the despair
for the progress of the individual and
the race. The burden of taxes blasted
the hopes of profits and the decline OF
all values took the heart out of all en-
deavor.
No Hope for Security
The hope of a little secure retreat
for a home, the prospect Tor an old
age security and the thought OF a Sc
rene and happy life had gone with the
ravages Of fire and sword hat nad
swept the land with the successive
waves of ~barbarians that had swept
like a scourge over the peaceful iapd.
Hesitation held the legislative halls
and doubt lurked in the hearts of all
who looked to governments for relief
and guidance. All the stable and once
reliable things had become a quiverlng
bog. No footing was found for the
march of life and the lamp OF worldly
wisdom had gone out in the fierce
winds of adversely. In the darkness
and confusion brave hearts became as
wax and faith became a ferVent heat
In the midst of this darkness and
gloom appears the man of light.
jeremiah, the statesman-prophet,
appears with a message directly from
God. 1t was a SURE word of prohecy
and the cropping and bewildered people
were commanded to halt in their per-
plexity and to think.
The living God is in his heavens TO-,
day. He has not forgotten or deserted
the flying world, though at times we
think He has given it over to madness
and folly.
Stand in the way where the streams
of humanity pass. Take a look at the
mad rush. the ways they are gong.
ting anywhere? They have been fever
ishIy rushing after gold. They have
grabbed at the cost of God, soul and OF
their salvation.
They have gained a share of the
world but lost their immortal soul IN
the bad barter. We have scrambled
for stocks and bonds. for lands and
property and we have it. 1t is nothing
but vanity. Its value has gone IN fear.
All those guilt edge securities and Ger
tificates of your earthly wealth are as
valueless as the confederate script or
the German mark. You are ready to
say with the wise man of Ecclesiastes,
1T has been a striving after wind
One man heapeth up riches, another
scattereth it as dust IN the wind.
Desert House of Worship
/ Stand in the ways of our cities, note
the passing of the people. How was it
| Yesterday. on the day dedicated to
the living God? His house OF prayer
was deserted for ducks and fish. The
speed of the automobile n the AIR
plane has been bearing them away TO
freedom. No restraints of laws OF
| God or man.; pleasure is the God and
the delight of every pulsing passion is
the goal. Few and short are u days,
we say, and we must spend them in the
| feryent heat of the chase after each
new phantom of excitement or soul in
~tOxication.
The Bible is in the discard with
all the teaching of an age of Cody
parents. The Ten Commandments are
laid on the table by a twO-thirds ma
jOrity, and the Sermon o N the Mount
is lost in the vague dreams of a lost
integrity. Libraries and churches are
neglected and the places of passion and
| pleasure are filled to OVERLOOKING. The
| Christ is crucified afresh by those who
once confessed His name and with
their lips took the sacred communion.
The home fires of the family affairs
have been smothered by the smoke and
debris of the dissolute life. The di-
vorce court is in a nip and tuck race
with the minister of God in destroying
homes faster than he al create them.
Pure love is turning to, lust and no
fair flower of paradise can walk our
| streets and escape the diabolical sug-
gestions of the Sodomites who seek to
| pervert ever the few angls who visit
the earth.
Fathers and mothers of Great Falls,
! adjure you, in the name of the living
God, that you get up from your couches
of ease and take a look at the death
march of the multitudes OF the youth
of our city who are marching to sure
destruction!
Says Youth Strays Away
Sixteen millions of the youth OF
America are not in any Sunday school
or place of moral or religious instruc-
tion One-half of the Young people OF
Great Falls would fail in a simple ex-
animation on the Ten Commandments,
! the Sermon on the Mount and the vital
laws of life that have made the ~civiliza-
| ton that we boast of.
The Bible is the basic book Of civil
ization and life. No character can bt
perfectly formed without it. No sue
cess can be prepared for without its
plans and specifications. No soul
be saved in this world or the mex
without the living Christ of the Bible,
This Bible is the guide to the high
way of life. 1t is a straight and a mar
row way, as all right ways are straight
and narrow. The way to IN education
is as straight and narrow as a bee line.
There are a thousand ways to not get
an education, but there is but n way
to get it-that is by the way of the
school, the teacher and the labor with
the book. There are a thousand ways
to go wrong but only one way that is
right. There are a thousand ways to
be u~nclean and impure but only one
way to be pure in heart and to see God