The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-17
CHRIST IANITY Is
 BEST INVESTMENT
 SAYS DR. GARDNE R
"DoeS It Pay?" Asks EnSley Baptist Pastor, and Shows Why Answer Is in the
 Affirmative
By DAVID M. GARDNER Pastor EnsIey Baptist Church.)


 Christianity is. and has ever been the chief contributor to civilization
 Churches are and have always been the chief factors fin expressing. in- terpreting and propagating Christian principles.
 Does it pay to be good? Not "goody" good. Does living up to and living out Christian principles help or hinder the progress of the indi- vidual, the city, state and world? We must keep in mind that "a fundamen- tai law of civilization is that political and religious life travel on parallel roads"
 Tn answering the question before us, let us get away from pious plati- tudes and glittering generalities. We are not talking about the heaven we hope to reach beyond this life, but competing with the angels In estab fishing a heaven here upon earth Not that we will actually succeed but:
 "A mans reach should exceed his
 grasp,
 Or else what's heaven for?"
 The modern cold blooded business man wants the question answered in terms that touch his individual life. also his business and civic relation ships. His question is:
 1. Does it pay physically? I have before me an insurance policy with a photographic copy of the questions and answers given in application for such insurance. Out of the 27 ques tions I was not asked directly: Are you a Christian" But l was called upon to answer questions relating to my moral conduct and habits And the church of which I am a member has helped me and insisted that I so live as to enable me to give such an swers as the insurance company de- manded. In other words. every in- surance company knows that right living tends to lengthen life and therefore, makes the subject a bet ter risk.
 Furthermore. right living not only helps me physically. but it will also tell upon my offspring. Medical science confirms the teachings of the Bible that The sins of the father are visited upon the children even to the third and fourth generation" By the application of Christian principles to individual life, 1 pronounce blessing upon my posterity. I must therefore keep in mind that am living physi- cally for at least four generations.
 Again, it is easy to observe that right living tends to sweeten old age. Who are the happiest old people among your acquaintances? Not those who have opposed God in life, Not those who have lived for self. But those
 "Who so live, that when the summons
 comes
 TO join the innumerable caravan, That moves to yon mysterious realm That they go not as the quarry
 slaves at night
 Scourged to their dungeons.
 Rut soothed and sustained by an un-
 falterng trust
 Approach their graves,
 As one who wraps the drapery Of his
 couch about him.,
 And lies down to pleasant dreams.
 2. Does it pay intellectually? The Christians text book, the Bible, un- occasionally contains the secret and foundation of all knowledge. The vast majority of the scholars of the world regard the Bible as the book of all books. Another fact worthy of consideration, is that the vast majority of the scholars of the world today are outstanding Chris tians. The man who holds the medal as the highest scholar of Italy is an Italian Baptist preacher. The man who holds the distinction as the leading Greek scholar of the world is an American christian teacher. The leading statesmen, journalists and scientists of the world are Chris tians of the pronounced type. In face of these facts. it is evident that either the Christian religion inspires the human mind to strive for the ac- quisition of knowledge, or the ac- quisition of Knowledge, leads to the acceptances of the Christian religion. Which is true? I would say both. There is professionally some influ- ence in the teachings of Christianity that inspires one 10 strive for the highest intellectual and moral att tainments. It is equally true that knowledge is destined to lead one to embrace Christianity.
 Name the leading national charac- ters of the world today, then ob- serve that nine out of ten are en- thusiastic Christians. Lloyd George the first man of England is a Chris tian. The presidents of the United States from Washington to Harding,