Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-30
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE RELIGION OF, CONSERVATION
By j. =. E;ubnnk .


Ezekiel xxNIx 10.
In the earlier development of civilization
under tho teaching of the great lawpiycr
Moses and OF the prophets OF later ages
'he observance Of Gods established laws
wer" insisted upon as being absolutely es-
Seh'iai I" tho enjoyment Of temporal biess-
ingS. aud. consequently. OF immunity from
nose '"ic'lons which have not only brought
:" "'"'h OF sorrow and despair to the human
race. hn, have In the slow processes OF time
5" undermined the strength of mighty ma
tons that many them have pcrishcd from
the face OF the earth.
h"htc' religious effort largely devoted
10 appeals TO the people to be truo To Gods
laws as they had been taught TO know them
'"a' 'hry might enjoy the fun measure OF
happiness and prosperity that is promised to
All as tho result OF such observance These
appeals were In reality tho expression of a
rue S'a'esnanshtp seeking to the ac-
''N''ies or the people into those channels
winch make t"- national safety and progress
ana individual felicity, II concerned itself
nov win spiritual disquisitions concerning
In" i"'' OF the soul after it" departure from
inc h"dF' hut rather with teaching the pco-
III" now To live this mundane sphere
jesus understood why tho law given
man ana the necessity for obedience to It.
!" "r"eT that humanity might become tho
l"lI h"nehciary Of its benevolent Intentions
when in tho Wilderness lilo resisted all OF tho
''mp'a''"nS of the down. supporting himself
WIN inc Mosaic statement: Man shall not
~ "N "icdu atone, but by every word that
Proc""deih out Of tho mouth Of God
and "" believe. tina, after nearly 900
years tn" world IL coming to understand bet
Tor IMAM IT ever understood hcfor" that jesus
rear mission whs 10 teach mon how to live
OF earth. In other words ina, an eror,
Sh""!d ne altruistic, and 20 this end the n
could he no enforcement Of spiritual and
economic law, as tho blending Of tho two Is
perfect.
ihc words Of tho text we're spoken 10y the
Lord God Of Hosts through the mouth OF tho
prophet. Ezekiel something like twcnty-seven
centuries ago.
II" had commanded tho IsracIites 20 burn
an the weapons and implements "f cog and
nus multitude. -" that they shall take no
wood out OF tn" field. neither cut down any
out of tn" forests"
II may be said Of tho American, people tina,
~ Is only within tn" past f"w years that
'h"H' /" amy arpr"ciabl" extent. are becoming
aroused 10 tn" necessity or taking such nc.
ton ms tho Injunction containc, in ,hn 10Y.
suggests against further endanrcrinc their
own rlch h"ritaE" and tho heritage ~ their
children by ruthl"ssly dcstroyinr our for
'S'S. me conservation and preservation of
tho nations soil Is on" Of TN, biggest uroh
lens that Americans have to rs-e and tho
united action Of all Is necessary ,n accom-
piish the task
We have failed to observe tho teaching O,
coos law and suffering the conso-
"uen""s Reckless farming methods alone
by tho exhaustion OF fertility and hy norrI,
'inc continual and Increasing
every year many times much as is turned
into crops; and every river in tho land car
RES OIL 7" sea vast amount az earth that
represents IN" hest part OF heritage The
H''SS'SS'hPl' alone, carries to every year
enough finely divided silt tho choicest al
iuNtum 10 spread Il layer one foo, thick nvcr
80" SduAr" miles of land. other rivers arc
equally active" Tn" total loss is estimated TO
ne not loss than a billion tons each year-the
destruction Of IN" forests alone being re
With IN" r"tr""ting OF IN" glaciers which
" P''' "' IN" "r"sir" process by which
h"'nr" gave as this continent with its final
definition Of tn. great river systems the for
est advanced IN" land and bound m.
surface Of The earth with its roots To hold
me rich sou for mans Intelligent, us. hut
mans greed in destroying th"s" forests on
hilltop and mountain sides is RELEASING tho
great destructive forces Of nature and a,iou
ing tho falling water 70 swoar into tho s.a
tn" accommodations 81 centuries Of forest
growth.
We arc wasting our heritage ~ soil in q
manner similar To IN" way tn" soil of paIcs
tin" was wasted and as Europe wasted hers
before steps were taken 20 repair the dcs,ruc-
ton.
In the days of tho prophets, Palestine was
lana OF Tilk and honey. one of the most
ferti" In tho known world MANY OF Tho
hillsihcs were thick with trees is a recent
"hserNa'l"h' ana a. "a consequence. its rivers
remained within their banks for only tho
right amount Of water could flow down tho
slopes. much being held hack hv the under
growth and the beds Of leaves. Today II is
almost desert an Unprnduciive land i'm
which the lively" tribes. did they s,iil d,re,I
within It's borders. would slowly s,arvc The
trees are gone. tho hiisidcs arc rockv and
barren Much Of the rich soil has been swept
away by floods"
II is high function Of any form Of re-
iiri"n I" plant deep in tn" minds and hearts
OF the people that they can hos, ..rvo ca
by providing for III" physical needs of their
own and future generations