Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-08
OLD.TIlNE RELIGION
BY BISHOP w. A. GAMBLER

I came heartless towards their ieu0Wmen and
rebellious towards God. These selfish trad
ers traffcked in even things religious, eX-
changing the pure religion of Jehovah for
the more profitable religion of Baalism,
which Ahab and Jezebel had made popular
and powerful. Like most prosperous traders,
religious scruples did not restrain from get
ting gain at the expense of godliness.
Therefore the Lord was very angry with
Israel, and removed them out of his sight;
there was none left, but the tribe of Judah
only" (II Kings xvii: 49,
BY commercialism Egypt, going before
Israel, and NineVeh and Babylon coming
after, fell, have all the nations who have
forgotten God, in the pursuit of gain. They
all persisted when they came to make more
of merchandise than of manhood. On all
their tombs might be inscribed the same cpl
taph: "They were born men, and died mer-
chants" To this melancholy end come both
nations and individuals who value gold
above goodness and serve mammon with
more ardent zeal than with fervent faith
they seek the kingdom of God and His right
eousness.
|. Notwithstanding the truth of all that has
been said the vocation of the merchant is
both honorable and necessary. Without it
civilized society could not exist and mankind
would suffer furnishing hunger and would
be constantly involved in fierce contests for
sustenance. The merchant negotfates those
advantageous eXchanges'of commodities which
tighten the burdens and promote the comfort
of all the nations which have advanced be-
yond the state of savagery.
But let the merchant understand, and
never forget, that while he occupies this high
position of immeasurable service, he is ex-
posed by it to spiritual perils most grave
and constant.
The camp life of soldier brings different,
but not greater, dangers to the soul.
To forefend against these dangers let the
ia in
religious habits.
Let him maintain what has been called
"the practice of the presence of God" by a
life of daily prayer and the devout day of
worship and rest Let prayers at the fam
lily altar hallOW his home and momentary
upliftings of his soul to God, even in the
midst of his busy cares, draw his heart
heavenward Hereby, he will be made free
from the narrowing and hardening influences
of mercantile life, and his business will en-
noble and not enslave him.
Let him also cultivate habits of tender
benevolence His getttngs must not overtop
and overshadow his givngs. And let it be
remembered that generous kindnesses ex-
tended, directly to the needy, reach more
blessedly upon the heart of him who extends
them than do more public deeds and dona-
tons.
Our associated charities and institutional
philanthropies are very important. They ac-
complish forms of good that would be i'm
tons do not soften the, hearts of the donors
as do private and personal gifts in which the
souls of benefactors and benefciaries flow
together in the commingled currents of out
going love and returning gratitude.
The priest-and the Levite who passed by
on the other side of the wounded man who
had fallen among thieves on the Jericho road
were great tithers and turned considerable
sums into the corporate offerings of their
synagOgues and temples: but their benevo-
lence lost all its warmth and color and
hardened into a cold theatric performance,
"to be seen of men" Their love CONCEALED
into the frigid statuesqueness of convention
al religion.
Not so was the good Samaritan, whose
brave and self-forgetting love bent in tender
ness above the unfortunate sufferer and
glowed with increasing fervor with every
step taken on the way to the inn where the
wounded victim was Left with ample pro-
vision for his further relief.
Merchant, eco thou and do likewise"
Live as man, and not merely as mer-
chant. Die as a man.