Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-08-10
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10. 1928.
HARDlNG'S LAST N0ROS WERE
FOR MORE CHRIST SPIRIT
I'm THIS WORLD

ISL. LESS dudGlCdl led
and More of Christ Spirit
and Practice and New and
Abiding Conservation toll
Reverence for God, Essays
God-Fearing President Bel
fore Dying.
Los Angeles, Cal, Aug. 3.-The last
official words of President Harding,
which were written before he died,
were an appeal TO the American people
to have "more of the Christ spirit,
more of the Christ practice and new
and abiding conservation to reverence
for God
These words were in speech which
the late President had prepared to be
delivered at a presentation of the
knights Templar International travel
ing beauseant to California Knights.
President Harding, a member of the
Marion (O.) Commandery, was to have
presented the beauseant in person in
behalf of his fellow Masons. but sick
ness prevented, and his Secretary,
George B. Christian, Jr., did SO, read
ing the speech Mr. Harding was to
have delivered.
Extracts from this speech, revealing
the lofty Christian character of the
dead President and in a measure en-
dorsing Woodrow Wilson's recent
words that the world needs spiritual
revival" are as follows
81 am sure the mission oil the beau
seant will be failure if its travels are
made simply matter of symbolism
and pageantry. 1t bears emblazoned
upon it the supplication, Not unto US,
o Lord, not unto US, but unto Thy
name be the glory" We should grori-
fly the name, not in words, not by
praise, not by displays at arms, but by
deeds and service in behalf of human
brotherhood.
Christ, the great Exemplar of our
order, repeatedly urged this truth upon
his hearers. There was nothing myth
ical or mystical in the code of living
preached by Jesus Christ. The lessons
he taught were so simple and plain, so
fashioned to be understood by the
humblest among men, that they ap-
pealed to the reason and emotions of
all. His words to the fishermen bore
conviction to the learned men of the
Roman bench. All of his teachings
were based upon the broad ground of
fraternalism, and justice, and under
standing, from which flows always
peace.
"a new commandment give unto
you-that We love one another" Sure
ly in this was 'all the law and the
prophets"
Someone has said, in speaking of
our present-day civilization, that eve
need less of religion and more of
Christianity" This may be crudely
expressed, but it contains great truth.
With the universal observance of
Christ's commandment we should have
the essentials of all religious. Perhaps
! will best express my thought if say
we need less.of sectarianism, less of
emonstrationalism, less zeal and its
exactions, and more of the Christ spirit,
more of the Christ practice, anda new
and abiding conservation to rever-
ence. for God.
Jesus Christ was the Fathers gift
for all the ages, and any land where
His law is loved and followed is no less
holy than that which his foot has trod. |
Christ was the prince of peace, and we |
who seek to render his name glorious
must move in the ways of peace and
brotherhood and loving service. So | |
gladly and proudly join in sending this
banner on its highly purposed journey,
which is to continue probably beyond
the span of the lives of those here
assembled.
Wherever it inspires more of real
brotherhood more of devotion to
Christ's simplest teachings, it will not
have been borne in vain. | charge
that it shall not be held as banner of
militant force, but as a memorial of
deeds of arms, not as a mere piece of
ritualistic pageantry, but as the symbol K
of brotherhood, raised to the glory of
our Grand Commander, whose law was
love, whose reign was peace, and for
whom the herald angles sang: "Glory
TO God in the highest, and, on earth
peace good will toward men,"