New Britain herald., 1923-12-17
WORLD IS GROWING
 WORSEP PASTOR SAYS
Man Who Believes Otherwise Is
 Fool, D-ReY. H. s. LandiS

Harry 5. Landis, pastor of the Elm
 manuel Gospel church, who charac-
 terized yesterday as hopeless opti-
 mist and consummate fool the man
 who thinks otherwise. MT. Landis
 took as his subject World Conditions
 Confirming the Reliability of Biblical
 Prophecy" and gave in the follow
 ing sermon what he considers facts
 which are common knowledge to all."
 He said in part:
 ''rhe man who today affirms that
 the world is getting better. and that
 the race is evoluting toward a state
 of ideal perfection is either hope
 Asss optimist or a consummate fool.
 Reasons ordinarily advanced in sup
 port of the theory that the world is
 getting better are, our great strides
 commercially and mechanically, bet
 ter institutions for the care of the
 sick and infirm. etc. These things have
 certainly helped to reduce the rigors
 incident to existence on this earth, or,
 to put it in another way, they have
 helped to mitigate the curse and
 made the world an easier place in
 which to live. But as to whether all
 these inventions and improvements
 are for better or for worse one had
 better not be too nasty in answering. The tremendous advancement me- chanically during the past fifty years has made possible. in no small de- gree. the hell in Europe from 1914 to
 1918. and which has since left it a sorrowful wreck, and the memory of 1t in the minds of mon nightmare not soon to be forgotten. Few men have a more accurate knowledge of life in Europe than the Swedish arch bishop. Dr. soederblom. and he says, Brilliant Europe as we knew it be- fore the war has gone forever. We were taught to believe in race evolu- tion, an evolution toward paradise. Suddenly we found ourselves in hell, There was no evolution. Europe has passed its zenith as the center of cul- ture. The nations of Europe have killed one another. The war has taught us that life is not as easy as we in our pre-war civilization liked to believe. Life is not an easy thing any more" Let it he remembered that this awful nightmare which shook the world took place when we were congratulating each other upon the triumphs Of art, science. and cul- ture. and it was generally believed that such n refinement of the race had taken place that it would pre- clude the possibility Of any great con- fiict Of arms in tho future: yet like n clap of thunder out of a clear blue sky rang the report of the first gun fired in fais and the fray was on. We saw Europe in 1912 land of peace and plenty, and were able 10 buy substantial meal for three marks in Berlin. Today Europe is A land Of poverty dire poverty A wheelbarrow load of paper marks are hardly sufficient 10 buy a substantial meal today.
 "What does it all mean? Russia is making a desperate attempt to forget that there is any such thing as the Bible, and that there is any such per- son in the universe as God. Germany and France have many supporters Of this program. Dr. Mingledorff when here, said. Darwinism of England and evolution of Germany were mar ried and a little brat named might makes right was born and plunged the world into one of the worst wars 1t ever saw But the mother Of this brat isn't dead or the father either. A few years ago when the whole world was so highly incensed against Ger many, many things German. no matter their merit were cast into the discard; yet in these days following the con- fiict, nearly all the nations have sal- yaged its worst relic--evolution.
 ''The race stands in two camps to- day and their differences are irrecon- cilabie. One side holds tenaciously to the Bible as Gods inspired Word, the other rejects it either as a whole or in part. We have before our eyes daily the sad spcctaclcs Of a much distress cd humanity following the leadership Of men who reject the Bible as a stan 1 dard for righteousness and who have absolutely nothing to offer in its stead. If the Bible is Gods Standard 1 of Righteousness to the race. then the race has certainly turned its back on the Bible and is worshipping at the shrine of matcrialism which is eyolu- i ton. a polite name for infidelity.
 we have already hinted at the 1 deplorable conditions in Europe. We need harly call the question into the ! arena for debate as 10 whether Europe i accepts the Bible as Gods Word or rejects it. It is a well esta abIished fact | that she has discarded the Bible gen- orally.
 "The Bible is not treated honestly. It has been the experience of many thousands down through the ages who have received 1t for what is pro- fesses to be. that they have received The very blessings which it promises and as definitely declared il to be Inc Word of God as the Roman Gem Lurion declared Jesus 10 be the Son of God on the day Of the crucifixion.
 Inidelity and agnosticism have had a long run already. but what are their fruits? Has inideIity ever brought peace and comfort to any man in its final test7 Does 1t do SO foday7 Have you evur heard of a lying man calling in an atheist 10 comfort him in his dying hour with against the Bible? Have you ever heard of a sick man calling an atheist in to his bedside and ask Jim to expound his opinion about the Bible that he might be healede No, ana you never will Atheism is about he most illogical and unreasonable hing upon which the sun shines. Today the race is sinking like olurnmet under the blighting and