Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-21
(Centinued from Page onO

form OF education, government or re-
ward. (which will not fall" that re
demption must como through sacriHce'
and sacrifice IL the essence OF rens.
ion" He bespoke. untold bspsn.
through q broader comprehension OF
this principle by the public and con-
tinued preaching OF it by the clergy. ;,
1T is only through these avenues,
he declared, by constant renewal anu
extension Of our faith. that We can
expect to enlarge and improve tne
moral and spiritual life Of the nation.
without that faith all that we nave
NJ an enliehtened civilization can not
endure -,
IF society resists wrongdoing oy
punishment, as it must do unless 1t -
willing to approve it for the future'
there is no middle ground; 1t may pro
tect itself as it is justified in dong py
restraining criminal, but that In ana
of itself does not reform 1t. IL 10
only a treatment Of symptom. IT
does not eradicate the disease. IL does
not make the community virtuous.
mo amount of restraint; no amounI
of law can do that. If our pohtlca..
and social standards are the result OF
an enlightened conscience, then thei.
perfection depends upon securing u
eff we are to preserve what was al
ready have and provide for further
reformation, ." as the clergy tell US
we must become partakers of the spirit
OF the Great Master. This way IS outs
side the government. 1t is the realm
Of religion"
The government can and is aiding
in solution Of some of the present day
problems. Mr.. Coolidge said, believing
that the law undoubtedly acts to nm
der wrongdoing and to repress CRIME.
But this" he held, reaches ITS
highest application only when there Is
a very, healthy and determined PUBIC
sentiment in favor of the observance
of the law. The utmost ingenuity on
the part of the police powers viii De
substantially all wasted. in an enort
to enforce the law, il there does not
exist a strong and vigorous determine
ton on the part of the people TO op-
serve the law, such determination
can not be produced by the public. MY
own opinion is that it is furnished py
religion" f,t
while I regard the clergy as the
greatest power for religious teaching
that we have. l do not refer to them
alone.
IT am conscious that the example
OF ueNOteQ men anu WOiucIir thS $500
of the inevitable social relations ana,
above all. the influence of piety IN the
home, are all forces of enormous Sig
nifcance. While certain formalities OF
|, the past may have lost the hold they
once had do not see any diminution
| in the steadfastness of the religious
convictions of the people.
| THE very fact that amid all the
complexities and distractions or our
present lift we are still maintaining
unimpaired the foundations of our in
J stitutions, constantly increasing the
rectitude with which the great bust
ness affairs Of our country are con-
Quoted, all the while improving our ed
| ucational facilities, answering more
and more generously to the calls OF the
| public and private charity, continually
! charging the field of art. giving more
| and more attention to the humanities,
and becoming more and more respon-
| sive to spiritual things. appears to me
to be incontrovertible evidence that,
| though it may be practiced in a some
what different manner than formerly,
| the deep and abiding faith of our peo-
/ pie in religion has not diminished,
but has increased" ~