The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-24
Golden Rule Sane,
 Ayers Dr. Walker
Second Congregational Pastor Plays Men Who Are
 Bitter and Hard in Relationship With EeIIOwmen

'"The Golden Rule of ours is sane, reasonable, practicale, serviceable. scientific beyond our power to understand and appreciate" said Rev. Dr. John c. Walker, pastor of the Second Congregational church in his sermon yesterday morning.
 He added, we can be very confi- dent that the years and the centur- ies to come will but strengthen men in this faith in a great law of un- selfishness binding all sorts and conditions of men together. All our hope rests upon it whether as indi- viduals or as great and sovereign nations. We cannot escape the oper- etion of this law. We cannot escape either its penalties nor its rewards. Like the law of gravitation it binds the world together in one great chain of cause and effect.
 When next you repeat the Lords Prayer, and that one prayer we ought to repeat at least once every day, Sunday andn weekday, pause for moment or two of meditation on the phrase, Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" Note if you please that the whole prayer is in the plural. It begins as "Our Father" not My Father" Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts" We are to pray and to live and to serve to- gether as one great family. Does it not make you uncomfortable when man speaks about "my boy" "my house." my car," my money" "my church." my company" There are different ways of using the personal pronoun q" but there is way that is self-assertive, f-conscious, self exalting. The Master showed us that better way. Our Father"
 But we note also that word about the forgiveness of debts. To my way of thinking this is simply another statement of the Golden Rule. Is there nice balance here? Does God demand exact payment? Does he say, You pay your debts, you forgive your debts, the Lord will pay your debts, forgive your debts on the other side" It is difficult to believe that God exacts, demands and rewards in this summary man. ner. No, It seems more reasonable to suppose the divine providence dealing with our human freedom simply gives spirit of forgiveness, but how can God put a forgiving spirit into the heart of man who is bitter and hard in his relation ship with his fellowmen?
 One of the heroes I recommend to our boys is Chinese Garden" Few men of the last century lived a more romantic life or cast a greater spell over the hearts of his contemporaries. Read the story to the end. It is a tale of adventure that is stranger than fiction. But General Gordon was a devout man. In the midst of petril, famine. treachery, down to the very gates of death at the siege of Ehartown he read the Old Book. Some of his sayings have become classics. This one prayer of his should like you to remember. It serves link to bind together the Golden Rule and the Lords Prayer. " o God treat me to- morrow as I have treated my fellow men today"
 E The Golden Rule is great law. Serving as a motto hung upon the wall which we give passing word of praise, it makes no particular difference as to the kind of lives we live. Set before us the prime purpose and object of our lives it affords the fairest prospect of the riches in Christ that life can offer.