Evening star., 1944-03-11

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language employed in it, I regard
as one Of the most cruel and pagan
ism things inherited by our for
bears from our remote pagan an
cestors.
I'm difference to the faith of our
dear mother, who was through her
lifetime loyal though never a
bigoted communicate of that con-
gregation, perhaps the current pas
tor OF the First Presbyterian Church
would consent to read the Twenty
third Psalm, which was her favorite
passage in the Scriptures and is
mine, since it contains no charnel
words. No morbid mouthings about
corruption and decay and, being
mercifully without creed or dogma,
carries no threat of eternal hell
fire for those parties we do not like,
no direct promise of heaven
which, If one may judge by the
people who are surest of going there.
must be a powerfully dull place,
populated to considerable and un-
comfortable degree by prigs, time
savers and unpleasantly aggressive
individuals. He'll may have a worse
climate but undoubtedly the COM
pany is sprightlier.
The Catholics, with their genius
for management handle this
detail better. The off1ciating clergy
man speaks in Latin and the par
lshioners, being unacquainted with
that language, are impressed by the
mystery and the majesty of the roll
ing, sonorous periods without being
shocked by distressing illusions and
narrowing references.
Notion of Ideal Religion.
"As an aside I might add that NV
notion Of an ideal religion would
combine the dignity and the beauty
OF the Romanist ritual with certain
other ingredients; the good taste
and the ability of the Unitarians
and Episcopalians-a trait not too
common to some of the evangelical
groups-to mind their own busi-
ness. I'm proud that I never set
myself up to be my brothers keep
er, having been sufficiently occupied
by the job of being my own keeper.
To these add the noble ethics and
the splendid tolerance expressed in
reformed Judaism; the sturdy in
dependence and the good business
principles of the Mormons; the
gentle humility and ordered hu-
manity of the Quakers, plus the
militant zeal and unself1sh devotion
OF those shock troops of the Lord
the Salvation Army, who fight in
the trenches Of sins no mans land
to reclaim the tortured souls and
clothe the naked bodies of those
whom the rest of a snobbish world
forgot.
IF, based on this combination,
there was a determination to prac-
tlce the sectless preachments and
the teachings of Jesus Christ, who
was the first true gentleman of re-
corded history and the greatest gen.
tleman that ever lived, l might not
have Joined the fold, but certainly
Ia have stood on the sidelines and
/ cheered for it.
God of Unjustified Battles.
BY the way, have you ever no.
tlced that in time of war not the
most passionate partisan dares to
ask the Prince of Peace to bless his
oloody arms and forward his bloody
deedS? He lnvokes the aid of the
goo OF unJustifled battles as created
by the ancient Hebrews.
All Hitler needed to do was to let
ms WhlSkerS Sprout and sit on a nest
OF thunderboltS and naked swords.
thinking Of plague and pestilence
and rapine and slaughter and slav-
cry for the VanquiShed, to be a fit
understudy for the vengeful mur-
derouS Jehovah of the forepart of
the Old Testament.
For Brother Joe Stain, our pres
ent beloved ally and. secretly, the
everlasting enemy of our instltu-
tlonS, the job would be easier. He
already has the whiSkers zone ad-
vantage OF dying is that it affords a
fellow opportunity to say lot of
thlngS that have been curdling in
his system all these years. Frankly,
I'm enjoying myself
: But getting back to what I was
, talking about: I am life member
= OF Paducah Lodge, No. IT, B. P. O.
E., but I'd prefer that the burial
program Of the order not be read
S Like most burial programs it needs
J editing. However, If the members
| desire to turn out, either as body
] or singly, I'll be very glad to have