The child should be taught to restrain his anger; but he can not restrain it if he has not got it. Anger is like fire — a good servant and a terrible master. Without capacity for anger Luther could not have fought the battle of the Reformation; nor our fathers the war of the Revolution; nor our reformers the war of Emancipation. — LYMAN ABBOTT.
Righteous Anger
The spirit which flushes with resentment at an oath is infinitely better than the spirit which listens with indifference, or which laughs with pleasure.
"Abhor that which is evil," says the Divine command; no man is safe unless he does. — LYMAN ABBOTT.
Anger at Sin a Duty
Every great sin ought to arouse a great anger. Mob law is better than no law at all. A community which rises in its wrath to punish with misdirected anger a great wrong is in a healthier moral condition than a community Which looks upon its perpetration with apathy and unconcern. — LYMAN ABBOTT.
Showing posts with label morality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morality. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A Brazen Wall
(Click graphic for better view)1900
Five Minute Sermons — Written Especially for The Ram's Horn
We had a menagerie in our town when I was a boy, and like other boys, I managed to get there. They had one huge cage in which they placed their happy family during the hours when the tent was opened. They had half a dozen huge beasts of different kinds in that cage and I remember looking in open-eyed astonishment at them. It occurred to me that if they should escape it would be a sorry day for the visitors, and I could not help looking to see what our securities were. There were iron bars through which we peered at the animals, and through which they were looking with hungry eyes at us. It was ten feet from the top to the bottom of that cage. But about half way from the top to the bottom was a bar of polished wood into which the iron bars entered from either side. It there should be a family row inside that cage and in the skirmish that bar of wood should give way, it was as plain as my existence that some of us near the cage should be devoured. I grew uneasy at every growl, and when two or three of them threw themselves against the bars I beat a retreat. I did not propose to wait to be eaten. It is not probable that I should have stopped until I reached my home, if one of the men employed about the tent had not stopped me and told me that the bar of wood was but an ornament upon a solid piece of brass. There was no possibility that it should give way. Who of you remembers where it is written, "I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord."
I have had my panicky times since. I have looked at the moral wild beasts which are only aching for an opportunity to devour human society, and I have thought that if they summon all their strength and pounce upon our defenses, they will surely consume us. And then some one has reminded me that God has set His people as a brazen wall, and they cannot be broken down. I gather up the colossal figures of the liquor traffic, and I note its power in all political organizations, and I see its popularity in society where men whose purses are lined with its gold shine in brilliant society and occupy the choice pews in churches, and I watch youth after youth disappear before it, and I say, surely this country has gone to ruin before this foe. But I am called back by the prophetic voice, and am bidden to look at the "Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture" and the appointed church and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and am told to look at that brazen wall which stands between the destroying power and human society. They may fight against it, but they cannot destroy it. They would if they could, no doubt, but they cannot.
I get alarmed about the amount of impurity in the world. We have imported it from abroad when it was so vicious that we were ashamed to claim it as American. We have introduced it into our theatres if their advertisements and posters tell any truth. We have made many suggestions of it in our newspaper and magazine illustrations. We have made large use of it for advertising purposes. We have published it in a thousand books in its worst form, under the plea that we must describe things as they actually are, and in this way we have carried it into the homes and libraries of the most discreet and modest. It would seem that there is practically nothing to save us from absolute demoralization of morals by this subtle and fearful evil. And then I come back to the Lord's appointment of his servants in the earth as a "fenced city, and an iron pillar and brazen wall." Impurity may fight, but shall not prevail.
When they elected a polygamist to Congress, my heart sank within me. There was that fearful curse which we had tried to exterminate, coming back with added virulence and vehemence. It was seeking recognition in the high places of our land, and by political machination was pretty certain to get it. It would carry with it the establishment of the same old outrage on Western civilization, which must make every self-respecting American blush when Mormonism is mentioned. And if this horror of all horrors is to be permitted, it means the destruction of the sacredness of marriage and the happiness of the Christian home and the rights of children, to home life and care and training. If the bars of the cage in which Mormonism is confined once give way, there is no escape provided for our security as a people. But after all, that barrier is more than a fragile strip of wood, it is a brazen wall against which this form of corruption too, is destined to beat itself in vain. "God is not dead." He still says to His people, "I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee." — J. N. ERVIN.
—The Ram's Horn, March 17, 1900, p. 7.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Country Morals Vary But Little With City Standard
1910
By Rev. Eliot White
The question whether moral standards are the same in city as in country probably cannot be answered alike for every comparison of urban with suburban. Some cities are notably narrow and backward, like overgrown villages, while some country places have so much civic sense and alert pride that they rank high in what we might call moral incubation, being true hatching places of better social ideals and keener ethical perceptions.
At the same time several elements in the comparison make it in the large possible to contrast city and country morals. For example, the power of neighbor opinion is considerably less in the city than in the country. By this I mean that dwelling near another person in the city does not mean necessarily acquaintance with or notice of him; whereas in the country, neighbor censors neighbor, often than not gossips about him or her and therefore exercises a certain degree of restraint upon him. Much of the laborious and often petty casuistry that harasses the typical country place and that the city dweller finds intolerable, is due to this.
Religious intolerance, with its magnifying of theological trifles, for the same reason flourishes in the country, while the city forges ahead and away from it like an express train from a stage coach. People have other and healthier occupations for thought.
At the same time the city independence has its faults. Isolation is a terrible strain for the young man or woman. The country may mean gossip, but it means united support and "company" as well, and to be transplanted from such rootage to the lonely places of the great city involves some of the severest temptations to which a character can be subjected.
The moral standards probably in themselves vary little between city and country, much as they may differ in application in the two places.
Franker instruction by parents end schools on physical matters should help boys and girls "find out things" in wholesome fashion, instead of through whisper. Festivals, open-air dances and romps are needed to feed the hunger for companionship, color and joy. More freedom under wise supervision for the children and youth of both sexes together has promise of nobler development and moral standard for both city and country of which we can all as Americans be proud.
By Rev. Eliot White
The question whether moral standards are the same in city as in country probably cannot be answered alike for every comparison of urban with suburban. Some cities are notably narrow and backward, like overgrown villages, while some country places have so much civic sense and alert pride that they rank high in what we might call moral incubation, being true hatching places of better social ideals and keener ethical perceptions.
At the same time several elements in the comparison make it in the large possible to contrast city and country morals. For example, the power of neighbor opinion is considerably less in the city than in the country. By this I mean that dwelling near another person in the city does not mean necessarily acquaintance with or notice of him; whereas in the country, neighbor censors neighbor, often than not gossips about him or her and therefore exercises a certain degree of restraint upon him. Much of the laborious and often petty casuistry that harasses the typical country place and that the city dweller finds intolerable, is due to this.
Religious intolerance, with its magnifying of theological trifles, for the same reason flourishes in the country, while the city forges ahead and away from it like an express train from a stage coach. People have other and healthier occupations for thought.
At the same time the city independence has its faults. Isolation is a terrible strain for the young man or woman. The country may mean gossip, but it means united support and "company" as well, and to be transplanted from such rootage to the lonely places of the great city involves some of the severest temptations to which a character can be subjected.
The moral standards probably in themselves vary little between city and country, much as they may differ in application in the two places.
Franker instruction by parents end schools on physical matters should help boys and girls "find out things" in wholesome fashion, instead of through whisper. Festivals, open-air dances and romps are needed to feed the hunger for companionship, color and joy. More freedom under wise supervision for the children and youth of both sexes together has promise of nobler development and moral standard for both city and country of which we can all as Americans be proud.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Ministers Protest Against Street Fair
May 1906
Alton, Illinois — The Alton ministerial alliance yesterday protested to the city council against the holding of a street fair in the city, and denounced such exhibitions as immoral in their tendency and opposed to the legitimate interests of the city according to the effects of former street fairs held in Alton.
The Roman Catholic clergy have united in condemning the proposed fair and it is probable that none will be held. The clergymen also decided to begin a campaign in the interests of improving public morals in Alton, and will hold several mass meetings during the summer.
—The Daily Review, Decatur, IL, May 15, 1906, p. 9.
Alton, Illinois — The Alton ministerial alliance yesterday protested to the city council against the holding of a street fair in the city, and denounced such exhibitions as immoral in their tendency and opposed to the legitimate interests of the city according to the effects of former street fairs held in Alton.
The Roman Catholic clergy have united in condemning the proposed fair and it is probable that none will be held. The clergymen also decided to begin a campaign in the interests of improving public morals in Alton, and will hold several mass meetings during the summer.
—The Daily Review, Decatur, IL, May 15, 1906, p. 9.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Scotch Sabbath Morality
1914
Even in Scotland up to the middle of the eighteenth, century Sabbath morality was geographical. Sabbath, according to a contemporary writer, never "got aboon the pass of Killiecrankie." For generations after the reformation the highlander on Sunday drove his cattle to market, brought home his fuel, baked his bread, fished, played shinty and put the stone." Sunday christenings and penny weddings were common, and the presbytery books merely sent warnings against piping, fiddling and dancing at them.
But in the lowlands the church, took a sterner view. The assembly forbade shippers and sailors to begin any voyage on the Lord's day or to "loose any ships, barks or boats." Aberdonians were fined if they failed to attend worship, the good man and good wife of the house contravening paid 6s, 8d, and "ilk servant 2s, Scots," a sore burden to be borne in the seventeenth century. The record of absentees is scanty. — London Chronicle.
Even in Scotland up to the middle of the eighteenth, century Sabbath morality was geographical. Sabbath, according to a contemporary writer, never "got aboon the pass of Killiecrankie." For generations after the reformation the highlander on Sunday drove his cattle to market, brought home his fuel, baked his bread, fished, played shinty and put the stone." Sunday christenings and penny weddings were common, and the presbytery books merely sent warnings against piping, fiddling and dancing at them.
But in the lowlands the church, took a sterner view. The assembly forbade shippers and sailors to begin any voyage on the Lord's day or to "loose any ships, barks or boats." Aberdonians were fined if they failed to attend worship, the good man and good wife of the house contravening paid 6s, 8d, and "ilk servant 2s, Scots," a sore burden to be borne in the seventeenth century. The record of absentees is scanty. — London Chronicle.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Bars "Tango" As a Punishable Sin
1914
Paris, Jan. 12. — Cardinal Leon Adolphe Amette, archbishop of Paris, in an admonition which was published in his churches yesterday, forbids the dancing of the tango as a sin which must be confessed and require penance. He also will publish an official admonition on the daring and eccentricities of modern dress.
"We remind the women," the cardinal says, "that they should observe always the rules of Christian modesty, which too often are violated. We ask Christian women to unite in abolishing certain styles of dress which are contrary to decency.
"We condemn the dance imported from abroad known under the name of the tango, which, by its nature, is indecent and offensive to morals and Christians may not in conscience take part therein.
"It will therefore be the duty of confessors to take notice of this in the administration of the sacrament of penance."
Andre de Fouquieres, who lectured a year ago in the United States, said that Cardinal Amette's prohibition of the tango would produce profound dismay in Parisian social circles.
Paris, Jan. 12. — Cardinal Leon Adolphe Amette, archbishop of Paris, in an admonition which was published in his churches yesterday, forbids the dancing of the tango as a sin which must be confessed and require penance. He also will publish an official admonition on the daring and eccentricities of modern dress.
"We remind the women," the cardinal says, "that they should observe always the rules of Christian modesty, which too often are violated. We ask Christian women to unite in abolishing certain styles of dress which are contrary to decency.
"We condemn the dance imported from abroad known under the name of the tango, which, by its nature, is indecent and offensive to morals and Christians may not in conscience take part therein.
"It will therefore be the duty of confessors to take notice of this in the administration of the sacrament of penance."
Andre de Fouquieres, who lectured a year ago in the United States, said that Cardinal Amette's prohibition of the tango would produce profound dismay in Parisian social circles.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Emerson One of "Ten Moral Leaders"
1902
Almost feverish eagerness was displayed to get into Tremont Temple by throngs of people to hear Professor E. H. Griggs's closing lecture. There was particular interest in observing how the only American named in the list of "ten moral leaders" would be estimated, in comparison with the nine Europeans.
The lecturer certainly could not have disappointed Emerson lovers through failure to assign a sufficiently high place to him. Not only did Professor Griggs pronounce Emerson "the prophet of democracy," "the most fertilizing mind which our country has produced," but he declared, with passionate eloquence, that Emerson's place is not lower than that of the very loftiest of the nine other moral leaders in the list.
That list comprises, besides Emerson, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, St. Francis, Savonarola, Erasmus, Luther, Bruno, Victor Hugo and Carlyle. — Boston Daily Advertiser.
Almost feverish eagerness was displayed to get into Tremont Temple by throngs of people to hear Professor E. H. Griggs's closing lecture. There was particular interest in observing how the only American named in the list of "ten moral leaders" would be estimated, in comparison with the nine Europeans.
The lecturer certainly could not have disappointed Emerson lovers through failure to assign a sufficiently high place to him. Not only did Professor Griggs pronounce Emerson "the prophet of democracy," "the most fertilizing mind which our country has produced," but he declared, with passionate eloquence, that Emerson's place is not lower than that of the very loftiest of the nine other moral leaders in the list.
That list comprises, besides Emerson, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, St. Francis, Savonarola, Erasmus, Luther, Bruno, Victor Hugo and Carlyle. — Boston Daily Advertiser.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Humanity's Great Helper — The Divine Friend
1910
The long foretold advent of Jesus the Divine Friend has made a tremendous difference for the race. We are not now living in the feted atmosphere of the Roman decadence, nor are our higher interests mocked by the Hellenic frivolity. The whole tone of life is better, and its promise fairer. And the glory of all this mental quickening and moral improvement belongs to Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea it meant that God had sent to humanity a helper. Humanity of and by itself is poor and weak and wanting; it requires assistance from beyond itself, and the help that it most urgently requires is salvation. The world's greatest need is a Saviour, and Jesus Christ came to be that redeemer. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus," said the angel, "for he shall save his people from their sins."
Comment: It's common to hear that before the World Wars there was a more optimistic outlook on human nature through the spread of religion and at least the conventional acceptance of its tenets. Then after World War I, the depths of sin were seen to be still pretty well ingrained, maybe not the same degree of progress as imagined. This tiny article doesn't get into all that in any explicit way. But you can see a hint of it in the contrast that Christianity brought between now and the long-ago decadence and frivolity. The difference is a "mental quickening and moral improvement," which is the phrase that brings this to mind. Society getting better and better, then the Lord comes!
Little articles like this, unless attribution is given to a publication, are apparently just little orphans of thought. They were obviously distributed far and wide by some syndicating agency for a fee, and used as fillers and content. I imagine someone hacking them out, hack writing, or maybe, like this one in particular, they're snippets from sermons.
The long foretold advent of Jesus the Divine Friend has made a tremendous difference for the race. We are not now living in the feted atmosphere of the Roman decadence, nor are our higher interests mocked by the Hellenic frivolity. The whole tone of life is better, and its promise fairer. And the glory of all this mental quickening and moral improvement belongs to Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea it meant that God had sent to humanity a helper. Humanity of and by itself is poor and weak and wanting; it requires assistance from beyond itself, and the help that it most urgently requires is salvation. The world's greatest need is a Saviour, and Jesus Christ came to be that redeemer. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus," said the angel, "for he shall save his people from their sins."
Comment: It's common to hear that before the World Wars there was a more optimistic outlook on human nature through the spread of religion and at least the conventional acceptance of its tenets. Then after World War I, the depths of sin were seen to be still pretty well ingrained, maybe not the same degree of progress as imagined. This tiny article doesn't get into all that in any explicit way. But you can see a hint of it in the contrast that Christianity brought between now and the long-ago decadence and frivolity. The difference is a "mental quickening and moral improvement," which is the phrase that brings this to mind. Society getting better and better, then the Lord comes!
Little articles like this, unless attribution is given to a publication, are apparently just little orphans of thought. They were obviously distributed far and wide by some syndicating agency for a fee, and used as fillers and content. I imagine someone hacking them out, hack writing, or maybe, like this one in particular, they're snippets from sermons.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Sex and Sin — Gender Differences and Morality
1902
Sex and Sin
An Interesting Discussion of an Old, Old Subject
"The woman thou gavest to be with me tempted me and I did eat." Such was the plea of Adam — and Adam has always been regarded by civilized people as a bit of a sneak for thus attempting to shift the burden of responsibility upon the sex which the highest development of chivalry demands that the male should protect. Bishop Spaldlng of Peoria is hardly to be classed with Adam when he characterizes the women of America as the source of three-quarters of the crime committed in this country, for he has no personal motive in making the accusation. He seems to be animated, rather, by a broad spirit of philosophical inquiry.
His impressions are evidently gained largely from the confessional and from the intimate observation of the details of family and social life permitted to a priest of his church. Physicians who, in a way, often serve as father confessors to the unfortunate, draw facts from their own experience which would lead to a similar conclusion. But in saying that women are the source of a large percentage of the crime we would not understand either the priest or the physician as saying that the women were culpably so. Eve may have had no intention of tempting Adam to sin. Manlike, he may have followed the lure of her beauty and her charm on his own responsibility, and resolved to tread the path of disobedience in her company, though it led to death.
The philosophic statement of the broad truth would be that the sex motive is at the bottom of seventy-five per cent of the crime in the world. Next to alimentiveness, amativeness is the strongest instinct in human nature. The race first seeks the means of continuing the individual existence, and next the means of continuing the species. Woman is at once the tempted and the temptress. The lawless passions of man wreak themselves on her, and she in her weakness protects herself with subtlety, oftentimes with deception. The consequences of common sin are more fearful to her than to the man, and she is taught from her childhood to protect her virtue at the sacrifice, if necessary, of other noble qualities — or that failing to do so she is utterly lost. Hence the reckless abandon of impure women. The boy, on the other hand, is taught that truth, courage, honor are of more importance than bodily purity. As society is largely constituted, the man violates the law of purity lightly, but holds to his other standards of honor, while the woman who shares his sin is dragged to utter degradation. The man perhaps recovers his balance; finds his standing in society not impaired, and leads a useful and honorable life, as worldly honors go. Thus the contrast between the two classes of sinners becomes accentuated to the disadvantage of the woman and the advantage of the man.
The scientist Lombroso accounts woman the immoral sex, because she has not the same standards of truth and honor and courage that men have. If she has not, it is the fault of her education and not of nature. Under existing standards she has not a fair chance in the world. But in spite of this a large percentage of the sex rise to moral heights of which men are incapable. Bishop Spalding's arraignment at first blush excites indignation; but when properly construed it is in reality more an arraignment of men and the false standards of education and morality, than of women as women. The fair sex may be the source of crime, through their attraction and fascination, without being themselves the responsible sinners. If the reader will keep this fact in view he (or she) will he able to appreciate the force of the bishop's observation without mentally accusing him of either false diagnosis or intentional slander. — Minneapolis Tribune.
—The Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, June 11, 1902, p. 3.
Sex and Sin
An Interesting Discussion of an Old, Old Subject
"The woman thou gavest to be with me tempted me and I did eat." Such was the plea of Adam — and Adam has always been regarded by civilized people as a bit of a sneak for thus attempting to shift the burden of responsibility upon the sex which the highest development of chivalry demands that the male should protect. Bishop Spaldlng of Peoria is hardly to be classed with Adam when he characterizes the women of America as the source of three-quarters of the crime committed in this country, for he has no personal motive in making the accusation. He seems to be animated, rather, by a broad spirit of philosophical inquiry.
His impressions are evidently gained largely from the confessional and from the intimate observation of the details of family and social life permitted to a priest of his church. Physicians who, in a way, often serve as father confessors to the unfortunate, draw facts from their own experience which would lead to a similar conclusion. But in saying that women are the source of a large percentage of the crime we would not understand either the priest or the physician as saying that the women were culpably so. Eve may have had no intention of tempting Adam to sin. Manlike, he may have followed the lure of her beauty and her charm on his own responsibility, and resolved to tread the path of disobedience in her company, though it led to death.
The philosophic statement of the broad truth would be that the sex motive is at the bottom of seventy-five per cent of the crime in the world. Next to alimentiveness, amativeness is the strongest instinct in human nature. The race first seeks the means of continuing the individual existence, and next the means of continuing the species. Woman is at once the tempted and the temptress. The lawless passions of man wreak themselves on her, and she in her weakness protects herself with subtlety, oftentimes with deception. The consequences of common sin are more fearful to her than to the man, and she is taught from her childhood to protect her virtue at the sacrifice, if necessary, of other noble qualities — or that failing to do so she is utterly lost. Hence the reckless abandon of impure women. The boy, on the other hand, is taught that truth, courage, honor are of more importance than bodily purity. As society is largely constituted, the man violates the law of purity lightly, but holds to his other standards of honor, while the woman who shares his sin is dragged to utter degradation. The man perhaps recovers his balance; finds his standing in society not impaired, and leads a useful and honorable life, as worldly honors go. Thus the contrast between the two classes of sinners becomes accentuated to the disadvantage of the woman and the advantage of the man.
The scientist Lombroso accounts woman the immoral sex, because she has not the same standards of truth and honor and courage that men have. If she has not, it is the fault of her education and not of nature. Under existing standards she has not a fair chance in the world. But in spite of this a large percentage of the sex rise to moral heights of which men are incapable. Bishop Spalding's arraignment at first blush excites indignation; but when properly construed it is in reality more an arraignment of men and the false standards of education and morality, than of women as women. The fair sex may be the source of crime, through their attraction and fascination, without being themselves the responsible sinners. If the reader will keep this fact in view he (or she) will he able to appreciate the force of the bishop's observation without mentally accusing him of either false diagnosis or intentional slander. — Minneapolis Tribune.
—The Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, June 11, 1902, p. 3.
Bible and Morality — A Survey of Morality in Religions
1899
The Bible and Morality
From our boyhood days until the time we were able to reason from cause to effect and to become in a limited degree familiar with the laws of nature and the laws which govern and regulate the universe regardless of our likes or dislikes, we had been led to believe by the defenders, the upholders and the expounders of the Bible that it was impossible for persons to form any high conceptions of morals and morality outside the morality which is contained within the lids of the Bible, and if we reject its ideal or standard of morality there is no way whereby we can become cognizant of the fact that it is absolutely wrong to lie, steal, kill, or to commit other crimes. While we have the highest respect for those who may entertain these ideas, we must not lose sight of the fact that morals or the practice of morality is universal, while on the other hand Christianity and those believing in the teachings of the Bible are local.
As we have heretofore stated, it is not our intention to cast any reflections upon those who have implicit faith in the Bible, but the greatest and the most beneficent moral maxims and percepts have been handed down to us through other channels than the Bible, and if all the bibles which have been in existence and which are in existence today were destroyed, morality would still exist in the world independent of them all.
The morality or the moral precepts which are contained in the Rig-veda (Bible) which was composed 2,400 years before Christ surpasses in beauty of expression the sentiments in the Bible. Its teachings about sin; its revelations; its belief in the ability of the gods to forgive; its belief that its Bible came from God; its rigid code of morals; its prayers; hymns, offerings and sacrifices are all rigidly believed in and lived up to by more than two hundred million people.
The Brahmin's idea of the trinity corresponds with the ideas which are taught to the people respecting the trinity at the present time. The Yend-Avesta (Bible) which is over twelve hundred years older than Christ or the Bible, contains many beautiful moral precepts. Its adherents believe in a Supreme Spirit, in gods and demons, who interfere with the affairs of this world, and who are ever at war with each other. Zoroaster, its great prophet, promulgated many commandments which are similar to those in the Jewish Bible. He also taught that he was in direct communication with the Lord. His creed and faith is of the simplest kind. It is "to fear God, to live a life of pure thoughts, pure words, pure deeds, and to die in the hope of a world to come. It is the creed of those who live nearest to the gods and served them faithfulest in every age, and wherever they dwell who accept it and practice it they bear witness to that which makes them children of the gods and brethren of the prophets among whom Zoroaster was not the least.
We must bear in mind that the Jews were carried away as captives to Babylon some six hundred years before Christ, and during the seventy years of exile there they came in contact with the Persian religion and derived their ideas from it pertaining to the immortality of the soul, which their own religion did not teach. They also borrowed from it their belief in a multitude of angels, and in Satan as the ruler of evil spirits, for prior to that time no Jewish writer nor the Jewish people had the faintest idea of heaven or h—ll or the plurality of worlds.
Buddha the awakened, whose followers number more than any other religious faith or system, is five hundred years older than Christ or the Bible. The Bible which was constructed by him contains many lofty and elevating moral precepts. It contains nothing to shock the minds of little children, nor to blunt the finer sensibilities of men and women. Buddha taught that "nothing on earth is stable, nothing is real. Life is as transitory as a spark of fire, or the sound of a lyre. There must be some supreme intelligence where we could find rest. If I attained it I could bring light to men. If I were free myself I could deliver the world." He also said: "The succoring of mother and father, the cherishing of wife and child and the following of a lawful calling, this is the greatest blessing."
"The giving alms, aid rendered to relations, blameless acts, this is the greatest blessing." "The abstaining from sins and the avoiding them, the eschewing of intoxicating drinks, diligence in good deeds, reverence and humility, contentment and gratefulness, this is the greatest blessing."
"Those who having done these things, become invincible on all sides, attain happiness on all sides. This is the greatest blessing."
"He who lives a hundred years vicious and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is virtuous and reflecting. Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, it will not come near unto me. Even by the falling of water drops a water pot is filled; the fool becomes full of evil if he gathers it little by little." "Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us!" "Let us dwell free from hatred among men who hate! and not to commit any sin, to do good and to purify one's mind." After these most wholesome maxims there follows ten commandments of which the first five apply to all people, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, not get drunk, etc.
Buddha taught that it is the duty of all men to honor their parents and care for their children, to be kind to the sick and poor and sorrowing. We must keep in mind that Buddha lived more than five hundred years before Christ, and the rites and ceremonies which his priests performed adopted with slight modifications by the Catholic church. He also held religious councils and sent out missionaries to all parts of the east.
Confucius, the great moral teacher and philosopher of China lived 551 years before Christ was born, and he gave us the golden rule. Among other wise and moral things Confucius said: "Coarse rice for food, water to drink, the bended arm for a pillow — happiness may be enjoyed even with these. But without virtue both riches and honor seem to me like a passing cloud."
Mahomet counseled his follower, to live good lives and to strive after the mercy of God by fasting, charity and prayer. He said: "A man's true wealth hereafter is the good he has done to his fellow men. When he dies people will ask, what property has he left behind him? But the angels will ask what good deeds has he sent before him. Mahomet enjoined his followers to show mercy to the weak and orphaned and kindness to brutes, to abstain from gambling, and the use of strong drink.
Out of one billion six hundred million people who are scattered over the face of the earth more than eleven hundred million believe in the teachings of the great moralists whom we have alluded to. In passing we cannot refrain from referring to Egypt and those wonderful people who inhibit the valleys of the Nile. Those strange people can trace their history back, 5,550 years before the Christian era. The morality which they practiced and the moral laws which they placed upon their statutes cannot be equalled. For instance, if the master of a slave caused the death of a slave, the owner was also put to death.
No other country in the civilized world ever enacted such a law. In America where all the slave holders were Christians the slaves were not in the possession of any rights which their masters were bound to respect.
It is admitted by all who are familiar with Egyptian history that the ten commandments which Moses claimed were written by the finger of God upon two tables of stone on Mount Sinai came from Egypt.
So it must be apparent to all that morality is not dependent upon the Bible. Our chief objection to the Bible is that it places a premium on vice and crime while at the same time it puts its everlasting seal of condemnation upon all honest and upright men and women who do not accept it as the infallible word of an all wise and merciful God.
—The Broad Ax, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 18, 1899, p. 1.
The Bible and Morality
From our boyhood days until the time we were able to reason from cause to effect and to become in a limited degree familiar with the laws of nature and the laws which govern and regulate the universe regardless of our likes or dislikes, we had been led to believe by the defenders, the upholders and the expounders of the Bible that it was impossible for persons to form any high conceptions of morals and morality outside the morality which is contained within the lids of the Bible, and if we reject its ideal or standard of morality there is no way whereby we can become cognizant of the fact that it is absolutely wrong to lie, steal, kill, or to commit other crimes. While we have the highest respect for those who may entertain these ideas, we must not lose sight of the fact that morals or the practice of morality is universal, while on the other hand Christianity and those believing in the teachings of the Bible are local.
As we have heretofore stated, it is not our intention to cast any reflections upon those who have implicit faith in the Bible, but the greatest and the most beneficent moral maxims and percepts have been handed down to us through other channels than the Bible, and if all the bibles which have been in existence and which are in existence today were destroyed, morality would still exist in the world independent of them all.
The morality or the moral precepts which are contained in the Rig-veda (Bible) which was composed 2,400 years before Christ surpasses in beauty of expression the sentiments in the Bible. Its teachings about sin; its revelations; its belief in the ability of the gods to forgive; its belief that its Bible came from God; its rigid code of morals; its prayers; hymns, offerings and sacrifices are all rigidly believed in and lived up to by more than two hundred million people.
The Brahmin's idea of the trinity corresponds with the ideas which are taught to the people respecting the trinity at the present time. The Yend-Avesta (Bible) which is over twelve hundred years older than Christ or the Bible, contains many beautiful moral precepts. Its adherents believe in a Supreme Spirit, in gods and demons, who interfere with the affairs of this world, and who are ever at war with each other. Zoroaster, its great prophet, promulgated many commandments which are similar to those in the Jewish Bible. He also taught that he was in direct communication with the Lord. His creed and faith is of the simplest kind. It is "to fear God, to live a life of pure thoughts, pure words, pure deeds, and to die in the hope of a world to come. It is the creed of those who live nearest to the gods and served them faithfulest in every age, and wherever they dwell who accept it and practice it they bear witness to that which makes them children of the gods and brethren of the prophets among whom Zoroaster was not the least.
We must bear in mind that the Jews were carried away as captives to Babylon some six hundred years before Christ, and during the seventy years of exile there they came in contact with the Persian religion and derived their ideas from it pertaining to the immortality of the soul, which their own religion did not teach. They also borrowed from it their belief in a multitude of angels, and in Satan as the ruler of evil spirits, for prior to that time no Jewish writer nor the Jewish people had the faintest idea of heaven or h—ll or the plurality of worlds.
Buddha the awakened, whose followers number more than any other religious faith or system, is five hundred years older than Christ or the Bible. The Bible which was constructed by him contains many lofty and elevating moral precepts. It contains nothing to shock the minds of little children, nor to blunt the finer sensibilities of men and women. Buddha taught that "nothing on earth is stable, nothing is real. Life is as transitory as a spark of fire, or the sound of a lyre. There must be some supreme intelligence where we could find rest. If I attained it I could bring light to men. If I were free myself I could deliver the world." He also said: "The succoring of mother and father, the cherishing of wife and child and the following of a lawful calling, this is the greatest blessing."
"The giving alms, aid rendered to relations, blameless acts, this is the greatest blessing." "The abstaining from sins and the avoiding them, the eschewing of intoxicating drinks, diligence in good deeds, reverence and humility, contentment and gratefulness, this is the greatest blessing."
"Those who having done these things, become invincible on all sides, attain happiness on all sides. This is the greatest blessing."
"He who lives a hundred years vicious and unrestrained, a life of one day is better if a man is virtuous and reflecting. Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, it will not come near unto me. Even by the falling of water drops a water pot is filled; the fool becomes full of evil if he gathers it little by little." "Let us live happily then, not hating those who hate us!" "Let us dwell free from hatred among men who hate! and not to commit any sin, to do good and to purify one's mind." After these most wholesome maxims there follows ten commandments of which the first five apply to all people, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to lie, not get drunk, etc.
Buddha taught that it is the duty of all men to honor their parents and care for their children, to be kind to the sick and poor and sorrowing. We must keep in mind that Buddha lived more than five hundred years before Christ, and the rites and ceremonies which his priests performed adopted with slight modifications by the Catholic church. He also held religious councils and sent out missionaries to all parts of the east.
Confucius, the great moral teacher and philosopher of China lived 551 years before Christ was born, and he gave us the golden rule. Among other wise and moral things Confucius said: "Coarse rice for food, water to drink, the bended arm for a pillow — happiness may be enjoyed even with these. But without virtue both riches and honor seem to me like a passing cloud."
Mahomet counseled his follower, to live good lives and to strive after the mercy of God by fasting, charity and prayer. He said: "A man's true wealth hereafter is the good he has done to his fellow men. When he dies people will ask, what property has he left behind him? But the angels will ask what good deeds has he sent before him. Mahomet enjoined his followers to show mercy to the weak and orphaned and kindness to brutes, to abstain from gambling, and the use of strong drink.
Out of one billion six hundred million people who are scattered over the face of the earth more than eleven hundred million believe in the teachings of the great moralists whom we have alluded to. In passing we cannot refrain from referring to Egypt and those wonderful people who inhibit the valleys of the Nile. Those strange people can trace their history back, 5,550 years before the Christian era. The morality which they practiced and the moral laws which they placed upon their statutes cannot be equalled. For instance, if the master of a slave caused the death of a slave, the owner was also put to death.
No other country in the civilized world ever enacted such a law. In America where all the slave holders were Christians the slaves were not in the possession of any rights which their masters were bound to respect.
It is admitted by all who are familiar with Egyptian history that the ten commandments which Moses claimed were written by the finger of God upon two tables of stone on Mount Sinai came from Egypt.
So it must be apparent to all that morality is not dependent upon the Bible. Our chief objection to the Bible is that it places a premium on vice and crime while at the same time it puts its everlasting seal of condemnation upon all honest and upright men and women who do not accept it as the infallible word of an all wise and merciful God.
—The Broad Ax, Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 18, 1899, p. 1.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Notes on Religion – Love Unites All Graces
1895
Other Anvils
The Standard: Love is like the diamond — pure, white. Other graces shine like the precious stones of nature, each with its own hue of brilliance; the diamond uniting all colors with one beautiful and simple white. Love, uniting all graces, is "the fulfilling of the law," the beauty of holiness, "the image of God."
Presbyterian Messenger: The atmosphere of a house is what makes it homelike. Every living creature has an atmosphere of his own. He can be as chilly and damp and disagreeable as a March wind; he can be as bright, cheerful and charming as a June morning; he can be as dark and impenetrable as a November fog, or as crisp and electric as a day in December.
New York Mail and Express: It has recently been announced that two eminent western clergymen have joined in an enterprise to organize dramatic companies with a view of preventing immoral dramas upon the stage, and thereby to encourage the drama as a moralizing factor in the education of the people at large. The experiment is shortly to be tested at the People's Institute in Chicago.
London Commonwealth: Hebrew is rapidly becoming a living language again. This is one of the singular facts of the age. In Jerusalem and throughout Palestine there is a remarkable resurrection of the language of Moses. The only papers published in Palestine are two weeklies, both in Hebrew. In 1893, a Jewish monthly was started for juvenile readers, and this also was in Hebrew. There are households where only Hebrew is spoken. Here we have a sign of the times. The Jews cannot die out while they keep their old language alive.
Other Anvils
The Standard: Love is like the diamond — pure, white. Other graces shine like the precious stones of nature, each with its own hue of brilliance; the diamond uniting all colors with one beautiful and simple white. Love, uniting all graces, is "the fulfilling of the law," the beauty of holiness, "the image of God."
Presbyterian Messenger: The atmosphere of a house is what makes it homelike. Every living creature has an atmosphere of his own. He can be as chilly and damp and disagreeable as a March wind; he can be as bright, cheerful and charming as a June morning; he can be as dark and impenetrable as a November fog, or as crisp and electric as a day in December.
New York Mail and Express: It has recently been announced that two eminent western clergymen have joined in an enterprise to organize dramatic companies with a view of preventing immoral dramas upon the stage, and thereby to encourage the drama as a moralizing factor in the education of the people at large. The experiment is shortly to be tested at the People's Institute in Chicago.
London Commonwealth: Hebrew is rapidly becoming a living language again. This is one of the singular facts of the age. In Jerusalem and throughout Palestine there is a remarkable resurrection of the language of Moses. The only papers published in Palestine are two weeklies, both in Hebrew. In 1893, a Jewish monthly was started for juvenile readers, and this also was in Hebrew. There are households where only Hebrew is spoken. Here we have a sign of the times. The Jews cannot die out while they keep their old language alive.
Moral Fitness and Endeavor
1895
"There is no book, no church, no inward monitor, no testimony within, without, that can make us to know the truth without moral fitness and endeavor on our part. There must be truth in the inward parts in order to our finding truth anywhere. But, with this, there is truth for you and me, to believe, to know, to live by and to die by. The book, the conscience, the experience of humanity, through all and above all, the life and testimony of Jesus Christ, these are fountains through which the living stream wells forth. What prophets have seen, sages thought, and saints lived is true. What Jesus believed, knew and taught is true. You shall sooner convince me that yon sun emits darkness than make me believe other than this. Yea, you and I have seen human lives that we know were based on truth.
"So the truth which shall judge us at last marshals us to right or to left today.
" 'Heard are the voices,
Heard are the sages,
The Worlds and the Ages!
Choose well, your choice is
Brief and yet endless.' "
—Rev. J. Westly Earashaw.
"There is no book, no church, no inward monitor, no testimony within, without, that can make us to know the truth without moral fitness and endeavor on our part. There must be truth in the inward parts in order to our finding truth anywhere. But, with this, there is truth for you and me, to believe, to know, to live by and to die by. The book, the conscience, the experience of humanity, through all and above all, the life and testimony of Jesus Christ, these are fountains through which the living stream wells forth. What prophets have seen, sages thought, and saints lived is true. What Jesus believed, knew and taught is true. You shall sooner convince me that yon sun emits darkness than make me believe other than this. Yea, you and I have seen human lives that we know were based on truth.
"So the truth which shall judge us at last marshals us to right or to left today.
" 'Heard are the voices,
Heard are the sages,
The Worlds and the Ages!
Choose well, your choice is
Brief and yet endless.' "
—Rev. J. Westly Earashaw.
Derelicts
1895
"These are the wrecks of abandoned vessels turned loose to be carried hither and thither by winds and tide. They form one of the serious dangers to ocean navigation. In spite of all efforts to rid the sea of them, many of these unguided prowlers still drift and toss up and down the deep, threatening every passing ship with wreck. May we not find in this a parable? Derelicts — social, moral, religious — are the chief danger to safe sailing on the ocean of life. And such are found drifting everywhere. Your son and daughter and yourself would be safer if it were not for these wrecks of humanity lost to conscience and morality and to God. Every ruined soul threatens others with ruin. One misguided or neglected youth may, in the course of a lifetime of drifting and sinning, wreck a hundred others. It is a peril, as well as a crying sin, to let any boy or girl be turned adrift without moral restraint or guidance, or to allow those already lost to continue drifting while we put forth no effort to arrest or save them. Prevention is better than cure. Parents should see that the hearts of the children are so anchored to Christ, and their lives so trained for Him and ruled by His love, that no derelicts shall go forth from their homes." — Cumberland Presbyterian.
"These are the wrecks of abandoned vessels turned loose to be carried hither and thither by winds and tide. They form one of the serious dangers to ocean navigation. In spite of all efforts to rid the sea of them, many of these unguided prowlers still drift and toss up and down the deep, threatening every passing ship with wreck. May we not find in this a parable? Derelicts — social, moral, religious — are the chief danger to safe sailing on the ocean of life. And such are found drifting everywhere. Your son and daughter and yourself would be safer if it were not for these wrecks of humanity lost to conscience and morality and to God. Every ruined soul threatens others with ruin. One misguided or neglected youth may, in the course of a lifetime of drifting and sinning, wreck a hundred others. It is a peril, as well as a crying sin, to let any boy or girl be turned adrift without moral restraint or guidance, or to allow those already lost to continue drifting while we put forth no effort to arrest or save them. Prevention is better than cure. Parents should see that the hearts of the children are so anchored to Christ, and their lives so trained for Him and ruled by His love, that no derelicts shall go forth from their homes." — Cumberland Presbyterian.
Roller Skating Immoral – "Hell on Wheels"
1914
HELL ON WHEELS
The skating rink has long been considered a menace to public morals. Its history has been one of degradation. Many happy homes have been broken up as a direct cause of its evil influence.
Like a great many other evils, it apparently is harmless, but beneath the surface is an immoral tide which drags young helpless girls into the ocean of destruction, never to return to their fond parents, whose lives have been blighted and many of whom now occupy untimely graves.
That any professing Christian should allow himself to be connected with such an institution, either financially or otherwise, is beyond comprehension. Clean, healthy sport should be encouraged, but the skating rink cannot be placed in that class.
—Daily Independent, Monessen, Pennsylvania, Nov. 23, 1914, p. 4.
HELL ON WHEELS
The skating rink has long been considered a menace to public morals. Its history has been one of degradation. Many happy homes have been broken up as a direct cause of its evil influence.
Like a great many other evils, it apparently is harmless, but beneath the surface is an immoral tide which drags young helpless girls into the ocean of destruction, never to return to their fond parents, whose lives have been blighted and many of whom now occupy untimely graves.
That any professing Christian should allow himself to be connected with such an institution, either financially or otherwise, is beyond comprehension. Clean, healthy sport should be encouraged, but the skating rink cannot be placed in that class.
—Daily Independent, Monessen, Pennsylvania, Nov. 23, 1914, p. 4.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thoughtlessness
1876
There are a great many thoughtless boys (and girls, too, alas!) who are not, however, what might be called wicked and depraved. They have bad habits that arise simply from thoughtlessness, and such as often times would be easily broken up, if a little extra care and patience would be used in speaking to them of their faults. In all kindness, we wish to mention some of the thoughtless habits of otherwise good boys, and if you, dear reader, are one of that kind please think about it for a few moments.
You mark nicely painted fences with coal, chalk or pencil; you cut notches in fence pickets and tree boxes; you break branches from shade trees; pull flowers from overhanging bushes; throw dirt on the door-steps; take gates from their hinges; annoy boys smaller than yourself; play about the church before service; mark the Prayer-books; whisper to your neighbor when you should kneel in prayer; and numberless other sins you commit, all of which you would feel very sorry for, could you see the annoyance and distress that they cause. Every night before you retire, enumerate to yourself all the sins of this nature you have committed, and then earnestly repent, and resolve by GOD'S help, that you will do so no more. A real conscientious, honest boy, will endeavor to correct a wrong he has done. Suppose one should go and wash from the fence the marks he had thoughtlessly made on it the day before, do you suppose he would ever be so thoughtless as to deface it again?
We pray that our young Churchmen will be the first to correct all such disagreeable and sinful practices as we have enumerated.
—The Young Churchman, Milwaukee, WI, June 1, 1876, p. 3.
There are a great many thoughtless boys (and girls, too, alas!) who are not, however, what might be called wicked and depraved. They have bad habits that arise simply from thoughtlessness, and such as often times would be easily broken up, if a little extra care and patience would be used in speaking to them of their faults. In all kindness, we wish to mention some of the thoughtless habits of otherwise good boys, and if you, dear reader, are one of that kind please think about it for a few moments.
You mark nicely painted fences with coal, chalk or pencil; you cut notches in fence pickets and tree boxes; you break branches from shade trees; pull flowers from overhanging bushes; throw dirt on the door-steps; take gates from their hinges; annoy boys smaller than yourself; play about the church before service; mark the Prayer-books; whisper to your neighbor when you should kneel in prayer; and numberless other sins you commit, all of which you would feel very sorry for, could you see the annoyance and distress that they cause. Every night before you retire, enumerate to yourself all the sins of this nature you have committed, and then earnestly repent, and resolve by GOD'S help, that you will do so no more. A real conscientious, honest boy, will endeavor to correct a wrong he has done. Suppose one should go and wash from the fence the marks he had thoughtlessly made on it the day before, do you suppose he would ever be so thoughtless as to deface it again?
We pray that our young Churchmen will be the first to correct all such disagreeable and sinful practices as we have enumerated.
—The Young Churchman, Milwaukee, WI, June 1, 1876, p. 3.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The Bible Still Sufficient
1909
The Biblical World contains a very learned article, said to be the product of certain professors in the divinity school of the University of Chicago, in which the stand is taken that the Bible is not a complete moral guide for the present age. These professors ore not taking an attitude that will bring them much else than ridicule. If the Bible was ever a proper and sufficient moral guide, it still is proper and sufficient. Human nature has not changed a great deal since the world began. Real right and real wrong have not exchanged places in the slightest degree. Fundamentals have not changed. The Bible always was a book of fundamental principles; it is so today, and so it will always be. These fundamentals are as complete a guide to the settlement of any question of modern origin as they were to the settlement of any question of ancient origin. The Chicago university professors should desist lest public opinion consign them to the donkey class.
—Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 9, 1909, p. 4.
The Biblical World contains a very learned article, said to be the product of certain professors in the divinity school of the University of Chicago, in which the stand is taken that the Bible is not a complete moral guide for the present age. These professors ore not taking an attitude that will bring them much else than ridicule. If the Bible was ever a proper and sufficient moral guide, it still is proper and sufficient. Human nature has not changed a great deal since the world began. Real right and real wrong have not exchanged places in the slightest degree. Fundamentals have not changed. The Bible always was a book of fundamental principles; it is so today, and so it will always be. These fundamentals are as complete a guide to the settlement of any question of modern origin as they were to the settlement of any question of ancient origin. The Chicago university professors should desist lest public opinion consign them to the donkey class.
—Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, Oct. 9, 1909, p. 4.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Rural Church
1915
The Farmers The Custodians of the Nation's Morality
Co-operation of Church, School and Press Essential to Community Building
By Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers' Union
The church, the press and the school form a triple alliance of progress that guides the destiny of every community, state and nation. Without them civilization would wither and die and through them life may attain its greatest blessing, power and knowledge. The farmers of this nation are greatly indebted to this social triumvirate for their uplifting influence, and on behalf of the American plowmen I want to thank those engaged in these high callings for their able and efficient service, and I shall offer to the press a series of articles on co-operation between these important influences and the farmers in the hope of increasing the efficiency of all by mutual understanding and organized effort. We will take up, first, the rural church.
The Farmers Are Great Church Builders.
The American farmer is the greatest church builder the world has ever known. He is the custodian of the nation's morality; upon his shoulders rests the "ark of the covenant" and he is more responsive to religious influences than any other class of citizenship.
The farmers of this nation have built 120,000 churches at a cost of $750,000,000, and the annual contribution of the nation toward all church institutions approximates $200,000,000 per annum. The farmers of the United States build 22 churches per day. There are 20,000,000 rural church communicants on the farm, and 54 per cent of the total membership of all churches reside in the country.
The farm is the power-house of all progress and the birthplace of all that is noble. The Garden of Eden was in the country and the man who would get close to God must first get close to nature.
The Functions of a Rural Church.
If the rural churches today are going to render a service which this age demands, there must be co-operation between the religious, social and economic life of the community.
The church to attain its fullest measure of success must enrich the lives of the people in the community it serves; it must build character; develop thought and increase the efficiency of human life, it must serve the social, business and intellectual, as well as the spiritual and moral side of life. If religion does not make a man more capable, more useful and more just, what good is it? We want a practical religion, one we can live by and farm by, as well as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed is that rural community which has but one place of worship. While competition is the life of trade, it is death to the rural church and moral starvation to the community. Petty sectarianism is a scourge that blights the life, and the church prejudice saps the vitality, of many communities. An over-churched community is a crime against religion, a serious handicap to society and a useless tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are essential and church pride commendable, the high teaching of universal Christianity must prevail if the rural church is to fulfill its mission to agriculture.
We frequently have three or four churches in a community which is not able to adequately support one. Small congregations attend services once a month and all fail to perform the religious functions of the community. The division of religious forces and the breaking into fragments of moral efforts is ofttimes little less than a calamity and defeats the very purpose they seek to promote.
The evils of too many churches can be minimized by cooperation. The social and economic life of a rural community are respective units and cannot be successfully divided by denominational lines, and the churches can only occupy this important field by co-operation and co-ordination.
The efficient country church will definitely serve its community by leading in all worthy efforts at community building, in uniting the people in all co-operative endeavors for the general welfare of the community and in arousing a real love for country life and loyalty to the country home and these results can only be successfully accomplished by the united effort of the press, the school, the church and farmers.
The Farmers The Custodians of the Nation's Morality
Co-operation of Church, School and Press Essential to Community Building
By Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers' Union
The church, the press and the school form a triple alliance of progress that guides the destiny of every community, state and nation. Without them civilization would wither and die and through them life may attain its greatest blessing, power and knowledge. The farmers of this nation are greatly indebted to this social triumvirate for their uplifting influence, and on behalf of the American plowmen I want to thank those engaged in these high callings for their able and efficient service, and I shall offer to the press a series of articles on co-operation between these important influences and the farmers in the hope of increasing the efficiency of all by mutual understanding and organized effort. We will take up, first, the rural church.
The Farmers Are Great Church Builders.
The American farmer is the greatest church builder the world has ever known. He is the custodian of the nation's morality; upon his shoulders rests the "ark of the covenant" and he is more responsive to religious influences than any other class of citizenship.
The farmers of this nation have built 120,000 churches at a cost of $750,000,000, and the annual contribution of the nation toward all church institutions approximates $200,000,000 per annum. The farmers of the United States build 22 churches per day. There are 20,000,000 rural church communicants on the farm, and 54 per cent of the total membership of all churches reside in the country.
The farm is the power-house of all progress and the birthplace of all that is noble. The Garden of Eden was in the country and the man who would get close to God must first get close to nature.
The Functions of a Rural Church.
If the rural churches today are going to render a service which this age demands, there must be co-operation between the religious, social and economic life of the community.
The church to attain its fullest measure of success must enrich the lives of the people in the community it serves; it must build character; develop thought and increase the efficiency of human life, it must serve the social, business and intellectual, as well as the spiritual and moral side of life. If religion does not make a man more capable, more useful and more just, what good is it? We want a practical religion, one we can live by and farm by, as well as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed is that rural community which has but one place of worship. While competition is the life of trade, it is death to the rural church and moral starvation to the community. Petty sectarianism is a scourge that blights the life, and the church prejudice saps the vitality, of many communities. An over-churched community is a crime against religion, a serious handicap to society and a useless tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are essential and church pride commendable, the high teaching of universal Christianity must prevail if the rural church is to fulfill its mission to agriculture.
We frequently have three or four churches in a community which is not able to adequately support one. Small congregations attend services once a month and all fail to perform the religious functions of the community. The division of religious forces and the breaking into fragments of moral efforts is ofttimes little less than a calamity and defeats the very purpose they seek to promote.
The evils of too many churches can be minimized by cooperation. The social and economic life of a rural community are respective units and cannot be successfully divided by denominational lines, and the churches can only occupy this important field by co-operation and co-ordination.
The efficient country church will definitely serve its community by leading in all worthy efforts at community building, in uniting the people in all co-operative endeavors for the general welfare of the community and in arousing a real love for country life and loyalty to the country home and these results can only be successfully accomplished by the united effort of the press, the school, the church and farmers.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Sermon: "Is the Church on the Breakers?" or "The Great Apostasy"
Elyria, Ohio, 1919
Sunday was a memorable day at the First Baptist. Three large audiences heard Pastor R. K. Neighbor and Singer R. W. Carr.
It is impossible to report the three addresses, but we can give our readers a sketch of the afternoon sermon, which was on prophetical lines. The matter discussed by the preacher was an answer to the question: "Is the Church on the Breakers," or, "The Great Apostasy."
After the preacher had clearly shown from the gospels and from the epistles that Christ and the Apostles never promised that the church would conquer commerce and inaugurate a reign of righteousness on earth, but the church was until the return to the Lord to remain and suffer in sincerity he gave the picture of the present condition of the church.
He showed the drift of at least two of the great denominations, the Methodist and Baptists from their meetings. He showed how the Y.M.C.A. had left the first great note of their organization, which was the salvation of young men, and for a great part had gone over to social and mental uplift.
The preacher declares that present church conditions need not shake the faith of any in the Lord Jesus Christ nor in the power of the gospel to save. Christ had clearly foretold the very conditions that exist today. The failure is not with God but with man.
In bringing his message to a close the minister spoke very rapidly and threw forth many sentences that should make Christians think. We give some of his concluding statements, just as he spoke them:
"God's call to His church is to come out of the world. Let us go forth there unto Him, without the camp. The friend of this world is the enemy of God.
"God's testimony through his church is against the world. John the Baptist did not face Herod with fawning flatteries; Jesus Christ did not seek the praises of the Pharisees.
"Peter and John did not smooth down their message to please the men in authority; Paul did not strike for freedom by condemning the corruption of Felix.
"The ministry must bear witness that the world has taken and with wicked hands has crucified the Lord.
"The ministry must do as Christ did — testify to the world that her works are evil.
"The church cannot take the witness stand for the world; she must condemn it.
"The church cannot accept the righteousness of the world, she must spurn it.
"The church cannot run with the world, she must leave it.
"We have no fluttering flags of truce to tender; we have no peace parleys to publish; we have no ringing compromises to consider. Union with the world is impossible, communion is forbidden.
"The church of God is not an entertainment bureau, vicing with the vaudeville and teaming with the theatre.
"The church is not to be furnished with equipment for fancy fairs.
"The church is not detailed to delight the world with dramatic displays and comic concerts.
"The Lord never commissioned the church to provide recreation and to furnish amusement.
"The social committee is not the sword of the Spirit; the fun and frolic league is not quick and powerful unto salvation; the amusement bureau is not the power of God unto salvation.
"The Lord Jesus never developed new and startling stunts to hold the masses.
"Peter never started a baked bean bazaar to catch the masses. Paul never led sinners down to Egypt, where he furnished garlic and onions to suit the taste of the fastidious.
"Were Elijahs and Daniels and Peters ever manufactured by pink tea socials? Were Luthers and Knoxes and Melancthons and Wesleys ever sent forth from magic lantern entertainments? Was D. L. Moody the mighty evangelist because he knew the cunning art of presiding at a church oyster supper? Was Chas. H. Spurgeon the mighty man of God because he was an adept at serving soup?
"The church must forever abandon catching the wily world by rat trap methods.
"Away with the kitchen, back to the cross,
Away with the gravy and back to grace,
Away with pastry and back to purity and power in life.
"The line of demarcation between the church and the world is being lost; the church is becoming secularized; the bride of Christ hath forgotten her first love."
Preaching tonight at 7:30. The children's choir will sing.
—The Evening Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, April 28, 1919, page 10.
Note: "rat trap" methods is my guess. I couldn't figure out the word that was printed, something like "eatch." The whole last section, the preacher's remarks only had quote marks for the first couple paragraphs, but clearly they're meant to be his quotes throughout. I made a few other touch ups to help clarify the apparent intent. The typesetter had some troubles. As far as the preacher's concluding remarks, I think they're very powerful. He makes some excellent points and the way it's all phrased — it even says he said this last part quickly — you can tell it came across in a powerful way. Great points! I left "vicing," that's pretty clearly what he said, and a neat phrase, too, "vicing with the vaudeville." Also the whole last section shouldn't be so many paragraphs, but it sets it off nicely and is how it was originally presented. I like this article, which has a weird heading "ADD TO CHURCH," which has to be just the phrase the guy meant to say to the newspaper, "hey, add this to the church news, " and they mistakenly printed it. And last thing, then, the Church News cut (graphic) they used was inserted in the typeset page upside down.
Sunday was a memorable day at the First Baptist. Three large audiences heard Pastor R. K. Neighbor and Singer R. W. Carr.
It is impossible to report the three addresses, but we can give our readers a sketch of the afternoon sermon, which was on prophetical lines. The matter discussed by the preacher was an answer to the question: "Is the Church on the Breakers," or, "The Great Apostasy."
After the preacher had clearly shown from the gospels and from the epistles that Christ and the Apostles never promised that the church would conquer commerce and inaugurate a reign of righteousness on earth, but the church was until the return to the Lord to remain and suffer in sincerity he gave the picture of the present condition of the church.
He showed the drift of at least two of the great denominations, the Methodist and Baptists from their meetings. He showed how the Y.M.C.A. had left the first great note of their organization, which was the salvation of young men, and for a great part had gone over to social and mental uplift.
The preacher declares that present church conditions need not shake the faith of any in the Lord Jesus Christ nor in the power of the gospel to save. Christ had clearly foretold the very conditions that exist today. The failure is not with God but with man.
In bringing his message to a close the minister spoke very rapidly and threw forth many sentences that should make Christians think. We give some of his concluding statements, just as he spoke them:
"God's call to His church is to come out of the world. Let us go forth there unto Him, without the camp. The friend of this world is the enemy of God.
"God's testimony through his church is against the world. John the Baptist did not face Herod with fawning flatteries; Jesus Christ did not seek the praises of the Pharisees.
"Peter and John did not smooth down their message to please the men in authority; Paul did not strike for freedom by condemning the corruption of Felix.
"The ministry must bear witness that the world has taken and with wicked hands has crucified the Lord.
"The ministry must do as Christ did — testify to the world that her works are evil.
"The church cannot take the witness stand for the world; she must condemn it.
"The church cannot accept the righteousness of the world, she must spurn it.
"The church cannot run with the world, she must leave it.
"We have no fluttering flags of truce to tender; we have no peace parleys to publish; we have no ringing compromises to consider. Union with the world is impossible, communion is forbidden.
"The church of God is not an entertainment bureau, vicing with the vaudeville and teaming with the theatre.
"The church is not to be furnished with equipment for fancy fairs.
"The church is not detailed to delight the world with dramatic displays and comic concerts.
"The Lord never commissioned the church to provide recreation and to furnish amusement.
"The social committee is not the sword of the Spirit; the fun and frolic league is not quick and powerful unto salvation; the amusement bureau is not the power of God unto salvation.
"The Lord Jesus never developed new and startling stunts to hold the masses.
"Peter never started a baked bean bazaar to catch the masses. Paul never led sinners down to Egypt, where he furnished garlic and onions to suit the taste of the fastidious.
"Were Elijahs and Daniels and Peters ever manufactured by pink tea socials? Were Luthers and Knoxes and Melancthons and Wesleys ever sent forth from magic lantern entertainments? Was D. L. Moody the mighty evangelist because he knew the cunning art of presiding at a church oyster supper? Was Chas. H. Spurgeon the mighty man of God because he was an adept at serving soup?
"The church must forever abandon catching the wily world by rat trap methods.
"Away with the kitchen, back to the cross,
Away with the gravy and back to grace,
Away with pastry and back to purity and power in life.
"The line of demarcation between the church and the world is being lost; the church is becoming secularized; the bride of Christ hath forgotten her first love."
Preaching tonight at 7:30. The children's choir will sing.
—The Evening Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, April 28, 1919, page 10.
Note: "rat trap" methods is my guess. I couldn't figure out the word that was printed, something like "eatch." The whole last section, the preacher's remarks only had quote marks for the first couple paragraphs, but clearly they're meant to be his quotes throughout. I made a few other touch ups to help clarify the apparent intent. The typesetter had some troubles. As far as the preacher's concluding remarks, I think they're very powerful. He makes some excellent points and the way it's all phrased — it even says he said this last part quickly — you can tell it came across in a powerful way. Great points! I left "vicing," that's pretty clearly what he said, and a neat phrase, too, "vicing with the vaudeville." Also the whole last section shouldn't be so many paragraphs, but it sets it off nicely and is how it was originally presented. I like this article, which has a weird heading "ADD TO CHURCH," which has to be just the phrase the guy meant to say to the newspaper, "hey, add this to the church news, " and they mistakenly printed it. And last thing, then, the Church News cut (graphic) they used was inserted in the typeset page upside down.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Evangelists Raps Spiritualists, They Rap Back
Anaconda, Montana, 1905-06
EVANGELIST DANIELS RAPS SPIRITUALISM
SCANDINAVIAN PREACHER SAYS IT IS OF ANCIENT ORIGIN
HE ROASTS THE MEDIUMS
Denies the power of humans to call up the spirits of the dead and says that if they can only evil ones would respond.
If John J. Daniels, pastor of the Rockford, Ill., Swedish church and traveling evangelist, has the right of it spiritualism is a humbug. Evangelist Daniels, who is now on an evangelistic tour of the coast, preached in Swedish last evening in the church on the corner of Alder and Fifth streets to a large and interested audience.
Mr. Daniels showed that there is nothing new about spiritualism; that there were spiritualists in the days of Moses. It was a medium, he said, that called up the spirit of Samuel for Saul. He said that modern spiritualism is supposed to have originated in the year 1848. A family by the name of Fox in Hydesville, N. Y., was much disturbed by spirit rappings and when Miss Kate Fox spoke to these rappings she discovered that they were made by the spirit of a murdered peddler. The spirit would answer questions by rapping once for no and three times for yes. All spirits are said to follow this rule.
Miss Kate Fox and her sister discovered that it was possible to communicate in this manner with any spirit of the dead, especially with relatives, but the spirits would answer questions only through mediums. The Fox sisters were the first mediums in modern spiritualism.
Many Kinds of Mediums
Mr. Daniels stated that since 1848 the means of communicating with spirits has developed wonderfully. There are now many kinds of mediums. We have slat writing mediums, spirit circle mediums, trance mediums, materializing mediums and medium photographers.
Modern spiritualism has progressed rapidly and there are many thousands in all civilized nations. They have more than 10 newspapers developed to their interests, and, according to the last census, there are 50,000 spiritualists in the United States. There are many among the Scandinavians of both the old and the new world.
These people have no common doctrine. They believe there is a God, but they do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and they interpret the Bible to suit their own peculiar notions. Some mediums claim they have communicated with the spirit of Christ and the spirits of the apostles. In these communications Christ disowns the divinity, and the Apostle Paul congratulates the spiritualists on having found the light and the truth.
Spiritualists do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, buy they believe with Swedenborg in a development in the spirit world. They do not believe there is a hell, but many of them profess to believe in the theory of reincarnation.
Only Evil Spirits
Mr. Daniels expressed believe in a spirit world, but did not think that mediums had the power to call the spirits of the dead or communicate with them. He thought that if they could communicate with any spirits it is only with evil spirits. The phenomena of spiritualism can be ascribed almost wholly to trickery and to hypnotism. When the mediums go into trances they are in a hypnotic condition. When in this condition they make some wonderful and startling guesses, as they are all clever mind readers.
In conclusion he showed that spiritualism produced sin, vice and immorality. He said that spiritualism is the religion of free love, and mediums were usually grass widows. They have a superstition that a seventh daughter of a seventh sister is the best medium, but according to the speaker the seventh wife of a seventh husband was the best. He warned people who investigated spiritualism against allowing themselves to be hypnotized, as it greatly weakens the will power.
Mr. Daniels will speak in the same church to-night on "Infidelity." He expects to remain in the city for a week or more, and he will then go to Missoula and on to the coast cities and towns.
--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, December 14, 1905, page 5.
ANOTHER REPLY TO THE SWEDISH EVANGELIST
EDITOR TUTTLE WRITES ABOUT THE SPIRITUALISTIC FAITH
HE ASKS FOR A FAIR DEAL
Fewer divorces and less criminality among spiritualists than any other faith, according to Mr. Tuttle's statistics
Hudson Tuttle, the acknowledged chief of the spiritualists of the United States, writing from Berlin Heights, Ohio in reply to the sermon preached in this city some time ago by a Scandinavian evangelist, has the following to say:
Editor of The Anaconda Standard: "In your issue of Dec. 14 appears a report of a sermon by Evangelist Daniels, in which he roasts mediums and denies the power of humans to call up the spirits of the dead, and says if they can, only evil ones would respond. In his discourse he assails spiritualism, making charges so far from the truth that he shows either utter ignorance of the subject or a design to mislead. If his object is to lead believers away from what he thinks a great sin and delusion, should he not have in some small measure the charity of the Master? Can he hope to win by epithets and false representations? As this sermon is one of his stock, constantly repeated wherever he goes, he ought to know that his statements are correct and the ground solid beneath his feet.
"He commences by saying that there is nothing new about spiritualism, as though someone had made that claim. Spiritualists make no such claim. To the contrary, they hold it to be as old as the rain. The Bible, from beginning to end, is filled with records of spirit ministrations, and there is not a phase of mediumship between the spirit world and this not given in its pages. History records manifestations of spirits in all ages and among all races, from the savage to the most civilized. All the spiritualists claim is that in its modern form it belongs to the present. The study of the laws and conditions of the psychic or spiritual domain by the methods of physical science -- experimentation, careful observation of phenomena and co-ordination of facts; the deduction therefrom of a philosophy of life, here and hereafter; the foundation on this basis of a system of ethics and of a religion which is devoted to righteousness— this is spiritualism as understood by its believers.
"As Rev. Daniels admits that spirits can communicate, there is no contention on that point. But he is not content with this theory. He declares that the phenomenon can be ascribed almost wholly to trickery and hypnotism. Hypnotism is one of those all-embracing terms which, when difficulties arise, sound learned, but mean nothing. But there is a residium left which neither trickery nor hypnotism can explain even to Rev. Daniel's satisfaction, and he calls in evil spirits to his aid. He takes the Bible as infallible authority, and by what right does he dare assert that all spirits that communicate are evil? He well says that spiritualism is not new. Yes, and is it not the same spiritualism recorded in the Bible? The witch of Endor was a medium when she called up the spirit of Samuel. Was he an evil spirit? An angel unloosed Peter from chains in prison; an angel appeared to Hager; two came to Abraham; angels came to Joseph. These are a few instances recorded, for the book must be almost quoted as a whole to give them all. Were these angels and messengers evil spirits? "What is a spirit? According to Matthew, xiv., 26; Luke, xxiv., 37, 'The soul of man separated from his body,' of this being it is said, Hebrews, i., 14, 'Are not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs to salvation?' Is it not strange that while our good and loving friends are shut from us by an impassable wall, the evil spirits can approach, communicate and lead us to ruin? There is not a text in the Bible supporting Rev. Daniels in this conclusion, which is a libel on the God he worships.
"But his opinion, being no more than an opinion, requires only passing mention. His charges against the moral status of spiritualists are of vastly more consequence. They are such as no Christian gentleman should make unless doubly sure of their correctness. Only overwhelming sense of sinfulness and desire to save souls from ruin would justify such uncharitable accusations. As reported, he said: 'In conclusion he showed that spiritualism produced sin, vice and immorality. He said that spiritualism is the religion of free love, and mediums were usually grass widows. They have a superstition that a seventh daughter of a seventh sister is the best medium, but, according to the speaker, the seventh wife of a seventh husband was the best.' These are all threadbare charges, utterly without foundation in truth. He truly said that spiritualism has made rapid growth. It is estimated that there are 3,000,000 of spiritualists in the United States. It has representative journals in England, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the South American states. It has a national association possessing a splendid home building at Washington, with a library and publishing bureau for the free distribution of its literature; a missionary force in the field and a lyceum or Sunday school for instruction of the children in its principles. This association has all the rights and privileges conferred by law on religious bodies.
"Is not a tree known by its fruits? Spiritualism has been before the world for more than 50 years. If it is the work of evil spirits, and hence immoral in its tendencies should not the record of crime indicate its influence? I have collected the reports of all great penal institutions in this country and Canada and find that not a single spiritualist is reported within their walls. There are more than 700 ministers of the gospel and several evangelists, but not a single spiritualist. I do not mention this strange fact in disparagement of the ministerial profession, but to emphasize the statement that spiritualism leads directly away from crime. As to the charge of 'free love,' in all the standard literature of spiritualism there cannot be found one word of endorsement of that doctrine. Is not a cause represented by the organizations formed for its culture and extension? Are not all churches represented by their creeds? The national association thus represents spiritualism, and its statement of principles has no word indorsing any other relation in married life than that of the purest love, mutual devotion and faithfulness to the vows which make two souls one in the journey of life. It publishes a ritual containing the marriage service, and its ordained speakers have the right to officiate at marriages. There are fewer divorces among spiriutalists than of other beliefs, for the marriage relation is held with greater reverence as not only continuing till death, but into the infinite life beyond."
--The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, January 1, 1906, page 2.
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