"THE FRETTING LEPROSY OF LIFE."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14993, 13 June 1914, Page 16

"THE FRETTING LEPROSY OF LIFE."

A scathing denunciation of underhand dealing in business was made by Di- R. F. Horton, at Lyndhurst-road Church, London, preaching from Zechariah v. Lying and stealing he called tbo "fretting leprosy of life," and went on to.say that gambling was nothing but thieving by mutual consent ; dishonest practices in business were thieving; it was thieving to take payment from an employer, and not to d i the work for wjiich that money was paid; and. in the long run, ruin waited upon dishonesty. As for lying, it was equally a curse of society—it made social life miserable, and caused misunderstanding and hatred -in international relationships. "Lot us be glad that it is still considered the characteristic of tho Englishman that he speaks tho truth, and let us be careful that we never by any deviation from th*-- truth bring dishonour to tho namo of England, for the man who lies, sins not- only against God, but against England."

Dr Horton went on to speak of tho latter part of Zechariah's vision—tho epbah with the spirit of wickedness hidden beneath the loaden weight)—saying that the ephah represented commerce, and that, alas! too often tho spirit of wickedness crept in beneath the loaden weight. "The worst cruelties of tho Middle Ages aro being perpetrated by men of business who, in tho lust for making money, forget human life, forget they are human, and become mero men of business. Wickedness is the great* heresy of to-day— greater than any mistaken theology or misconceived idea—the devilry, the heartless cruelty, tho lust, the wickedness of the human heart." Dr Hortou ended by an eloquent appeal to the women to Use their gentle influence in ending tho wrongs that took place in commerce and in society; that whenever anything dishonest or underhanded was done in tho name.of commerce, man might know that ho had shocked woman, "tho tender conscience of society."