CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 8

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

• 4_ THE SHACKLES OF LAW. ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON HAHPBR That men are not to be mado good by Act of Parliament was a contention strongly emphasised by Archdeacon Harper in a striking sermon which ho preached in St. Peter's Anglican Church last evening. At tho outsot he made a direct appeal to tho basal principles of tho Christian faith, and, thus fortified, entered into a forceful criticism oE tho modern movement which aims at promoting moral and soeial reform by the aid of legislative enactments. In explaining tho failure of legalism to make people righteous, tho Archdeacon stated that legalism looked upon guilt as depending upon an act and deed, whereas our lord spoke hardly ever about deeds or acts of sin- He looked upon guilt as a matter of the thought and will which existed before the act. Laws wore certainly necessary to punish crime, but not to make it impossible. It was not tho cheeking of acts of sin that Christ was careful to insist upon; it was the raising of character, and character depended not upon the act, but upon tho will. Christianity had made many nations of the world strong and great, not by the imposition of laws, but by tho introduction of a principle. There was a great danger in too much lawmaking, especially in those matters which only in an aggravated form bccamc evils. ■Archdeacon Harper.. then proceeded to cite instances in which law-making in this country had been carried too far.

Weaklings and Temptation. On the subjeet of drink lie remarked that it was perfectly right that this traffic should he controlled and regulated. It was also riglit to punish criminals, aud, in this category, he included men who used their position simply for their own. ends withont the smallest regard for tho lives and characters of those whom they got into their clutches. But to abolish drink was quite another question. This cause was tantamount to a removal of temptation. The speaker admitted that it was the great argument of those who advocated the abolition erf the drink .traffic that it would remove temptation. The actual result of this, however, would be to.ercato a great many weaklings. A law might be-made to-day and altered tomorrow in the political life of a. nation. Supposing a law decreeing the abolition of tho drink traffic to bo reversed there would be a grsnt number of weaklings to consider. Why was it, asked the preacher, that tho coloured races of the world became so easily, and so terribly addicted to drink '< Was-it not because it was new to them? Sporl. Another question of this kind was that relating to the uso of money in matters of sport. Tho speaker desired to say emphatically that there was nat ono single brainch of sport from which every possible benefit should and could not be had apart from 'money. The introduction of money was taking away from sport its true. character. Yet he would suy clearly that if the attempt were made to intorfern with freedom in this matter by legislation, a niojo would bo made in a direction absolutely contrary to the principles of Jesus Christ. Men, unless their lives were based upon these principles, would act lip to the limit of tho law and bo content. To-day, there was a large section of-.tho cpmmunity'i'vwhich . was content dimply lb I dbey defiried 1 'laws.' Yet, many a man, long before he reached this point, had departed from the spirit of Jesus Christ. In the old time the Pharisees had lived np to tho limit of the law. Directly that limit was reached they considered themselves free to do as they pleased. The result was that Christ could only speak of them as hypocrites and unworthy.

"Who is to Hold Our Conscience?" 1 ' The que-"Hon to bo determined, said the 1 preacher, was: '.'Who is to hold our con- ■ science?"—"ls Jesus Christ to hold our conscience, or is the legislature of the country to hold it?" There was no escape from this position. Too much, lawmaking in the directions indicated involved that people must "entrust their consciences to the Parliament of their country instead of placing them in the keeping of Jesus Christ. They should ba very careful about doing this. Another result of legislation carried too far would he the creation of hypocrites. A man ehccked' by laws and ordinances from doing n stated thing, but retaining the will to do it, might not be a hypocrite in the eyes of his fellows, but ho was certainly a hypocrite in the eyes of God. "There is a feeling going abroad in this community," said the preacher, "that if a person is a follower of Jesus Christ he must always vote on the side of lesislation which curtails liberty in directions that are not in themselves wrong, but may become so." The fact was, he continued, after citing a particular case, that Christians taking up this attitude were going absolutely asainst the teaching and practice of Jesus Chrisr. He would leave it to hie hearers to determine whether this was right or wrong. The SpirH of Liberty. "I would sooner," said Archdeacon Harper, "see a nation free, with a few who fall, while the majority, by the grace of Clod, arc strong enough to Tcsist, than a nation of many weaklings and many hypocrites, who do not commit a. crime becauso they cannot but, in the eyes of Jesus Christ, are just as guilty as if they had." Concluding, the preacher declared his belief that' the spirit of Christ was tho spirit of liberty. He believed that no other power could kill evil but tho power of example and influence inspired by the spirit of Christ in men. Exceptional bargains in household furnishings aro offered by Mr. Goo. Winder at his establishment nt tho corner of Cuba Street and Manners Street in consequence of an annual stock-taking clearance. The articles on offer include beds, wardrobes, couches, and many other articles of furniture, lamps, heaters, sewing machines, and a large assortment of carpets, linoleums and rugs. Full particulars will bo found in our advertising columns. "This beetle pasto I purchased here doesn't seem to kill tho beetles at all." "Ah, you see, madam, the properties of this preparation aro not to kill the beetles at once, but to undermine their constitutions." i Doctor—"l don't think it is anything serious, but you will have to stay in bad at least two weeks.'' Patient—"Doctor, do you know this is a pound-a-day hotel?" Doctor—"Yes; I am a friend of the proprietor." Broken-Down Sporting Cove (somewhat shopworn)—" Think you'll know mo next timo you see me, guv'ner?" Publican (who has boen taking stock of him)—"l may, if yon don't wash your faco in the meantime." ■ First Lady—"How very happy the bridegroom looks! Heally, it is pleasant to see a young man looking so joyful." Second Lady—"Hush! That's not tho bridegroom; that's a gentleman the bride jilted six months ago." "Isn't your speech a little ungraminatical here and therer" "Perhaps," answered tho new M.P.j "but, you see, I've got to keep it from being too severely grammatical. iiome of my constituents think I was trying to put on airs." "You hear what the constable says When the prisoner struck you, you retaliated." "Indadc, 'tis a loie, ycr Honour! 1 just put me list in wan of his eyes and broke his noso for 'im, an' that's all, sorr!" Impatient Manager (to errand hoy)—"I told you to run and hurry back with this message." Boy—"Yes, sir; but you see, tho way goin' and comin' was through the park, whoro the signs read, 'Keep on the walk.'" "Children," began the school guardian, "what, shall I talk nbout?" And a little I girl piped from a rear bench, very wisely; I-.Want dp you know?"