For the Sabbath

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15359, 6 October 1923, Page 12 (Supplement)

For the Sabbat h

THE GREATNESS OF GOD. “As the marsh-hen secretly builds on the watery sod, Behold, I will build me a nest on the greatness of God; I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh-hen flies In the freedom that Alls all the space twixt the marsh and the skies; By so many roots as the marsh-grass sends in the sod I will heartily lay me a-hold on the greatness of God; Oh, like to the greatness of God is the greatness within The range of the marshes, the liberal marshes of Glynn.” t—Sidney Lanier. “THE LORD OF THOUGHT.” The tragic death of the Eev. C. W. Emmet in America should call attention to lus last great book, written in conjunction with Miss Lily Dougall and called The Lord of Thought. “Described in its sub-title as a study of the problems which confronted Jesus Christ, and the solution He offered, t it is not the practical problems of the world which are meant here, but those belonging to the realm of ideas, Hie theoretical controversies which determine our so-called doctrines,” says the Scotsman, reviewing this book. “Ever since the publication of Schweitzer’s epoch-making book, The Quest of the Historical Jesus, it is true, as the authors allege, that emphasis on the eschatological interest has characterised nearly everything that has been written about the teaching of Christ. They argue, on the other hand, that this feature in His portrait is a mistake, an unwarrantable gloss from the primitive Apostolic Church. Jesus Himself, they say, did not expect a speedy and supernatural destruction of the world. What He did expect was the termination of an order of society based on oppression, as the result of His appeal to the Jews to rise to national forgiveness and fellowship, and fuse their fervid patriotism in a world-embracing zeal for j,he God He knew to be Father of all mankind.

“We must rub the window clean of the nationalistic haze created by the apocalyptic hopes if we would seo the real Jesus. Their interpretation, they insist rightly, ascribes to Jesus an originality and a dominance in the sphere of thought whioh are much more in keeping with the historical results of His impact on the world of men.”

MR WILSON’S GRAVE WARNING. Ex-President Wilson writing in the Atlantic Monthly, under the heading, “The Road Away from Revolution,” declares that present-day civilisation cannot survive materially unless redeemed spiritually. This is the first time since his illness that. Mr Wilson has made public his views on present-day problems. He makes what is essentially a religious appeal for better undemanding between Capital and Labour. Mr Wilson says;

“In these doubtful, anxious days, when all the world is at unrest and, look which way you will, the road ahead seems darkened by shadows which portend dangers of many kinds, it is only common prudence that we should look about us and attempt to assess the causes of distress and tnc most likely means for removing them. “He proceeds to analyse the existing state of American civilisation, and appeals for a better understanding between ‘the haves and have nets,'’ and then says' that the real ground for universal unrest lies deep at the sources of the spiritual life of our time and leads to revolution. The cause of tho Russian Revolution, which he calls ‘the outstanding event or its kind in our age,’ was, in his view, a systematic denial to the great body of Russians of the rights and privileges which all normal men desire, and must have, if they are to be coutented and within reach of happiness. What has this to do with America, he asks. It was against capitalism, he declares, that the Russian leaders directed thfir attack. . . . and ‘it is against

capitalism, under one name or auollier, that the discontented classes everywhere draw their indictment.’ Everywhere, he says, there are thoughtful men who believe capitalism is indispensable to civilisation, but he goo's on to ask —Is the capitalist system unimpeachable? Is it not true that capitalists often seem to regard men whom they used as mere Instruments of profit, whose physical and mental powers it was legitimate to exploit? Ought we not to seek a way to remove such offences, and make-life itself clean for those who will share honourably and cleanly in it? And he concludes: "The world has been made safe for democracy. There is no need now to fear that any such mad design as that entertained by the insolent and ignorant llohenzoHerns and their counsellors may prevail against it, but democracy has not yet made the world safe against irrational revolution. That supreme task which is nothing less than the salvation of civilisation now faces democracy, insistent and imperative. There is no escaping it unless everything we have built up is presently to fall in ruin about us, and the United States, as the greatest of the democracies, must undertake it. The road that leads away from revolution is clearly marked, for it is defined by the nature of men and of organised society. It, therefore, behoves us to study very carefully aud very candidly the exact nature of the task and the means of its accomplishment. The sum of the whole matter is this, that our civilisation cannot survive materially unless it be redeemed spiritually. Here is the final challenge to our Churches, to our political organisations, and to our capitalists, to every one who fears God pr loves his country.”