The world is rapidly being made safe for hypocrisy. Evidently some of th e shipments of Spring poems sent to th e The K ing’s Business were spoiled in tran sit— a t least th e re are a lot of them we can’t use. In answer to th e question how the saying “ robbing P ete r to pay P au l” originated, The Pathfinder gives the following in teresting explanation: Dec. 17, 1550, th e abbey church of St Peter, W estm inster, England, was advanced to th e dignity of a cathedral by le tte rs p aten t; b u t 10 years later it was joined to th e diocese of London again, and many of its estates were ap propriated to th e rep airs of St. P au l’s c a t h e d r a l . A w riter in 1569 said: “ I t was n o t desirable to rob St. P e te r’s a lta r in order to build’ one to St. P au l,” hence th e origin of the saying in its present modified form. Society is indeed becoming very re fined. It is now fashionable to issue engraved announcem ents of divorce. One such card from Texas reads, “The di vorcees p arted w ith no ill feeling. Di vorce granted on grounds of incompati bility.” ' “ Canned sermons” are g etting to be th e thing in some' sections for th e pho nograph is tak ing th e place of a pastor as' a m easure of economy in many churches where pastors have no t been .adequately support ed. The plan has some advant ages a t least. The p arty who se lects th e sermon records can tak e his pick of something th a t will be easy on himself and th a t will deal prop erly with, his neighbor. Then, too, if the message becomes wearisome th e ma chine can be sh u t off and th e congrega tion Can hear th e balance when they get ready. We have an idea th e phono graph pastor affords a g reat relief to th e people, in some places a t least. John W. Doorly, noted Christian Sci ence lecturer of London, as reported by th e papers, says th a t if th e re is anything th a t is good, pure, healthy or godlike in his life, he owes it to Mary Baker Eddy and th a t m illions are telling the same story. T h at’s th e pity of it— th a t the system makes use of th e name “Christ
ian” and yet hands all th e glory to “Mother” Eddy instead of to Christ. A friend recently converted from Eddy- ism, told us th a t in all the months he had attended Christian Science prayer (?) meetings, he had never heard the name of Jesus Christ mentioned, but th e name of Mrs. Eddy was exalted to th e skies. H ere is a statem en t appearing in a tobacco dealers’ magazine: “ In a com pany of smokers you may stop talk ing as often as you will, b u t the si lences and breaks in th e conversation never seem disagreeable, being filled w ith the pleasant business of puffing the smoke. B u t in a group of non-smokers, th e pauses are frequently prolonged to th e point of positive em barrassment, and difficult to b reak in a n a tu ra l,' un affected m anner.” A little farth er down th e same article says, “The pipe draws wisdom from the lips of th e phil osopher and shuts the mouth of the fool.” It is quite evident th a t it didn’t do eith er in this instance. The Wesleyan Christian Advocate in its regu lar tirade against those who believe in th e second coming of Christ, says: “The German outrage on Belgium by th e K aiser is to be far surpassed by th e cruelty of K aiser Jesus in his m ilitary autocra cy. The transform ation of Christ into a bloody conqueror is th e colossal crime in the en tire history of theological thought. The blasphemy of infidelity in depicting the despotic cruelty of God fades into meek gentleness compared w ith th e picture pre-m illennialists draw of Jesu s.” Let it be noted th a t b y vote of these Methodist editors the rig h t of the Lord to come in judgm ent and take vengeance on sinners, according to the prophecies, has been w ithdrawn. I t re mains to be seen w hether or not He will abide by th eir decisions, bu t we have an idea He will do ju st as the inspired Word says He will. Jewish Rabbis are never tired of te ll ing us th a t Isa. 53 instead of picturing Jesus Christ pictures th e Jew ish people in th e ir p ath of suffering a t the hands of Gentiles— being led like a lamb silent on th e way to slaughter, “He openeth not His mouth.” If th is is a character
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