Editorial February 15, 1919 Issue

Civilization Will Triumph

William P. McKenzie

What is civilization? It is the deliverance from barbarism that is accomplished when men cease to be savages and become citizens, and a good citizen may be said to be one regardful of the second table of the law of Moses. He does not engage in theft. He will not kill his fellow man. Loving his neighbor he will not destroy his home with lust, his character by false witness, nor his peace of mind with covetousness.

Now the man who will not steal must earn, and so he has to engage in useful labor of some sort. If the hate which is the instigation of murder be overcome, this can only be by decency and kindness, and these bring out respect for the neighbor and interest in his welfare. The mastering of lust and the gaining of deliverance from sense intoxication and all sorts of drunkenness shows man emerged from the beast, and qualified for trustworthiness; this is also evidenced when an evil report is not taken up and published regarding the neighbor whose home rights are respected. Escape from covetousness liberates a man to find a sweetness of nature devoid of jealousy, envy, and bitterness.

As a matter of fact the good citizen is found to be religious also, understanding and obeying the first table of the law, honoring one God, and therefore having no gods such as the heathen follow; for they deify evil qualities of the human mind and go to extremes of evil in obedience to the malign tendencies which they glorify; but true religion acknowledges one God and has no gods beside.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Evil Drives and How to Stop Them