p. 8 | Moral Laxness by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 21, 1904

Moral Laxness

By L. A. S.

A New York clergyman, Rev. R. P. Johnson, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, is delivering a series of Sunday night addresses on “Ominous Signs of the Times.” In the second of these addresses, which was on “Moral Laxness,” he drew the following picture of the times in this respect, which any one who has followed the newspaper records of current events knows is not overdrawn:—

The apostle says the love of money is the root of all evil, and the madness for money, which is characteristic of our times, has put a tremendous strain upon the moral fiber of the age. There are get-rich-quick concerns, gold-brick enterprises, gambling devices, adulterated articles put on the market as genuine. Then come the dishonest organizations, which, on the influence of some great name in the business world, and by means of flowery and romantic prospectuses, and by the votes of dummy directors, launch an enterprise which has enough water in the stock to drown the whole concern. The revelations which have recently been made in this city have been sickening in their disclosures of greed, stupidity, and lack of integrity. There has beyond question been a decay of the religious life of the home. Luxury, social ambition, ostentation, breed scandals and multiply divorce suits. But possibly the worst of all conditions is revealed today in the sphere of civic and political life. The far-reaching corruption being uncovered in the Post-office Department, the ugly rumors, and seemingly more than rumors, in connection with the Indian lands, the serious charges being made, apparently not without foundation, in other land transactions,—these and other evidences of corruption make us pause. The same evil disease has attacked the State administrations. But when we come to the cities, the case is saddest of all. Call the roll: New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, and many others, from East to West, from North to South—civic corruption is no respecter of sections.

The signs of moral laxness are becoming so numerous and so conspicuous that many besides Seventh-day Adventists are also calling attention to them. But we can also point out their true significance as not only omens of warning to all who would maintain Christian integrity of character, but heralds of the approaching day when earth’s rightful Sovereign shall come in glory to cleanse his domain of sin and sinners, and set up his everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace. These “ominous signs of the times” bid Christians look up and lift up their heads; for their redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21 : 28. L. A. S.