HONOR VERSUS IDOLATRY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 13, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 46.

HONOR VERSUS IDOLATRY.

THAT the late President McKinley, who so cruelly died at the hand of an assassin, was a good man, all believe. As far as in his power he doubtless tried to do his duty. Kindly, genial, dignified, an exemplary husband, a splendid, noble man, all believe that he was. But we are sure that he would, if living, utterly decline much of the fulsome laudation and idolatrous sentiment which have been poured over his bier. It is just such sentiment as this that led to hero-worship among the pagans. Every dead hero immediately became a demigod to be worshiped. Here is a sample of this sentiment from a no less noted preacher than Dr. Gunsaulus, who speaks of various things and classes which will “writhe away like serpents smitten with ‘intolerable light, as we think of the awful price we ‘have paid, and ever must pay, if we fail to do our ‘duty in upholding the flag, and making it a symbol ‘as sacred and as just as the cross of Christ. William McKinley has entered into the holy of holies, ‘bearing our sins. Let us awaken to newness of ‘life.”

The honor due to men in responsible positions is one thing; idolatry is another. The one is of principle; the other is pure sentimentality. The one will do honor to the man, recognizing his position, his representative character, his manliness, and also his limitations; the other exalts him above humanity, and worships him as a god. The words above quoted would be absurd and ridiculous if uttered by some unknown man in ordinary times; uttered at the time they were, by a popular preacher, heralded by the press, they become dangerous.

The exaltation of the flag to the same symbolic level of the cross of Christ is parallel to that of exalting Mr. McKinley to the place of our adorable Redeemer. The flag is a political symbol, standing for political liberty. As a symbol of liberty existing, it is to be prized and honored. But when that flag is used to represent tyranny and oppression by any

combination, confederation, or party, toward a single class or individual, it becomes of no more value than any tri-colored piece of cloth. But when men forget the principles, they worship the thing as a fetish. The Pharisees of old stoned the prophets and garnished their sepulchers.

What a refreshing thing it would be, wouldn't it, to hear some of our great pulpit orators thunder out with heartfelt convictions the words of the apostle: “These things, brethren, I have in a figure trans- ‘ferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, that ‘ye might learn in us not to think of men above that ‘which is written”? I Cor. 4:6. And here is one of the things written: “Put not your trust in princes, ‘nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. ‘His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; ‘in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he ‘that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope ‘is in the Lord his God; which made heaven and ‘earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keep- ‘eth truth forever.” Ps. 146:3-6.

The lesson is, hold to truth and righteousness, not mere material symbols. “Worship God,” not man. So shall you best be able truly to honor and help all God’s children.