MEANS TO THE END

WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN, ACCORDING TO THE PROTESTANT CATECHISM? "TO GLORIFY GOD AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER." HOW DO WE DO THAT? DO WE ENGAGE IN A PERMANENT 'SUMMER OF LOVE,' THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHICH IS THIS YEAR 2007? THE MESSAGE BACK THEN IN CALIFORNIA IN THE WORDS OF LSD ADVOCATE TIMOTHY LEARY, WAS TO " TURN ON, TUNE IN AND DROP OUT." SINCE 1967, AMERICA HAS SUFFERED A MORAL LOSS.

EARLIER AMERICANS ESPOUSED BETTER IDEAS. PAST PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND THOUGHT THAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY COULD GLORIFY GOD. IT MEANT SHUNNING FEDERAL AID WHICH "ENCOURAGES EXPECTATIONS OF PATERNAL CARE AND WEAKENS THE STURDINESS OF OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER." HE ALSO ESPOUSED CHARITY TOWARDS ONE'S NEIGHBOR AFTER ONE TOOK CARE OF ONESELF. "CHARITY STRENGTHENS THE BOND OF COMMON BROTHERHOOD," HE SAID.

MORAL RESPONSIBILITY WAS PARAMOUNT TO PAST PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT'S THINKING. HE STATED THAT MEN WHO GOT WOMEN PREGNANT AND ABANDONED THEM "SINNED AGAINST ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND GRIEVOUSLY SINNED AGAINST SOCIETY." TEDDY ALSO BELIEVED THAT PROMOTING CHURCH ATTENDANCE WAS "GOOD PUBLIC POLICY."

WHAT SUGGESTIONS WOULD DOPPELGANGERS OF CLEVELAND AND ROOSEVELT PUT FORTH TODAY? DO WE STILL GLORIFY GOD BY RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, PERSONAL MORAL RECTITUDE AND SERVICE TO OUR FELLOW MAN? SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. TO REWORK THE WORDS OF THAT LOST GENERATION OF YOUTH, WE SHOULD TURN OFF AND TUNE OUT THE DISTRACTIONS OF MODERNITY AND DROP INTO AN INNER QUEST FOR THE GOOD LIFE. REST ASSURED WE WILL BE GLORIFYING GOD AND ENJOYING HIM FOREVER.