The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-13
SERVICES In MANY PULpITS.
Rev. Matthew L. Haines Installed as
Pastor ofthe First Presbyterian.
DR.. Marines Sermon on the Power Of Protest
antism-Meeting at the Friends Church
Services Elsewhere.
THE POWER OF pRoTEsTANrIsM.
An Outlook Upon the Probabilities Of tn
I..-..z-.aliza4i1,x, Of fl,x, xzarId

An Outlook Upon the ProDaDfhffes Oh INC
EvaBgelization of the World.
Rev. DR. Marine yesterday preacheda sermon
based upon the text What of the Nighs,' in
which he made an inquiry into the relation of
Protestant Christianity to the evangelization of
the world. He said
Religion cannot be studied in itself, or stand
ing alone or disconnected, but IS closely allied
to, and shares more or less, the fortunes OF gov
ernm ents, and literature, and general social
conditions. Religion may influence these, and
may also be influenced by them. 1t may not be
able to prevent or control the darkness, cruel
3y, or despotism of an age, nor even to escape
taking part in them.
The Christian religion had its early formation
under Christ and his apostles. This formation
period was followed by the period of patristic
Tabor and literature, and its contact with phi
losophy and paganism, and its early councils and
doctrinal disputes. 1t had its contact with
secular power, its division into eastern and
western Greek and Latin or Roman, and its su-
premacy under Rome. Then came the reforma-
ton Of the sixteenth century
From these considerations it will appear that
Christianity as a system cannot have wholly
escaped from the past. 1t cannot
now be studied as something new
in the world, but something that
comes to us venerable, and sacred from having
iourneyed with our race for many centuries. 1t
has travelled over the weary way of war, the COM
plications of governments, the long lines OF COM
merce. the.subtle paths Of science and the deep
mysteries of philosophy. 1t has had difficult
ties and its old difficulties are not all setted, its
old conflicts are not all ended, and its old preju-
dices are not all put aside.
Again from these considerations it will ap-
pear that the fortunes of the Christian religion
now are closely allied to the genius of the pres
ent and must be studied in it's relations to and
influenced upon the civilization of our times, ii
we would estimate its power and forecast its flu
ture. From the reformation of the sixteenth
@f
come to us, namely Romanism, rationalsm,
and Professionalism. Romanism is religious ty-
ranny, rationalism is religious anarchy, Prot
estantism is religious liberty. Romanism pad
locks the Bible, rationalsm mutilates the Bible,
Professionalism opens the Bible Romanism is
faith without reason, rationalism is reason with
out faith, Professionalism is both reason and faith
Let us glance at these three phases of religious
thought with reference to the worlds evangeli-
cation First, Romanism: Rome has played no
small part in the affairs of mankind She ruled
the world thousand years, political and
military power; has ruled for another thousand
years, as q politico-religious power. The vast
power Of the military despotism seems to have
conserved the religious despotism of Rome.
The genius of Romanism is absolute authority
over mind and conscience, its method is a thor
ough organization and tireless energy. It's
purpose is supreme political and religious rule.
1t is by far the best organized power on the
earth to.day. In the old world Romanism has
lost politically, but has never faltered in her
purpose, and has boldly proclaimed her nfalli-
bility and supremacy. To-day, not only Bis
marck, but every sovereign in Europe looks with
uneasy eye upon the Pope, and we of the United
States have just reason for concern. 1t is
not Rome as a religion that we need
fear. We can well afford to tolerate
and encourage this, for there is much
In it that is grand and good, and we could wait
for the spirit of the age, and our increasing in
telligence to dissipate her superstitons and cor
rect her errors Not this; but Rome, polit-
ical power, forever seeking to control the affairs
of state and use the garb of religion, and the
power of religious superstition, and all the
3Atrgues of Jesuitism TO accomplish this end.
To accomplish this end, and gain political power
in the land, Romanism does not scruple to pro
claim her hatred to our common schools and to
connive with corrupt politicians. Not few of
our wisest men foresee mighty effort on the
part of Romanism to control the politics of this
free land, and TO ultimately make it their own
Now, whilst we must always accord the broad
est religious liberty to all under this govern
ment, we owe it to religion, to liberty, and to
humanity, to forever sacredly guard these
shores, and these happy homes, and free schools,
against tho encroachments of any priest.y
power, be it Roman or Protestant. 1t must be
conceded that Romanism is still mighty power
in the EARTH and a potent factor in the Christ
ian civilization of the present century.
Rationalism is a rebound from Romanism
The reformation was essentially outburst of
individualism-a protest or the individual mind
and conscience against church authority and &C.
cesiastical domination. Under the old historic
and phiosophic idea that the church and the
state were supreme, and did not exist for the
people, but that the people existed for them, in
diyidual rights had long been suppressed 1t
would have been strange indeed If this long
pent-up power of reason and liberty, when first
bursting their chains, had not in some instances
gone to extremes. With the setting aside of
church authority over individual liberty came
the right to reason in matters of religion and
rom this right to question the authority and
traditions of the church it was al easy step to
question the authority and inspiration of the BIZ
BILE; and from reasoning upon religion it was not
hard to attempt to make q religion of reason
and this they did in the land of Luther-hence
rationalsm. While it is true That rationalism
has had its day in Germany, and the great
apostles or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Hagel, Fichte,
Schelling and Herbart, are superannuated names
indeed, scarcely respected names in Germany,
where they are denounced as sophists and char
latans, nevertheless, rationalism is exerting a
marked and modifying influence upon the
Christian civilization of the present not perhaps
so directly as indirectly rather as the antece-
dent cause OF many phases of modern infdelity
radicalism, liberalism, scepticism, agnosticism
and materiaiism.
These secondary causes or perhaps we should
say, logical conclusions of rationalism are seen
and felt in the increasing lawlessness of the
times, In the outspoken opposition to the church,
the fragrant desecration of the Sabbath, and the
evident materialstic tendencies of our times
AsoeAcAoheh 10 NOIlsAouS didiCny, It's 5euucuCleS
are toward disentegration in church and state
But. after all, it is no extravaganza to say
that Professionalism is the controlling re-
hgious idea and dominant force in
the Christian civilization OF the age.
And to-day the responsibility of the final
triumph of the gosfel over all the earth rests
with Professionalism. Rationalism, as matter
of fact, and as matter of course, does nothing
for missions and the spread of the gospel
Rationalism itself, as well as pagan sm, needs
the gospel 1t must be converted to Christianity
and this responsibility of lifting the scales
from reasons darkened eyes" rests with Protest
antism To this end there should be no schism
In the body of Professionalism While denom
national as companies she must be one as an army
and &c universally and wonderfully baptized with
the or spirit OF love, and power, and sound
mind Is to permanently outgrow all tendencies
toward apostasies and periodic declensions.
Professionalism must put away all fanaticism and