The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-10
BiBLIcALIsM VS.. sscTARIANisM.
Rev. DR.. Reuen Thomas Before the Com
gregational Club.

gregational Club.
The regular May meeting of the Congrega-
tional Club was enjoyed last night at the Preble
House 1t was ladies' night, and about 12o
were present. an average attendance. 1t was
the last meeting OF the season, and the banquet
was particularly excellent.
At the business session, Mr.. George Libby
proposed for membership the name of Joseph
c. White, recommended by DR.. Fem. Presi-
dent Wilson then introduced the guest of the
evening, the Rev. Dr. Reuen Thomas of Brook
line, who began his address upon Bblicalsm VS..
Sectarianism, by commenting upon the differ
ence between modern Christian life and that of
our fathers. There is much of simplicity, also
of complication, in this modern Christian life
He wondered that some Boston ministers don't
turn the Bible out of their pulpits, since they
continually attack it. What is the reason of
this inconsistency? Because they don't under
stand it. The great wants of today are not Sec
tarianism and not churchism. We prefer to
call it biblicalism. The name interprets ITSELF
1t means all that the Bible teaches. But people
say that they cannot take it all in; so much has
been criticized that it is hard to understand
what to believe. Ministers seem to be creating
doubt rather than faith. The atmosphere of
Boston is full of points of Interrogation. 1t is
the minority of the people who believe,
The Majority Who Have Opinions.
There should be more deepening of conviction,
and more bringing in of spiritual vitality. 1t is
an increasing wonder to me how much more the
Bible knows about human nature than any 9th
er book. 1t is record of development of hui
man nature. If a man could study that book
and no other, he would learn more of human
nature than any other book could teach him. If
am to know the entire capacity Of humanity
that is found In the Bible. When find men
trying to bring things to buttress up the Bible
not the weakness of the Bible. Once we can
understand it there will be great alteration in
church life.
Suppose an angel should come from heaven
seeking a. biblical church, where would it be
found? There would be Christians, perhaps,
put no 70 true biblical church, When the Bible
make great alteration in church life.
This is nos proper sentiment. Most people
tnlnk that the church is all right now: But if
ecclesiastical world, is there anything in the
Bible that endorses them? We will go to Min
nesota for an illustration. was once approach
company with missionary. We saw five Church
spires. Was there any religion in the place?
No. First a Sunday school was established
there, then church with simply the apostolic
creed. But soon one man seeded and then
another. and finally the five churches u
the different sects developed. The result was
that four of them were closed and their members
became non church-g0erS. 1t suggested the
passage, "They
Forsook the Lord and Built Temples"
These empty buildings were disgraces erected
to the honor of sectarianism and nothing else.
All that will not be possible when we get into
the proper spirit of the Bible. 1t is impos-
sible that under present ecclesiastical conditions
the world will ever be converted to Christ.
!. A Japanese missionary in a recent converse
ton showed show sectarianism was operating
d1sastrously among the heather. 1t c0nfuseS
them and retards conversion. Everything &C.
cleslastical doesn't exist by the will OF God. We
God When you and | became Christians we
undertook to serve Christ. To do that we must
influence other men,. The teacher controls who
find that when we Shall have come to simplicity.
Twill be sufficient for every exigency of Chris
tan life. In the early days, they had no written
Christ and His work, those old
preachers conquered the world so that even
Constantine became Christian of a certain
sort. ItwaS wonderful thing. Whatever
work is done now is not done by the creeds,
which may be compared to signboard point
ing in the right direction. A traveller who
SiiUuiu REFUSE W iollOW Tie UlT6CblOH, DtG VINO
should climb up and get outside of it, is like
some Christians in their attitude towards
creeds. They say they have their convictions
and that they are perfectly orthodox.
So Is the Devil.
Many have correct opinions, but their actions
are unchristian We may hold opinions but we
want Christ to hold us. OF what use is it for
men to get together and pray for the baptism of
the Holy Spirit of God? OF what use is it to
thus ask Him for more power when we are not
making use of what we have? Such is the in
consistency in which the Church of Christ is
living.
There is a morality which looks Godwards
and morality which looks manwards. Really
it is the breaking of only three or four of the
ten. commandments that is regarded so immoral.
1t must be recognized that it is just as immoral
to break the fourth as the eighth commandment
II a man should ask why believe in inspir:
alton of the Bible I should say because it
knows more about Cod more about man and
more about everything that covers the life of
man than any other book"
PERSONAL,