Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-02

lEsosn Oar se~ for2 turruspon5<all
The k~s Dr David II Gr>us VITO /. = nan
g sssch religious authority thai be would
haze ee~a tbs ssece<z-ss II Phillips Brooks
lad be nos sis,ciins. the essil. add who l. the
rector 81 the church which the head If the
f1rdert4lt family aft<nris. - distinguished
IA Ses York y Ills study of the social
probielns. Anything thai hs sAys upon
this subject i rt<&sied as tls word Il ons
having authority. Dr. Grrer sid N in
sf<Akins a the Temperance problsln;
am satisfied thai We are % have . >o,u,
tion Of this mighty problssn. not Ia lesisis
tive enA-tmsnts nOr Ia criminal procedure
bat think thai temperance Is TO be gzins<.
s,isly by the influences of the Christian re-
h<ion. usei 80 favor prohibition. bat I
think that il will b. demonstrated ver,s
soon that this ioes Lot offer the key u the
problem. ~As IA iasor of stringent cfimi-
mai legislation, bat have st,A1.donod that
idea Ny experience teaches me that In the
farurv IL will be recoSlized that the only
way permanently 20 reclaim the victims q
intcmperu-ce and 20 prevent others frofa
becoming victims l. ~ the influence which
CHRISTIAN ministers ard Christian men and
women arc 10 exert.
There Is going 70 be very soon q change
Ia the yicws with which the Bible Is looked
upon By gvAt masses % men and women
This change viii come 10 Us Ia the next
century, and the results will be stupendolls
for good Men and women will no longer
read the Bible mechanically. They will not
set themselves a stint Of 40 many chapters
a day and having read them regard them
selves a. having performed a Christian
duty. They will not look upon the Bible
rs a sort oI fetch
On the contrary. II viii be understood
that il is "A book 10 be studied. as Rgskin
said. il must be dug into that It's truths
may be brought out. Ii Will no longer be
esteemed as gold coin. but "a ore. frcm
which glorious and golden truths are TO be
extracted. When people begin to realize
this they viii understand what is meant
by the inspiration Of this book II is al
inspiration not IA the technical sense. but
in it, influences. There will be new and
splendid lights kIndled by this modern
treatment Of the word OF God.
simplicity will take the place OF subtlety
and sasueness. IL will be understood that
the lesson Of the Old Testament ~ re
vealed by this method of reading the Bible
is simply this-that God is one, God is
spirit, God Is religious. aud the lessor Of
the New Testament As suggested by Christ 5
life is that religion is love. And wker. ia
the next eentary this is understood of all
men have no doubt that the influences Of
Christianity win be the most stupendous
since those exerted IA the early days of the
church
There Is going 10 be, too, change in the
methods OF public and private benevolence.
Free and iDdlscriminate charity will be al
most unknown Il Is beginning 10 be un-
derstood that the highest charity Is that
which guides rather than supports Men
and women will be taught 10 help them
selves. The aid viii be given in an almost
concealed manner. Self respect will be
cultivated and self reliance as we'll The
greater h~nevolences will be conducted
upon sound business principles. and pre-
sumo that in TIE next century those who
then live viii Sc something like solution
OF these great and hitherto troublesome so
cial and economic problems.