The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-21

In spite of the severe weather a large au-
dience was present in Sayles Hall last
evening and heard President Andrews
speak on "The Present Philosophic Status
of Theistic Belief'
In opening he said that the present
state or true religion is far from being
satisfactory. 1t is now the dawn of the
10Th century and yet over a third of the
human race are still Buddhlsts
Mohammedans, again, are nearly as
numerous as Christians. Although
the pro phets faith entered the lists six
ana quarter centuries later than our
own. Canon Taylor seems justified when
he says that Islam Is winning converts
faster than the gospel. Central Asia is
given up TO the Crescent and in India
where our missionaries are thickest
fewer Mussulmen turn Christians than
Buddhists Mussulmen, and most of the
converts are of the lower castles and thus
have but little influence. 1t is impossi-
BILE To lift this gloom by accusing the
missionaries or the boards of control.
IL is the apathy and bungling work OF
the church itself which is more dis
heartening than the stubborness of in
fdels aud heathens.
Turning our attention from foreign
countries TO our own land we find the
prospect still gloomy. Unbelief. false
bVhN's 10 SNcI1 Inc RTONIn Oh our
churches, even under the most favorable
conditions, is slow and discouraging
The statistics or church members and
church attendance are apt to b. erron-
eous, and the active army OF Christ is
not much more than one-half the actual
members OF given church. Society
contains large element of people who
have no religious belief and who keep
away from the church altogether.
In these days the churcu is put on the
defensive with reference To the rightful-
ness of the assumpt OH that it represents
Jesus Christ. Just at present the church
seems to be losing not only its grip on
men. but what is far more important, Its
Christianity AS well. The world has
never been free from unbelievers, but
never before has the world contained so
many self-complacent unbelievers.
There seems To be a widespread feeling
among educated men that the recent ait
vance In science, especially Darwinism,
has rendered all theist.c or properly re-
ligious belief unnecessary. Ihis has
brought about the result that the Chris
tian faith has hot the power over thought
and lives OF the men outside the church
which IT formerly eXerted, aud we no
LONGER find men confessing Christ,
though they all reverence him.
Is it any better in the church itself
Alas. no. The worst here is not the
struggle OF old orthodoxy with new theol-
ogy. This controversy is Satan's diver
sion to draw men away from his chief
point OF attack upon their citadel A far
more distressing phenomenon Is that re-
ligion has become mainly an affair of the
rich and well-to-do.
Much of our present so-called piety
differs little from that inspired by Budl-
hism or Mohammedanism.
We have too little faith in God as q
person, as being omniscient and inf
nitely near.
Is the world any better than it was in
in the seventeenth century? Has our
boasted industrial age brought us any
nearer to our ideal of the life of Christ?
1t must be admitted that il has done
mucn to degrade toward parity with
baser ideals.
Another distemper OF our religious life
Is Pharisaism, or the failure TO see and
and feel that the essence of godliness is
love. We are keeping the letter, not the
spirit OF the law.
The counterpart of this vice is defective
faith. Professed followers of Christ
break all the laws of God aud yet sit
smiling in their pews, aud when re-
moustrated with say with JUNCTION they
do not expect TO be saved by their own
works.
We find monopolies grinding the poor.
and owned by Christian men. These
same men depend on inhumau systems of
taxation. and whatsoever lifts up his
voice against these wrongs is an in fidel,
an Anarchist and a foe to progress.
And yet, in spite of these drawbacks,
the world is getting better, although
much OF its progress Is along the line
which mere natural religion would tend
to lead us.
We are in transition state, and moth
ing can cure our trouble but the compile
tion of the transition period which causes
it. Christians still hold the pearl of
great price, but while il is in passage
from one mounting TO another its spark 70
must needs be dulled. Do not despond.
Wait until that jewel Is in place and its
resplendence will again blind you.