The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-25

THE LIMITATIONS or CHRIST.

THE LIMITATIONS or CHRIST.
Christmas IL become day when Prot
estant and Catholic. Gentle and Jew
should renew their VOWS to initiate Christ.
Somebody said: 81 love flowers, but hate
botany; | love religion, but hate the
ology" And this 10 the spirit In which
Christmas Is increasingly celebrated every
year Every year intolerance and ascesicisn
dImsnishes; every year the ethical Chris
tan unity Of spirit chains men OF all de-
nominations closer together. There may
not be es many church members as
there were fifty years ago; there ara GER
tafniy more men and wor.en Of genu-
inc Christian spirit who units at least
In unfolding and. by their daily conduct,
rsverenclng the simple creed of the golden
rule: the Sermon on the Mount; the
Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man.
The imitation of Christ Is the only sol
vent for the religious paralysis and moral
eynicism Of which the churches complain.
Back 20 Christ, not back 10 medi1val the
ology. is the trns way TO I'll up churches
which are full Of empty pews. The Chris
tian church must first of aIl be an inspirer
OF righteousness. not Of lip service. In itf
Dr. Briggs. the great Presbyterian hereto.
asks: Where do We find the great
preachers. sae great church buildings the
great expenditure Of Christian men and
money-smong the soiling masses of the
people or among the comfortable and
well-to-dor Such questions as these.
honestly answered, determine how far
the church of our day Is Christlikc,
and 10 what extent she follows the
Christ in self-denial and self-sacrifce.
The venerable Rev. DIR. James Mar
tincau. of the Liberal Unitarian church,
recently declared that fixed theology for
the Christian church lis utterly impos-
able III Christian church" DIR. Marti-
mean has always been dcvoutiy Christian
in his convictions and character. but he
has accepted and welcomed the conclu-
sions Of science and the results of criticism.
He argues that theology can no more be
fixed and determined than science itself.
The creeds of churches in times past can
no more be final word concerning divine
things than the utterances OF Copernicus
and Calico can be the last revelation of
science
Social progress and fixed theology are
practically impossible unless you shelter
theology behind authority and thus re-
move il from the domain OF knowledge.
The church of Rome can say to the Cath
Ollie scientist. ST. George Mivsrt. that he
must square his scientific conclusions
with the construction of the church, obey
the church or leave il. and this is exactly
what the Presbyterian church, through its
general assembly. says to DR.. Briggs. St.
George Mivart neekly submit. 20 the
fat OF Rome. Whether DIR. Briggs will
submit TO the fat of medieval Caivanism
remains to DO seen. The church of Rome
in America. speaking by the mouth of
Archbishop Ireland, largely repudiases the
policy of that church and proposes
policy that would leave little room for IN
QUESTION or the index expurgatorius. lie
would make the church of Rome persuade
rather than Dramatically direct men
His policy is one of Cancellation and har-
mony with the other forces which work
together for good in this complex ctvllixa-
ton OF our time. and nos OF antagoniSm TO
everything which will not acknow led re
the supremacy of Rome. The archbishop
confesses that the Roman Catholic church
brings its message 10 new world
and must bring Il in new ways
The church. created by Chris: for all
ages lives in every age and puts on the
dres. of every age This must be true of
this age and of this land also. Church
and age unite them. Bring them into
close contact. they pulsate alike; the God
of humanity works IN one. the God Of
supernatural revelation works in the
other--in both tha self-same God. Between
reason and revelation there can never he a
contradiction. There may he disputes
between ignorant theaiogians and ignor-
ant scientists. bat not between religion
and science. The church desires the
spread of intellectual light among al men
and over ali regions II truth: the age In its
tirsless studying of nature does the work
Of the church.
The church must foster democracy and
atfFm liberty, Roman Catholics must Re
in and of the world, and make Of thesr
church the friend aud protector Of all
terrestrial interests as well as the source II
supernatural inspiration.
The logical conclusion from these after
anees OF Dr.. MAruneaa. nr. Rgisgs and
R!shep ireland i that If .Ae church would
do away wsga spiritual starvation and
meral death IL must 50 back 80 Jesus, who
laid the primal stress upoa the righteous
life, IL was always the one who id
rghteoasly and wsx righteous 20 whom
Jesus promised the divine love, not a. a
cause 81 righteousness. bat IS oonss-
aaence 81 S. The Sertnoa On the Moaut
saws, Blessed are the pure IN heart, for
shey shat see God - IL Is the purity Of
heart tsas makes ana seeing Of God posi-.
he. Jesus did not teach that morality
and re'lgten we're shs same hat He did
teaca thSt tie saeesG way - religious ia
sagat wss throaga hely living and haiy
dying. The Cagtsstaa eAatcn must exas&
more morality 70 the level II Jesas ana
saea there wlN he So "soeletlss Tor ethical
culture" ChEass not oasy eaessea the
Eagasssa. bal lie i&lSea Ia "a cpen,