The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-09-01
RELIGIOUS.
REALITY IN RELIGION.

What the age wants, says a recent
writer, is reality. 1t is tired of shams
and speculations. 1t demands firm
ground for its beliefs. Favorite studies
are those which appeal to the senses
rather than to the reason. Even mental
science, as many affirm, must be placed
on a material basis. Hence the IN
creasing interest in biology and in
experiments which lay foundation for
a rational psychology. Faith must be
practlced. 1t must rest on evidence
which appeals to the senses rather than
to that which is ideal and spiritual.
If we follow the drift of the time it is
easier to be an atheist, an agnostic, a
materialist or positivist than a theist
or believer in living, personal God.
For the existence of the latter it is said
there is no scientific basis.
From those who are devoted to
scientific studies the demand for
scientific proof of the being OF God is
not unnatural, and yet it is hard to
understand why there should be less
hesitancy in recognizing the existence
OF the emotions than of the intellect,
less readiness to admit the evidence
which comes through faith and works
by love than that which rests on demon
strations which appeal only to the
senses. II certain studies have suffered
from this characteristic of the age the
gain in other studies more than pays
for the loss. We have been compelled
to re-examine the grounds OF our faith.
1t is no slight thing to know that they
are real. Nor is it any disadvantage
that character and deeds are at present
more convincing testimony to the
genuiness of ones faith than words, that
the age cares more for what we are
than ic- what we profess to be. Why
should 1t be thought unreasonable If an
age which seeks after -eality in all its
studies and experiments should ask the
Church to prove its right to be by being
what it claims to be1 1t is not a creed
in agreement with the words of the
Master which has power with the null
tltude, but the lives of the men and
women who accept that creed. 1t is
not professed sympathy with Christ
that wins men to the Gospel, but the
exhibition of his spirit in everyday
conduct.
Pfotestanism has always been willing
10 be tested by the lives of those who
have received its principles. 1t has no
treasures of merit from which to draw
in times of emergency, no body of
ecclesiastics to dispense these treasures,
no imposing ritual to charm the senses
and deaden conscience. 1t demands
no more from men than it is willing 10
give them. 1t asks for no respect or
confidence which it cannot justify. 1t
is because the Protestant Churches have
tried to be just what they profess to be
that they have accomplished so much,
have brought such unnumbered bless
ings into the world. 1t is because they
are so full of persons who are anxiously
seeking to know how they may best
meet the demand of the age for reality
that they submit to criticism and by
their deeds present such irresistible
claims to honorable recognition. Not
insensible to the value of creeds or
formal statements of belief, the Church
as whole places little reliance on them
in Its efforts to win men for Christ. 1t
trusts in the consecrated earnestness OF
those in whom Christ has revealed him
self as the hope of glory and to whom
he has given eternal life. 1t is because
the Church has a real Saviour, one
whose power its members have
felt, that it so confidently promises
pardon and life to those who will be.
lieve. The Church will not refuse to
submit to any legitimate test which
science. or pleasure, or worldly indiff.
erence even can bring, for it knows thai
in the hour of supreme trial, when al
that is of worldly origin fails, strength
and peace OF mind are given which
nothing can destroy. To an age de-
mandina reality the Church is presented
as the most real thing which exists ir
the. aue