The Washington times., 1894-10-08
AIM OF CHURCH And SCHOOL
Their Methods Critically Compared
by Rev. Alexander Kent.
THEIR SPHERES AND INFLUENCE
Both Seek to Create Healthful Lie in Ken
and Women-Rut the Last Named Has
Done More to Form Character Than the
First-Pulpit Teaching Devoid Of System.

Rev. Alexander Kent preached at the Peo-
pe's Church, No. 425 G street northwest,
yesterday at 11:l5 a. m. on The methods Of
the church compared with those of the
school" The sermon looked to the more eI-
ncient action OF the organization along its
line OF effort, and after the services confer
cnce was announced 10 take place tomorrow
evening at the residence Of Mrs. Vol, No. 1927
Eleventh street northwest, TO consider plans
for work The Sunday-sehooI OF the church
will open next Sunday.
In many minds. said Nr. Kent, the. work Of
the church is to prepare to enter surely and
happily into the life Of the world to come,
while the work OF the school is TO qualify men
to enter successfully upon the life otthe world
tnat now is. But the feeling is fast growing
that a true preparation for life anywhere must
be the best preparation for life everywhere.
Whatever puts men at peace with themselves
at one with all that IS highest ard best in their
feilow-men and with the great moral and
spiritual forces of the universe about them
must in the very nature OF things. be the best
possible preparation Tor any future here or
elsewhere that 4 Just and loving Providence
can have in store for them.
The church and the school. then, exist, as
regards their general aims. Tor the one end -
genuine healthful life in men and women.
The church. however, for its particular aim,
confines itself 10 educating the moral lacu.-
ties TO the promotion OF reverence for truth
and goodness. to teaching men how 10 live
together in equitable and mutually helpful
relations. and to the cultivation OF the spirit
of service and brotherhood. Ii deals with the
directive powers which choose ends and then
employ the mental and physical powers IN the
attainment of them. The school, on the other
hand. deals with the instrumental powers. II
sharpens the intellect: il trains the reasoning
faculties: it teaches how to study. to follow
the lines of fact and truth and acquire knowl-
edge in every department.
IMMORAL INFLUENCE OF THE CHURCH.
But the church has neglected the eultiya-
ton in children of love OF truth and good
ness to devote itself to drilling them in the
repetition of beliefs and dogmas. Instead OF
inspiring them with an ambition to make this
world a better place for people to live in 1t has
sought to bring them to selfish determination
re seek more comfortable quarters for them
selves in the world to come. In so far as
this purpose has been regnant the church has
been immoral in its influence.
On the other hand the school. while shut
out from distinctive religious teaching. has
concerned itself with much that IS funda-
mental in moral training. l. has taught pu-
pills tue cardinal virtues OF truthtuiness and
honesty. It has educated their sense Of ius-
tice. taught them to love fair play, 10 be kind
to the weak. to be courteous.
Even as things have been, the schools have
done more for character than have the
churches. BIT il is the new political economy
now affirming on independent and scientific
ba AZ raaahiDu J-bIPh fha
churcn has so long merely prOfessed to ac-
cept, that is working its way into the schools,
and Is destined to produce revolution IN
the fundamentals of moral teaching. Moral
ity will not be taught on the authority OF any
person or any book any more than arithmetic
or grammar. Religion will take its place as a
science. Revelation will not De something
completed but ar overwhelming reality, and
men will teach as they teach geology and
psychology, as p science OF which something
is known, but infinitely more unknown Re
ngion will become the soul of politics and the
spirit of business. 1t will dominate all laws
and shape all institutions. for love and justice
will be recognized as rightful relgnlng powers
in all human relations.
INSURANCE AGAINST PosT-MORTEM FIRE.
Now, when the church is degraded to the
position of sort of insurance company
against post-mortem IRE, with the minister
as an agent and Jesus as the head of the
company, who has offered TO carry the insur-
ance on terms with which the poorest and
most unworthy can comply, the present
methods of church work may be satisfactory.
| The whole business may be transacted in a
minute, and there is no educational process.
But, if our minister is to foster deeper love
| for truth, heartier reverence for goodness;
II we want to quicken the sense OF right, to
| strengthen the regard for Justice; If we want
| to train people to look upon lie as given for
mutual service and for brotherly helpfulness,
are we going about our work in the right
| way?
In the first place, the teaching of the pulpit
ordinarily is utterly devoid OF system, prac-
tically inevitable for two reasons: First. the
liberal preacher is expected to deal freshly
with living issues. so that the sermon OF to-
day may have no direct relation to that OF
next Sunday; second. the preacher is very
rarely fortunate enough to have the same
hearers two Sundays in succession. If he
should arrange series of sermons related to