The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-19

more profound. more hsart-dling, than
those OF any organ in the world"
1 cannot tell IN print the grandeur OF
his woros as they were spoken there IN
the quiet. slowly darkening study As
he stopped speaking he relaxed lie had
become tense and eager in his earnest
ness. but now he sank again into the
shadow. / could not see his face, but /
knew that his eyes were closed and that
ne was thinking deeply. The fading sigh
revealed beyond the window quaint roofs
and bits OF strange old architecture.
Sparrows few up twistering. Not hint
OF the roar OF London penetrated 10 the
ROOM / was in new world. talking with
new kind of Church OF England man.
The clergy / had met in London-not in
considerable in number or unimportant
In posirion-had been good men OF strong
convictions and high intellect. But they
had not taught me 70 expect this from
their srchdeacon. I said nothing, know
ing thai he would so on.
Worship the spirit with the spirit
are the words OF our Lord he broke the
silence with. We need not go TO any
church 10 do that; We need not observe
any OF the forms Of any church 10 do
that"
This again was unexpected.
Forms are necessary 20 some people
just as chureh-going is 10 perhaps the
man does not conform 70 them need
make him none the less Christian. He
need not be less noble. less sincere, less
earnest, less absolutely truthful in his
Chritianity because he does not swing
incense or go where others swing It. his
prayers may be quite devout and en-
tirely as likely 20 be answered, though
they be read from no prayer book. In
deed. the man who prays only when he
reads his applications can scarcely be
the highest type OF Christian.
"of course, the pageantry and pomp OF
ritual and fixed service. OF mitre and
gown. are most useful adjuncts. But We
must never forget that they are merely
adjuncts. They appeal TO the love OF the
spectacular. which Is strong in emotional
human nature. and thus draw many peo-
pie into church doors to see and hold
them there to pray. But the forms of
baTbaric religions have ever been the
most formal and most splendid. In no
part of the Old Testament are the forms
Of worship made important. Our forms
are the relies OF Judaism, but even Jul
daism had few of them. The high priests
of the temple donned their snowy robes
their golden vestments-for but one
short half hour OF one day in the year
Somehow that ancient worship from
which ours has come is In our minds as
ISOLATED with much pomp and ceremony.
but IL is true that tx was really only for
that brief moment on the Day of Atone
ment that the functionaries DOTTED their
pure and simple white for gaudy robes.
"Ah, no, religion is not church-golng.
Christianity is not form. The love Of
Christ our Lord is simplicity itself. Be
lieve and We shall be saved. What could
be simpler? Almighty God is truth, and
truth is simple. The simple Christian is
the true Christian. / believe in churches
and l believe in forms. But they are not
ali-nay, they are not 1.-THE! Truth is
mighty, and IL shall prevaili' Prevail If
preached from a pulpit by a priest in
vestments: prevail If lived by a believer
in desert; prevail IL roared on the
mountain top by winter gale; prevail
II breathed In the valley by The most
delicate and tiny wild flower OF the
spring Believe in me and We shall be
saved,' Truth. Truth! Truth. No mat
ter who speaks IL or who hears IL; no
matter whether 1t be proclaimed In the
clarion tones of eloquence or shyly wills
pered In a secret place, Ii will prevail"
He went with me TO the door and
grasped my hand into a firm, warm, IN
spiriting clasp that made me love him.
Deans Yard was wrapped in the gray
mantle OF the young night The boys
had left their sports. the sparrows mad
ceased their busy chattering. and only
twittered dl owsily. A warm window or
two shone brightly IN the gray circle of
venerable houses. Ii was as IL a spell
had been put upon this spot In the midst
OF carnai London. / paused with the
spell OF the magnetic presence IL had left
upon me. There is man OF God" l
thought. There is a man TO really pray
for sinners. l see now why two nations
love him."