The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-21
The old ReIlgion Good Enough.


oxford. Ca, March 1s-Editor Morning
News: In the News of the 18th. notice
an article on "A Religious Sign Of the
Times" My attention was particularly
called to some statements made by the
author of the same. upon which 1 deem
a few remarks not improper.
About the love of woman or its necessity
to the well-being of the church. have
nothing to say. The writer Of the article
states that I'VE inherit the morals of our
fathers in every sense of the word. But
to-day is far different from eighteen hun
dred years ago. The world has not stood
still In thought by any means; though
Christian faith is not a ready and willing
developer of thought. Priestcraft, by what
soever name it is known, in sect or denom-
ination, does not encourage free thought
or free investigation" That the world has
not stood stll in thought is undeniable,
but on whose authority does the writer
assert that Christian faith is not a ready
developer of thought, or that priestcraft,
as he contemptuously calls It, does not
encourage free thought and investigation?
Certainly not from Gods word.
If there is one thing that is abb
peals to mans judgment, At is the scrip
ture. There Is nothing hid nor are we
forbidden to think. Paul himself says:
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatso-
ever things are lovely, whatso-
ever things are of good re-
port; if there be any virtue, If there be
any praise think on these things" And
think here means more than to consider.
Paul was sent to turn the Gentles from
darkness TO light and from the power of
satan unto God, to open their eyes, rather
than to shut up their understanding No
man under heaven is commanded to give.
up his freedom Of thought; on the other
hand. we are exorted to- find out what
Gods win is ir'WheTefore be We not un-
wise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. rs not this an appeal to the
intellect? The great trouble with people
to-day is not that they are cropping along
in the darkness, forbidden to think as they
would. They love darkness rather than
light, and will not come to the light lest
their deeds be reproved; they are bound
down by prejudice and personal opinions,
and in the face of Gods word cry out:
I'VE want freedom of thought" No one
cares how much freedom of thought you
have. nor does God; only be sure you do
not mistake freedom for your opinion.
bid that for which the gentleman cries?
Do the churches force a man to believe
as they do2 The very fact that people
unite with the different churches shows
freedom of thought they had the privi-
lege to join either or neither. They went
70 one which they thought best. Nor does
the church compel a member to stay in it;
If he does not like the creed let him get
out; he is free. The gentleman is mis-
taken in asserting the decline of church
influence. 1t is stronger to-day than ever
before and its influence was never so
universally felt But he has stated a
parable, though perhaps unconsciously.
in saying, '"rhey do not go there ex-
pecting to hear new truths, new ideas, a
new rule of conduct" God forbid that
they shall ever go for that purpose There
are no new truths, no new rules of con-
duct. The truths of Christs time are
truths Of to-day and shall ever remain
the same. We have drifted from the truth;
we do not need new ones; we need to get
back to those of our fathers. The re-
formations of the world, were they de-
partures from the old faith? No, they
were movements to get back to original
principles. The old truths are good
enough; they can not be improved upon.
God help our ministers to preach the same
old story told by Christ and the apostles!
The author, moreover, seems to think
that PauIs writings are at variance with
Christs.i Can any Inconsistencies be
pointed out? He says: Christ taught
brotherly love-" so did Paul. / refer him
TO Ropans VIII. 35-39. and many other
passages. The spirit of love permeates his
whole doctrine. He also says Paul never
saw or heard Jesus talk. Paul asserts:
And, last of all, he was seen Of me also,
as of one born out Of due time" Which
shall we believer"
The author predicts a new religion for
the twentieth century. God pity the peo-
pie for whom the old religion in which
our fathers died is not good enough! Let
the church be purged of hypocrites and
unfaithful members and the pure religion
will then stand forth with all its power.
The theology of Paul. If we wish to call il
such, thank God, is not growing small
by degrees and beautifully less" His
writings are a part Of the inspired word,
and as such will endure to the end of the
world. Thomas II. Thomson
You Can Bet Your Life.