The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-13
INDUSTRIAL EFFORT NOT SUFFICIENT.
Christianity Necessity in Reform.
BY REV. JACOB sTRAUB. DID.

so far not fully succeeded. That power
that would hold the Niagara, though it
might not presently hurl it back, would
not fail to be considered immense. So
that power to which is conceded the ele
vation of the controlling part of the
world out of heathendom, and the slowly
effacing of one great inhumanity after
another, when considering the torrent of
animalism bearing down everywhere.
only stark madness could, with open
eyes, pronounce failure, or lacking the
possibilities Of final success.
In the measure only in which the
church has been true to the Christ, has
it rounded up victories for humanity.
Wherever the church proceeded with
the open Bible before the people, over
all imperfections of Interpretation the
blessings of freedom and sound morality
have abounded as nowhere else.
Again Professor Huxley. though ag-
nostic. testifies in the following words:
"The Bible has been the Magma Charta
OF the poor and the oppressed; down
to modern times no state has had q
constitution in which the interests of
the people are so largely taken into &C.
count" "AssuredIv tho R;hla
talks no trash about the rights of man;
but it insists upon the equalities of du-
ties, on the liberty to bring about that
righteousness which is somewhat differ.
ent from struggling for rights"
10 the same effect Prof. Romanes Of
the same school with Prof. Huxley, OBJ
serves that "The teachings of Christ
are not ephemeral but for all time"
The teachings of jesus Christ are
the final words on human reform NOT
TO be superseded. He has been all
over these modern thought devices
more than eighteen centuries apo-far
ahead and more modern than all ;ts
masters. His thought will be the mod.
ern thought for the next century. and
the centuries beyond. His utterances
are philosophical and the disclosures NJ
nature on this subject and are imnon
table facts; but they are more-they are
nat utterances through him from the
throne OF the Almighty for humanitv,s
immediate and ever continuous use."
1t is often said. MAKE religion attract.
lve." The intention is to say, "Make if
to be characterized by entertaining fea-
lures, : spicy and brilliant sermons
charming music and captivating society
with all the myriad accessories. And If
this does not bring success, instead of
suspecting it and trying another wav
add more OF the same sort; as the maid
who found the eggs not good in place of
one took two What is made attractive
under this arrangement is not religion
so much as multitude of clubs and mar
ties attached, absorbing the enerpies
and diverting the attention that should
be bestowed on religion and the church
1t is a principle in nature that the
active functions become the absorbents
Undoubtedly religion must be made ~
tractive in the execution of its great and
dlvlnely appointed task. And for fpll
understanding of all that is REQUIRED but
few words are necessary, II is nv the
preacher, the singer, and every member
OF the congregation being intensely af-
tected by it; and continually separated to
1t, IN the thought and spirit of the Christ
Inc church, the benefcent mother
OF every disinterested and outreachinp
philanthropy, is an institution of the
religion of Christ-its instrument. and
projected forth upon the world in his
truths and in his spirit, every member
with his cross of self-deniai attending
upon it, the world would surrender to il
II thousand times deeper sunken than
now.
10 the duly wise and thoughtful the
church is the first great care and inter
est and to be promoted over all other in
stitutions, with view to the best
ends of all people living in this world of
ours.
When profeesed Christians put them.
selves in readiness to follow the Christ
~ AS'SoicNj III LIS OWu Terms ana
spirit. neglecting no conservation lead
ing up to it. the church will be the all-at.
tractive center of society, not on the
basis of enjoyable secularisms, but in
the supreme interest taken in true wor-
ship and in seeing men, women and
children from every part of community
continually ascending on the spiritual
scale to ever higher and better forms of
life.
There is no lack of evidence that the
church has the power to draw that the
drama cannot approach. There are
churches 10 every generation that are
witnesses to this fact. To say nothing
of many others scarcely less in efficiency.
Spurgeon, of the London Tabernacle. for
for period approximating twenty-five
years, addressed congregations, averag.
ing twice day. of from five to eight thou.
sand people. There is not an actor living
or dead, who could have approached
it. The secret of it, aside from remark
able pulpit power. was the theme of God
and his dealings with man. based on an
open Bible never put on trial before the
people.
On his own revealad tarnns God r,;u