The San Francisco call., 1896-10-18
Church in
the Southern
City
Politics and Religion
Combined by a
Strange New
Sect

1tS Cr6eQ as 10 D6 WttiOuI pdTdlleI or Aus
ticipation by the creed OF any ecclesiasti-
cal idea ever before brought into the world.
In point OF fact the only semblance OF
ecclesiasticism which this movement
bears abides in its name of "church" and
in the fact that it expresses itself to be
form of the worship of God. Other than
this there is nothing about its officers, its
meetings, or any ceremonies thereof which
might suggest it to embody phase OF
religious thought as religious thought :
comes to US to-day through articles of
faith, psalters and edifices.
This newly originated institution is
called New Era church, and it was brought
into being through State chatter granted
upon the filing of articles of incorpora-
ton In 1894. DR.. W. G. Bowman was the
originator of the idea of such a church
and stood at the helm while it was getting
into shape. He calls it ''civic church."
and as such it has spread until the Los
Angeles body now numbers about 700
members, and there are churches at Comp
ton, Azusa and Clearwater, each of them
having as great mem bership as any Of
the s.old line" churches which are in those
towns. Altogether it might be said that
the mem bership of the church is about
GERS declare the faith will spread, as the
present activities show, until it becomes
the most conspicuous church movement
in the State.
The idea is recognized by some as about
the same sort of breaking off from the or.
thodox faith as Professionalism was from
Catholicism. 1t is based upon the claim
that the churches of to-day assert that
their only purpose is to care for the souls
of individuals, and have no concern for
their earthly well-being farther than OBJ
| tains to morality and charity, the last OF
| which graces the New Eras declare is, sin
! its church acceptation and practice, simply
fraud"
In short, this New Era church mingles
politics with religion, and of the two runs
mostly to politics. There is no regular
preacher, and the sermons bear no flavor
of theology. Twice on Sunday the MEM
bers gather to hear discourses. A brother
or sister will rise and deliver prepared or
extemporaneous address. He may take
some Bible theme for his base of argument,
but if he does he will use it only as a wall
from behind which shots will be taken at
political questions of the day.
After this is finished some member will
arise and comment upon the words Just
| spoken; this will continue until dozen
others have spoken. ALI sorts OF subjects
will be talked on. Socialism comes in for
large part of the speechmaklng, for many
of the mem bers are socialists; then there
are protectionists, ardent and excitable
| ree-traders, single-taxers, goldites, silver
ties, those who want the railroads owned
by the Government, those who want only
i. L.
agement thrown open to competition,
those who wish Government ownership OF
the telegraph and who are otherwise op-
posed to socialism.
One of the sections of the constitution
of this church reads:
In matters of belief and opinion there will
be absolute liberty of mind to accept whatever
Is proved or seems probable and to reject
whatever is disproved or seems improbable.
and that its range of investigation and in
struction will be unlimited, drawing freely
from all sources-scientifc, literary, historic
ancient and modern, sacred and profane.
Christian, Jewish and pagan-drawing most
largely from those sources which seem In
structive and helpful, freely handling every
question in the problem OF human life and
aspiration, whether relating to this life or the
life to come, or whether concerning the body
or the soul of man.
The expressions of its founder, DR.. Bow
man, as to the beliefs of the church are
much in line with the above. He saws:
I'VE believe that the surest way to take
care of another life is to make the best
possible success out of this one; to make
earth itself as much like heaven as possi-
BILE; place of equal rights to all and spe-
cial privileges to none"
The absolute lack of theological doctrine
in the structure of this church appears,
however, in what is specifically declared
to be its creed, which reads as follows:
I believe in the eternal principles Of justice
and righteousness, embosomed in the infinite
soul of the universe, revealed in the face Of
nature and the expert essences of human life.
l believe in the betterment of the world by
endless progress. believe in the triumph of
light over darkness, good over evil and life
over DEATH 1 believe that the earth, with its
stored resources, its bouaties, and civilization
with its blessings are the rightful heritage of
the people, and that all should have fair play
and an equal showing for plenty and comfort
believe it is wrong for the few, whether by
Inheritance, shrewdness or unjust laws, to
have more of life's substance than they can
earn or need while the multitude have less
than they can earn or need; wrong for the
few to have control of the means and necessi-
beg at their feet for the privilege OF working
for something to eat and wear; wrong for the
public necessities to be in private hands,
believe it is wrong for part of the people to
be licensed by law to make criminals, paupers,
vagabonds and suicides while the rest pray,
plead and bear burdens believe it is wrong
for the teachers and preachers OF the world to
be silent about these great wrongs for fear
somebody will think they are meddling with
politics.
The literature of this new church does
not seem as yet to have narrowed to any
particular sacred book. 1t has neither
Bible, Book of Mormon, or Talmud; in
facr, the whole range of written words
which the past has produced is fecog-
nized as being Its stock of publications, its
reservoir OF food for thought.
The church has nc pastor, but is gov
erned by president This Office is nowt
held by A. NJ Salyer. The vice-presidenI
is Martha IT. Hinckley with w n IT