The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22

The addresses at the sessions of the con-
gress of religions in this city the past week
were generally of character to lead an
outsider to infer that the object Of the con-
gresS Is to create what may be called a
new religion, upon the assumption that the
Hebrew. the Buddhist and the Christian re-
hgions have, in some measure failed to
meet the requirements of mankind. Those
who participated in the exercises claim. or
Buddhists and Christians but on this oc-
casion each. out of regard for the others,
was very careful not to allude to the beliefs
which are essential features, and which
have made them followers of the one or
the other. If either of the three were the
gamers by this extreme courtesy, they were
the Hebrews, since prayer was offered to
a God whom that sect might claim to be
nearer its conception of a supreme being
than any other. The majority of those
present have at times acknowledged Christ
as their leader, but on this occasion. judy
ing from so much of the addresses as were
printed in the papers, they ignored His
name by silence much did Peter by
his vehemence. The only avowed approval
of Jesus Christ. by name. as a teacher. was
made by a Buddhist, and this was done in
a manner which made it appear something
of act of courtesy to those who had so
considerably ignored that name.
Liberal Christianity has done a great
work in the past fifty years. 1t has soft
ened the asperities of the old creeds to an
extent that very few able and progressive
men any longer preach Them or il they do
the form is modified. The preaching in the
evangelical churches, in the cities at least
is very different from the preaching of one
hundred or even fifty years ago. The creeds
are very much the same, but either opin-
ions have been modified or else it is not
deemed wise to proclaim them. But the in
huence which liberal Christianity has ex-
erted Is due TO the fact that those who have
proclaimed it. for the most part have in
sisted that their Christianity contained
more of the spirit of Christ than did that
of the so-called orthodox creeds. But this
seems to be a new DEPARTURE conclusion
that what is called religion can be more
potential by ceasing TO hold up Christ as
the center and inspiration of a religious
faith which for centuries has been the most
potent influence in promoting civilization. If
this is not the case the sincere men and
women who held the conference in this city
the past week did not make their purpose
so clear that those who run may read,
which must be done in regard TO religion.
OF the three religions. the Hebrew the
Buddhist and the Christian, the latter Is
the which has proved potent power
in the civilization and the upbuilding of the
race. Each contains a system OF ethics AID
each has had men of rare power, but the
Christian religion seems to have been th,,
only faith which has impressed itself upon
the world as 1t Is to-day. The faith OF the
Hebrew has been confined to q. race The
teaching of the Buddhist. lofty as 1t Is. has
not lifted to a higher civilization the mass
of people where 1t has been taught for Gen.
turies.S The masses Of India have continued