The Indianapolis journal., 1896-11-24
THE CONGRESS OF RELIGION.
Rev. Mr.. Dewhurst Discusses the Aims
of the Organization.

Rev. Mr.. Dewhurst Discusses the Aims
of the Organization.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
] have read with interest the editorial
comments the recent Congress or Reiig-
ion. published i'm the Sunday edition OF the
Journal. The editorial. to my mind. so Sc
riously misinterprets the spirit OF the con-
gress that l ask the privilege of an added
comment. 1 suspect that the writer formed
his opinions on the basis of the press re-
ports. which, admirable as they were.
could not, Of course, convey the spirit and
the element of personality. and it is these
things which count and are essential ele-
ments in forming Judgment of anything.
1 have myself been an interested observ-
er of this congress from the time OF its
organization and have had faith in it's pos
sibilities as a means of enlarging thought
and widening the field of religious fellow
ship and cooperation. i have not been
convinced of the wisdom of some of the
projects entertained in connection with it,
nor have / believed that it could accom-
plish as much Immediately some of its
friends have hoped And being on this oc-
casion in some sense the host, and there
fore more anxious regarding the impress
the community. was believe, in more
rather than less critical frame of mind
than heretofore. My own conclusions,
after having listened closely TO nearly ev-
cry address and paper and discussion, diff
fer somewhat widely from the Journals. S.
In the first place. there was In my Re,
lief. not the slightest suspicion in the mind
of anybody who took part in the congress
that its object was Ito create what might
be called new religion / think that
,hl~ 1C "A II
the men and women here as to have said
that they were planning to create new
planet or new law OF gravitation. Men
and women who can speak with serious
ness and weight upon such topics as COM
posed the programme of this congress do
not imagine that religion Is anything with
in the power of human creation. They rec
ogniZe il as a fundamental and eternal fact
which il is given us to understand and in
terpret They believe possibly tnat II is In In
underground of opinions in order that he
may walk more confidently amongst the
trees of the eternal reality.
The topics and the treatment of them in
the main implied this desire to find the
fundamentals, the things In common, and
TO allow sympathy and cooperation in the
field of the things in common help to dis
Sipate the anUpathieS which have occumu-
lated in part because we all have allowed
ourselves to put chief stress on so many
total impression of this congress was OBJ
viouSly constructive, / say the total i'm
preston, because III was not 10 De expected
or desired that every individual utterance
would be so. 1t must be remembered that
this congress is more inclusive than any
heretofore attempted. The Episcopali:tns,
the Baptists. the Presbyterians and other
denominations have held congresses where
there has been comparatively IA fair field
and no favors;a representatives OF differ
| ing views in those bodies have come to-
gether to defend their views but necessar-
| lily the topics for consideration have been
more generally confined to matters of pol
inx m on rr1rD nj aff
| the circle of those respective denominG-
| tions. But here Is a congress which cx-
cludes no one, which welcomes all and
| invites the courageous expression OF indi-
| vidual views and convictions, but the sub
| iects discussed are obviously more general
and more fundamental. The present con-
and Christian. and within the circle of
| Christianity the topics were discussed by
| representatives OF the Baptist, the Presby-
terian. the Congregatonalist bodies. as
well as those who are generally designated
as liberals. The first and superficial i'm
preston under such 'cireums stances would
ing views but the second and permanent
impression is likely to be that of sym
! pathy of spirit and aim on the great funda-
mentals: just as the superficial impression
of the blacksmith anvil is that of flying
! sparks. whereas the next and truer Inn
pression is that of the Welded and united
congress was constructive and therefore
! helpful because the participants allow ed
| of religion to find expression.
One word further regarding the Journals
inference that those participating in the
congress, through oYercourtesy, allowed
their real affiliations Ito retire to the lack
ground They ignored His (Christ 81 lame
! by silence. as much as did Peter by his
| vehemence," the Jeursial says. a Baptist
! clergyman who was present in the congress
| declared, and apparently with some sur.
prise. that 1t was very significant that
| Brahminisnl, had exalted by statement ol
| by Implication, the name and the faith OF
| Christ. That Is the opinion of a disinter-
! Cress. But. after all, that is not the mair
thing to say in reply. The Journal seems
TO say that each speaker should have worr
| some visible badge, or label, OF his indi
vidual faith. just as the Jockeys in a horse
| that being thus labeled they should have
gone in for race TO the finish by whicl
they might have shown which religion wa.
THE most potent influence in promoting
civilization" Now, this is obviously
| wrong impression of the aim of this con
| gress: it's purpose is neither propagan lis
| nor proselytins. 1t, does not submit 10 dis
cussion the question of the superiority OF
| final triumph of one religion ove.' another
! but rather to determine Il there are any
tracts of life already in common to -elg
ions and sects, which have many I-oint:
! of difference and If so whether those tract:
| OF life can be advantaaeo lsly occupied to
gether: whether this purpose will resul
in obscuring other things which many re
gard essential whether II viii lessen inter
est in some of the divisive things is. per
haps. question for discussion, but on.
who really understands the aim CT th
congress can truthfully say that it neces
states disloyalty to any special affiliation
much less that it implies for one instan
that Christianity has outlived its useful
ness. The fact is. have all lived s.,
long in "a polemical atmosphere that w,
have come 10 believe that nobody Is stand
ing UP fer his rights his faith or hi
country unless he goes around with CHI
on his shoulder and the air OF one whI
wants TO give somebody q good big lick
ing. The game of the Kilkenny cats ma,
have been the best method of disposinl
of two superfiuous felines, but il is oh
viously not the best way of promotin;
either ones nation or ones religion. w
are now so far along into the dawn o
international arbitration that we are like
| ly to hear less of the politica1 jingoeS VIII
want TO thrash England. May we no
hope, too. that we are FAR enough on int
the dawn of religious federation and cath
| olicity to be able to maintain owl
self-respect loyalty to our own fundamen
tai beliefs and aims, and yet listen wit
good will and brotheriy kindness and ca
gerneSS to cooperate with every man an
every faith that viii let US enter?
| FREDERIC L. DEWHURST.
Indianapolis, Nov. 23.
In Peaceful Philadelphia.