The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-29
RELIGIOUS NEWS
AND THOLGHT

In an article entitled What Are the
Churches Thinking About?" the Con-
Sregationalist says: The season of
autumnal religious gatherings is nearly
ended They invite the attention OF
students of sociology. for they illus
trate the movements of the most po-
tent forces for the moral uplifting OF
all classes Of human society. These
churches are thinking about helping
their fellow men. They are trying 10
do it, too. Whether or not they are
open 20 the charge of being OF me
world. it is certain that they were
never more thoroughly in the world
.han now II one wishes 10 promote
reforms. TO help the poor. TO increase
patriotism, 10 cultivate social relations
to aid missions at home or ABROAD OF
10 advance general culture, in the ma
jority of our churches he may JON d
society to do any one of these things
Never we're there so many orgaa-za
tons within the church as now, ana
many of them are subdivided into com
mittees which look after the daily and
almost hourly life of those Wiling 10
accept their aid. The churches are
acting in more thorough union tAan
ever before. We do our edneationaI
and charitable work through Socletles
which represent all the churches. Cen
traIization. which formerly had TO con-
tend with active opposition, is now
hindered only by indifference. we
recognize the fact that there are move
nents To help what are called the de-
fective classes. whose claims extend
beyond our denomination, beyond the
whole Christian church, and we unite
with all friends of humanity 10 Deneht
society. The church no longer claims
the exclusive right to do good to men
no longer claims that real good can
not be done except through IT, II -
willing to be q factor with others in ad-
vancine. the material and moral inter-
ests of mankind.
These things become patent in study
ing the topics discussed in recent re-
ligious gatherings. Not less slgnlhcaht
are the omitted topics and those when
have only slight attention Bloncal III
depreciation has less prominence than
it had five years ago. Individual seI-
culture in Christian life IS not en-
phasized. Doctrines which have been
made dividing lines have nearly or
quite disappeared. If tests of disciple
ship are considered. they are works,
not faith. If faith is thought of, 1t IS
that which may be inferred from
works So far as we may judge from
the reports OF III Sc autumnal meetings,
the churches are fixing their thoughts
on the present time and present needs.
T!.ey are not much moved by the fear
of hell or the hope of heaven. They
want to make this world better. and to
do it now. They would avoid sin be-
cause il degrades character. They do
not much emphasize a dread of the
wrath of Cod because of sin. They
want Righteousness because it makes
men worthy. They do not so much
think of Gods love for righteous men,
IS the reward of their Righteousness,
as they think of Gods love for all men.
They are not thinking of the bliss of
the holy nor the misery of the wicked
in the future life. They are thinking
of the excellence of realizing ethical
standards here and now, and they are
striving to attain them. We have not
written these things for the sake either
of concentration or criticism. but to
point out what appears to be the pres
ent attitude of the churches Such a
study as is here suggested of a passing
phase Of Christian life may turn the
thought of the churches to most i'm
portant things, for the time forgotten.
1t can hardly be doubted that certain
great motives which held possession
of Christians in the last generation are
now but dimiy seen in the background
Of organized enterprise TO improve hu-
man society.
,
FA fr-l,I