The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-30

DR.. W. K. Beans preached to large
congregation at the First Methodist
church last night, on Religious Toler-
ance." He took his text from Luke,
8; 40.
The doctor prefaced his most excel
lent discourse by telling of a man
who, when reaching heaven, was sur
prised at three things. In the first
place he expected to find many in
heaven who were not there; in the
second place he was surprised to
ind many near the throne whom he
thought would not be there, and in the
third place he was surprised how he
ever got to heaven himself.
The people of God should ever cult
Vate forgiving. tolerant and broad
religious spirit toward each other, not
only in the local church, but also
toward other denominations. There
were, of course, many interpretations
in every church, and the speaker did
not expect the church in this world
would reach stage OF perfection. If
he should be called upon to define
model church he would have an edifice
of rare architectural beauty, furniture
harmonious with beautifully designed
ceiling and walls; carpets of pleasing
pattern and a harmony of colors in
everything. In this church he would
have every member a giant in spiritual
power; he would not have it said of
one member that he was slow at pay
ing his bills; Of another, that he was
sharp at driving a bargain; or of
third, that he was misery. He would
have models of men and women mingle
together in harmony. The church stew
ards would always know their duty
and do it; the Sunday school teachers
would always be present at their
classes; the janftor would even be an
Improvement over the usual run of
church sweepers and he would see
that the church was never too hot or
too cold, or that the dust would con-
gregate, The choir would have more
of a spirit n their singing, and the
organist would never run into wrong
key half way through solo. Then he
would have a minister conSecrated to
God; a mar of magnificent physique,
as wise as Soloman, as eloquent as
Peter. whose smile would be as good
as the doXology. The minister's wife
would be a womanly woman, who
would attend to all her household du-
ties, take an active part in the church
work, be president of several kindred
church organizations, and always
ready to lend helping hand to all of
her sex. He would also have the people
IL
benevolence that they would ask the
preacher every once in awhile to take
up a special collection in order that
they might contribute financially to
the upbuilding of the kingdom OF the
Master. Such would be the ideal
church.
The doctor then contrasted the ideal
with the real church as it is today,
the improvement of which could only
be accomplished by exercising a spirit
Of tolerance. The ordinary man goes
TO church nowadays and scowls be
cause the sermon is too lengthy or too
dry, or because it is written, or be-
cause the preacher talked too long
about the church debt. There is a
spirit of Christian tolerance lacking
We are now too apt to thrust our pre-
JUDGES into the unprejudiced minds of
others, with disastrous results. Always
exercise a spirit of tolerance. The
church is established in this world as
q sort of moral test. 1t is to test our
ability to bring the kingdom of heaven
to earth.
The spirit of intolerance often mani
tests itself early, when it should be
discouraged. A boy, for example, will
engage in play. Suddenly something
displeases him and he says, with a
scowl on his face, Boys, l am going
to quit THE game" Such boy grows
20 be a man and the same spirit will
be manifest.
We look aghast at the time when
Christians were burned at the stake
because they differed in belief from
their prosecutors. In these days it has
been abolished to a great extent. The
preacher of today who in public or
private attempts to say his church is
the only church, has come to be re-
garded by all intelligent people in
condition OF indulgent pity. People are
going to heaven every day from de
nominations whom we thought would
never increase the throng in the celes-
tial city.
The sectarian who says because you
do not worship in my church you shall
not inherit the kingdom Of glory is
possessed of a narrow spirit that is
only inspired by the devil. Because
another nan differs from you in his
ConcluSi-. Il is nc reason for condemna-
Iion. If you give two men the same
text and they fail to draw from it the
same points you should not condemn
the men, but rather admire the text
which was capable of setting men to
think in more than one direction.
In closing, DR.. Beans grew eloquent
and appealed to all to forsake these
prejudices and use more of that spirit
of tolerance towards other denomina-
tions. And 50 ! say he closed, that
on Decoration day, on Washington's
birthday, or on Young Mems Chris
tan association day. we should not re-
fuse to touch elbows and stand on the
same platform with the Presbyterian,
the CongregatiOnalist. the Lutherans,
and Mormons and Gentiles should join
hands in any effort to the upbuilding
of mankind and the glorification Of
.AJ