Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-14
REMARKABLE DENOMINATION AT
ALL SOULS CHURCH.
DR.. ROBERTS LAST SERMON
HE IS FREQUENTLY AND ENTHUsI.
AsTICALLY APPLAUDED.
His References to the New Peoples
Church Received With Every
Manifestation of Approval
Eloquent and Pointed
Sermon.

DR.. J. E. Roberts delivered his last ser
mon as pastor Of All Souls church yester-
day morning. The event was the occasion
for a remarkable demonstration. showing
that an overwhelming majority of his con-
gregation is in hearty sympathy with DR..
Roberts plans for a Peoples church DR..
Roberts took for his subject, 1.-The Re
ligion Of Yesterday, To-day and To-mor-
row." The latter portion Of the sermon
was devoted TO the movement for a peoples
church, and DR.. Roberts was repeatedly
applauded. When he concluded his sermon
and finally closed a pastorate OF ten years
TO enter upon a new and broader field Of
effort, the people applauded the popular
preacher several minutes.
At the close of DR.. Roberts sermon a
financial statement was read by the treas
urer. showing that all the bills due would
be paid on presentation excepting SO Of
back salary due DR.. Roberts. George F.
Putnam urged that this bill be paid at once
and the money raised on the spot. He de-
clared that when DR.. Roberts left the
church the ablest minister in America
would retire. The remark was heartily ap-
plauded. DR.. c. II. Carson also urged that
the amount be raised at once. A collection
was taken and $3.50 was raised.
After discussing the religion of the past
and present, DR.. Roberts took up the re-
ligion of the future. and, incidentally. the
plans for a peoples church.
Let us concede the positions of the
churches" he said. is there not some
point so common that all may unite as a
resistless, moving moral body? Why waste
time over these differences? To the man
who believes in, and him who doubts the
existence Of a hell. let US say: Cling TO
your belief. But here is a little child that
has no home. What difference does it
make what you believe about hell? Here
is this little, bruised and homeless child
What Tomorrow Religion VIII BE.
THE time for controversy has gone by.
Religious education is largely a matter of
environment. The religion of tomorrow
will be the religion of s~ynthesis. We will
reverse the process of differentiation and
will try to bring together the too long d.
vided forces. 1t will not be by controversy
or battering down the other mans belief,
but by insisting that he do something be-
sides believe. 1t will be an unselhsh re-
ligion that gives that supremest gift-itself;
that will sacrifice something to lay hold
of the sources of a greater power. The
selfshness of religion is that it says: 4
viii build my church and will fling the
banner of my own personality at the mast
head
Whenever an idea Of sufficient vast
ness lays hold of a man, what is impossi-
BILE? The world has never seen such an
economic waste Of moral force as is wit
messed in the churches to-day. We nave
been satisfied to build them high and
strong, Our spires have been made TO pass
Its neighbOr in the towering march up
ward to the sky. We can transmit them
from generation to generation. Let US be
satisfied with one achievement for the
church. Meanwhile what have we done for
the world? We have helped IL a little. Our
churches are the luXuries WI enjoy. Night
by night there pass by their cold and re-
sponsive stones men and maidens taking
their first step in the pathway at whose
farthest end are the crimson bars of sins
re~tr1butiOns. You might shut every church
in this city for ten years and at the close
the people in the church would be the least
sufferers. while those on the outside would
never know anything had happened, for
they would have as much as they had be-
when people get enthusiastic they ac-
complish something. II it is a public build
ing, they get together, regardless of creed
or politics. What separates us in religion?
Even in religion we sometimes get to-
gether. What becomes of the diosyncrasies
of the denominations at the great revivals
we have from time to time? They are all
blended and merged in the loftier, nobler
idea of simply helping man. CApplause1
Then do you know what happens? Each
PiedCner takes MS converts ana starts Tor
Come on, God. It's time for you to
come home daughter and applause.)
The Peoples Church.
Some have said to me, Why can't the
Unitarians do all this?' 1 wish to God they
could, but no great synthesis can ever take
place under any banner dedicated to any
form or personality. Personally, the Uni
tartan church is broad enough for me. I
ask no ampler of the reason than
] md here. But what of my brethren?
The Catholic. the Presbyterian, would not
come TO my church. If we believe in the
perfecttbility of man and will trust 1t with
out a name, can we not put the name aside. |
though with regret, because 1t will then not
SAVIOR of sectarianism in the slightest de- |
greer Applause.)
Some have said the plan is not a wise |
one. l grant that true. 1t is wiser 10 |
count the chances to stay with the respect /
able. established. fashionable and success |
ful church. But the world has not made
any progress by the agency of men who /