Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-07-07
DR.. LOGAN ESSAY.
(From First Page.)

(From First Page.)
sary to give solidity to the emotions that
are aroused by warm presentation OF the
everlasting truth of God as given in Jesus
Christ. We naturally desire to hold Oh to
what Is valuable, and form serves, IN the
spiritual things, to enable us to keep ever
by us the truth in its purify which has
been evolved out of the generations which |
have done their work and sunk into the
dust again. So far as it is possible for form
to produce characters unspiritual-that Is
true-but there is danger in everything |
We are are taught to keep before us this
Injunction in which the Apostle acknowl- |
edges form, but at the same time sounds a |
warning, Having form of Goodness but
DENYING the power thereof" Now and
then we hear many Directing to praying |
out of book. "That is certainly" say
they, carrying form too far" 1t is very
difficult to pray and not to fall into form
or habit of prayer. There is agood brother,
not of this church, who prays in public and
prays the same pl layer every Sunday morn
ing. Is not that form? A minister of an
other fold confessed that he paid as much
attention to his prayer as to his sermon.
Well then, If we are going, whether or no,
to have form in prayer, why not have
the best. st. Paul seemed to have recog-
nized the necessity of form when he said,
81 will pray with the spirit and will pray
with the understanding Also" We will
close our answer to this question with the
Injunction given by the greatest teacher
the world has ever known. When thou
pravest say, ''Our Father, who art III
heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy king
dom come. Thy will be dond on earth, as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive US our trespasses, as
we forgive those who trespass against US.
Ann lead us not into temptation; but de-
liver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, for ever and
ever. Amen"
9Th. "You know many people say that
there is no religion in the Episcopal Church,
how about that?" 1t is possible to have
religion and not to have Christianity, and
then 1t is possible and right to have both.
We believe that we have both religion and
Christianity. Religion is what we believe
Christianity is that which gives character
to our belief. The distinction then be-
tween religion and Christianity is very
broad and clear cut. A heather has le-
ligion, but he has not Christianity. Do
YOU not think this popular objection is the
result of the failure to draw such distinc-
ton and lack of information about the
popularity of the Episcopal Church in the
matter of educating the consciences. From
the earliest dawn of consciousness her
children are taught to enlighten their con-
sciences and be guided by them in all their
relations in life. You can very well see
that such training inculcates the truth OF
individual responsibility to God; and also
that it makes each soul law unto Itself.
Do YOU not think that such Trainings bet
ter than that which is peculiar to law?
Law is necessary for the well-being of the
soul, but if we continue all our days to be
governed by it alone we will find ourselves
in time making very slow progress in the
development of spiritual character. We
will be bound by the cold letter and not
energized by the warm spirit. We will
ever be doing this because the law says so
and not doing that because it is against the
law. If we are guided by conscience in all
things we will rise above the letter and
take delight in the spirit. We will obey
the law unconsciously, will leave off this
and take to that, impeled by conscience
enGghted by the spirit Of Christ. The let
ter of the law belongs to children while
the spirit belongs to men and women. st.
Paul meant that men and women should
rise above the letter, when he said Glove
is the fulfilling of the law" Do you not
think life guided by conscience is the
highest form of spiritual life? We believe
then that our system is in keeping with the
Christian spirit and is capable of produ-
cling the best fruits. We aim at the high
est, sometimes we reach it, sometimes we
miss it; yet we aim at the highest ideal.
| Not long since most excellent Christian
woman of one of our most influential
churches said, 1.-THE other day | was think
ing that when came to die would like
| to haIe the best person of my acquaintance
near my side, and began TO think over
nv long list of acquaintance and came to
the conclusion that Mrs. G.. was the most
earnest Christian / knew" Now, Mrs. G.
| is an Episcopalian-a lifelong Episcopal
Ian and born and reared in that church.
"By their fruits We shall know them" a
system that can produce such character, 1
and many like it, must be good, there
must be religion and Christianity in the
Episcopal Church. With this we close cur
answer to the sixth and last question.
We are quite sure that all understand
and appreciate the most delicate charac-
ter of the work we have undertaken; and
also our desire to be rightly understood.
In answering the various questions which
are so often asked we have striven
to give offence to-none, and-at the same
perfectly honest.
We have the kindest feeling to all, and
are thankful-very thankful-for the great
work for God our brethren in Christ have
done and are doing, not only in this cor
ner of the vineyard but all over the world,
yet that feeling of thankfulness does not
lessen the love we have for our church. 1t
is proverbial that Episcopalians love their
church, and why should they not do so?
And how Is it possible for them to do otn-
erwise without being ungrateful9 She is
their tender mother, she watches over
them from the cradle to the grave. When
helpless infants she gathers them, in bap-
tism, to her loving bosom, and provides
most wholesome instruction for them
during the time of impressions. Then,
when the years of discretion come, and
they are made conscious through the Holy
Ghost that they are the children of God.
She introduces them, by means of most
impressive service, to all the privileges and
Observation-Disclosures