The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-27
ron HhRxoAY IN RELIGION
Three Movements on Foot for Peaceful
Discussion.

No less than three ambitious attempts will b
made during the carly months OF next year 70
harmonic the religious thought Of the United
States. II Ia regarded as significant that these
! attempts will be made not by religious radicals
! or the apostles Of new faith but by clergymcn
! and laymcn Of tho established denominations
/ Every denomination except the Catholic IL rep
! scented In all these movements Those chiefly
! Interested In carrying out the movements do
! not admit that their object IL TO harmonic the
! religious thought Of the United States. but that
! In what tho movements amount TO and tho har-
mony Is to be brought about through discussions
Of religious subjects about which there is no con-
| troversy.
The aim Of the promoters Of these movements
Is TO make the closing year Of this century an
! epoch-marking year In the religious history Of
this country. To accomplish this IL has been
arranged 10 hold number Of assemblies or con-
ventons In different parts Of the country at which
leading preachers and aymen will discuss sub
octs In reference to which all the religious folk
agree. by discouraging controversy II IL thought
that harmony will be encouraged. and when once
all the denominations have been Get TO thinking
alike certain subjects they will ultimately
conclude to lei the con,rovcrted questions alone
with the result that sort Of new religion TO which
everybody can subscribe will DO given 10 tho
world
The mos, elaborate Of the movements already
announced for next year is that which traces Its
beginning to tho American Society OF Religious
Education. whose headquarters are In Washing
ton, and Of which Gen. John Eaton. formerly
United States Commissioner Of Education IL
the president This society purposes 10 hold
thirty Biblical assemblies as they arc styled,
In az many different cities OF the country In which
only unconIovortod questions Of Scripture will
be discussed. These assemblies will DO held
Ia cities OF tho North. South, East and West and
except tho Catholics, have signiflod their inten.
uon OF taking part In the discussions
be eonSned enieiy 10 this STATE ana SaS is n no
promoters arc many Of the best known New Pork
Sf RnSs Wis., ky sbS COT as
he'll X hebet Newton, Cuthbert Hall, Presiden,
crystalline In State Conference OF Religions, TO
DO held In this city shortly after Easter. Tho
promoters haven yet announced their programme
q 9uestions TO be discussed. but tn suggest
the line Of Discussion when they say:
bu, In this eonrenoe we snx 20 eno,s sbem
and once We &c, into tho habit Of Ignoring them
ss n 7. aSm Gtsf; thai s' e, fR3s P
be permanent unless It's citizens have and hold
to q living religion; A religion to be. living
mans social relations TO his fellow man Dis
cusson OF questions growing out OF these funds-
mental propositions cannot admit Of controversy.
for the specific purpose Of annihllating religious
Sontroyersy, will DO conducted along lines simi-
Of Uniiarians to be held early In April in Bos-
ton Tho New Thought" folk have Just held
n,s soI, o. preliminary convention in boston. e
Of the anti. controversialists, because they say
ESs Fhonss here frH be
however. Is rather a code OF morals than 70
Rabbi Gottheil. Of the Temple EMANUEL, tho
Sweaithiest Hebrew congregation In tho city. while
he has promised TO help along all be can the State
great practical good will result from IL or any
other OF the similar movemens
q Sun reporter. Siust because I am. I @ue."
IL certainly can't do any harm. and may do some
good. but hardly expect much Of the good
this, that Amounted to little or nothing In the
end that ! don't think these movements now |
Tpe for them So long as tho catSoes 0 arc d do'
ing what they have done in France and Germany, !
Be- take oR, such
that's qbou, an 4, yill amount to-taiE
ef SSt Wishing 70 q Sas cot s az
fo! ., view from Dr. Gotth.il, when he, said:
moi h sa ai p a let %e that the signs
IN this country, al least, during the early years
q the next century. Some writer has said that
the nineteenth century has proved the indestruo-
ubility OF matter, and the twentieth century will
prove tho Immortality Of the soul Maybe this
prophecy will be fulfilled. I do not say II will be-
but do say that all signs point 10 a religious
awakening. Mind you ! do not say q religious
revival. because that would DO taken 70 mean
many conversions 70 tho religion Of the denomina-
tons ~ they are
That may not be Indeed, l geo no indicn.
tons that II will bo ! do believe. though that
We shall get much nearer the truth In religion
before long than We have been before believing
this think that good will come from these hnf.
mony conventions, as have heard them called.
There is altogether too much controversy among
The leaders OF religious thought, anyway The
questions over which the controversy arises amount
10 little from practical standpoint and the con-
lioversy bccouds the living truths OF tho Bible
that tho everyday man and woman need. What
matters II 70 you or any other laymnn whether
there are inaccuracies In the Scriptures1 There
g enough In them that Is vital end true and help
Iui Tor you without considering the other parts
. What Is needed Is a more practical religion.
u Is all well enough for theologans 10 talk and |
hubble about and discuss questions Of dogma
ions Tho discussion and the bubble don Z do
hem any particular harm. and they rather enjoy
L But let them have their fun Themselves Tho
world at largo wants something more vitalidng
n the way OF religion than theories and scholns-
ics- Lot US give them, II We can what they
want l believe that these harmony conyen.
lions arc steps In the right direction and will result
n much good In the way OF bringing God and men
iearor together In particulanzing our religion 90
o speak, and In renewing hope and faith In the
world