The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-02-18

is ready 10 INSPIRE the Church councils
today. To say that divided Christian
ity is inevitable, similar TO a gulf as
broad as that between Gehenna and Par
adise, is to deny the power of Christ,
thus rendering His Body heatlless. This
is that practical atheism in the foul
slough of which sectarianism is wallow-
Ing today. The real situation is being
recognized by men of the best intclli-
sence all over the land, who are asking
for authoritative religion, and are rap
idly coming to believe that they can
have what they want.
The failure of feeble religion of private
judgment now has an illustration that
is simply unanswerablc refer to the
case of Il single denomination whose
Year Book shows that in seven of the
greatest cities of the Uitcd States. hay
Ing over 100000 inhabitants each and
containing ASS of its churches, support
ed at the cost of several millions an
nually, during the past year instead of Il
gain there has been Il loss of G93 men,
bers. All this following a special ef-
fort to "evangeliZc" cities by national
societies organized for the purpose. In
another group of seven cities mad eighty
"churches," after holding on TO vast
quantities of deadwood as in the pre-
vious case, there is a loss of 3S7. Take
the same fourteen cities and inquire
what has been the result OF teaching on
the basis of authority and you will find
that vast gains have been made. Does
not this form Il Judgment of the intelli-
gcnce of this country on the whole sub
ject?
1t is idle to say that understanding
men object to authority in religion.
What they really do not want is Il thou
sand conflicting authorities. Men arc
as anxious for authority in religion as
in science, in government or finance.
When we come to know them VIC shall
find that authority is what they hunger
for and thankfully accept when they find
it. Tho demand of the day is TOR the
inspired Church, the Church whose
only church that will be able to COM
mand the respect and obedience of
America In the days to como.
The broad church" Tailoring in &,
double sense is doomed. The headless
Church will go down to the grave. The
Church that hesitatcs is lost The
Church of Christ alone can endure ana
conquer through conquerlng faith
Still Ill the presence of crumbIing sccts
and falling denominations one asks if
there is really a future in store for
,, , Christianity. l answer, yes. First, how
ever, pseudo-C Christianity already In tho
tolls of an incxorablc revolution, must
accomplish its end. Then true Chris
tianity will stand forth in majestic pow
rr, revealing her real character Then
men will see how badly the sectarian
duped them, us we'll as himself. and dis
cover that there is no middle place for
the foot of man between atheism and
the faith once delivered to the saints.
Then they will recall the ancient words,
Arise and shine, for thy light is come"
and as they contemplate the vision they
will ask in the oft quoted lines
"WhO is this that rises with wounds so
splendid,
All her brow and breast made brauii-
ful with scars:
In her eyes a light and fire as of long
pain ended,
IN her mouth Il song of the morning
stars?"
Tho answer Will be: "IiIf i w
Catholic Apostolic Church This is the
Church of the living God, the Pillar and
Ground of Truth"