Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-02
DAILY KENNEBEC JOURNAL SATURDAY. DECEMBER 3 1899


good is needed to resist intemperance and
rum selling, to combat the social evil, to
prevent Industrial oppression, to over
throw partiZanship in politics ana secta-
rianism in religion.
We are inclined to think that denomi-
| nationalism stands IN the way OF practi-
cal progress much as anything else.
The rivalry of the churches, especially
| in rural districts and in smait Villages Is
reducing many parts of the country to
| ing to maintain three or four competing
church organizations. where the popula-
ton is large enough for only one. a par.
| tial consequence is that the majority of
the population of both country and city
do not frequent any of the churches.
And yet nearly all the members and half
of the ministers do not understand the
different creeds. not even their own. They
cling to UNCONVENTIONAL name almost
| as tenaciously as they do to political
party. 1t takes a moral earthquake to
shake them out of either. There are said
to be thousand abandoned churches in
New England. and the churches occupied
are by no means full. Right here in Au-
gusta we have three times as many
churches as are needed. Two three
Protestant churches would bless this
community more than they all are now
doing. The laity fret under the burden
of expense. and the ministers are heart
sick over empty pews; II has been care
fully estimated that 600 are annual
ly wasted in this country in duplicate re-
ligious services, l. e., in holding two or
more services where one would be suffi-
Gent to meet the needs Of the commu-
nifty. And Yet we plead for money for
benevolent purposes and to evanseliZe the
world. People will pay more to have
| their own way in religion than for any
| Nifty their denominational pride and big
! otry by the name Of conscientious devO-
ton to principle. Everybody is ready to
! admit this of all the bigotrieS of the
past. though they can not discern those
| OF the present. But the light is breaking
in The public press is educating the
! churches on many questions where the
pulpits give an uncertain sound or do not
speak at all. All manner of notions are
| being ventilated, and the truth will be
| Winnowed out from error. The people are
thinking and praying. The evil is discov
| cred. The remedy is being sought, and
we shall soon hail the dawn Of better
day. The Kingdom OF God is at hand,
larger manifestation Of that eternal
kingdom than has Yet appeared on the
! earth.
The religious paper called the Rams
hundred dollars for the best plan of or
gani2ation and creed to unite christen-
dom. The editor evidently wants it done.
Multitudes Of every name sympathZe
with him We could well afford I. pay
more. No plan can be devised to unite Us
in one organic body, under one govern
ment. Those who talk most about this
| are the least willing to make conces-
sions. The bond of union must be the in
dwelling spirit. We want a church with
the minimum of machinery and the max
advertisement of the Rams Horn
would propose something like this:
FOR CHURCH POLITY.
l. Local independence ana fraternal re-
| latiOns with all
=. Universal priesthood of the good and
consequently but one order in the min
iStrY. minister IS only Il layman set
! apart TO a particular kind of doing good.
from which nobody is excluded by divine
| aut hOritN
| AS f,.Nr Mi - l ma -t4r-
wants not rulers. to ill them.
I. Universal suffrage in the republic Of
God.
). Regular conventions to develop light
| and heat.
. \ committee Of preachers and lay
men to find church for every preacher
and a preacher for every church.
FOR CREED.
4 few very easy propositions embracing
| l. The Fatherhood Of God.
| >. The brotherhood of men.
| ). The headship of Christ.
/. The immanence OF the Eternal Spir-
;. Harmony of the Human. VIII with
the Divine as the condition of all good.
6. Present salvation from the guilt,
love and dominion Of sin.
I. Rewards and punishments based
upon conduct issuing in character.
| g. The Immortality Of the good and an
end at last of sin and suffering.
9. A possible modification OF polity and
creed every four years to suit the re-
lquirements of advancing knowledge.
As TO all other matters and the strict
Interpretation Of the above items | would
have permission to think and 70 let
think. since everybody will do this any
way. with or without ecclesiastical IL
cense. II the thinking We're a little more
encouraged and stimulated, ii would be
We'll. There are hopeful signs in this d
rection also. Heresyhunting is getting
to be very unpopular The presoyteries
and councils and conferences will soon be
driven out of the business.
because Christianity is becoming an APP
piled science. The purpose Of many is 70
carry its spirit into every department Of
life The inquiry is not merely. how
shall man be saved as an individual. but
also how shall he live as a helpful MEM
Der of society. Christian sociology is a
comparatively new science. yet it is max
| ing great strides. The Sermon on the
Mount is getting, itself translated into
| the Language and activities OF the nine
teenth century. Altruism or otherism is
opposing itself to the principle that looks
out for number enc alone. The condition
innate is studied as never before, and
many of the well-to-do classes are long
ing for. remedy of social evils even
! more than the Victims themselves. The
| cries of Taborers against. capitalists are
| being heard even if mixed with some
unjust demands. The new conditions, de-
| veioped by Republican freedom the.
mingling Of Municipalities and unparalleled
abundance Of national wealth, need re-
ad iustment. and the vast majority of all
| classes will not be content till every
| body has an easy chance of living viz
tuously and happily without torturing
anxiety concerning an opportunity TO
! work or insufficient reward for the same.
| The spirit of the Gospel will continue to
permeate public opinion and legislative
lenactments till the full remedy is devised
land applied. What the outcome will be
| no one now can tell. but principles are
| IA pidly at work that will surely elevate
the less fortunate classes of society. |
Some poor and some Vicious will continue |
with us all through the millennium. but
we must reach condition where no poor
man need to suffer for the necessities of
life amidst our abundance, and where no |
one shall be forced into vice and crime by |
the hard conditions of a lot which he ca II |
not escape.
.. We are thankful that Christia n |
philanthropy is caring for the hrIpless |
and hopeless. Asylums and Industrial |
schools for homeless children are multi |
plying. The plea for such touches Il - |
sponsive chord in nearly every heart |
Great hospitals are being built by PR
waite munificence, and by the cGntriDu |
tons Of the churches. 1t is noticeable |
that no church has built a hospital that |
does not open its doors indiscriminately |
to- all persons Of every name and condi |
ton The difference between the Jews |
and the Samaritans is forgot IN in every |
case of human suffering. The principles |
of Christianity have so far inhuencei |