The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-29

or visit the theater you must not ente.'
Gods house. In fact, the church Is
10 be used for the saint only, while
the sinner must Keep away. That this
notion is entirely contrary to the bibli-
cal teachings ! will venture to prove.
The ancient religious teachers have a;
all times shown that religion must
bring JOY and gladness to the soul ana
must not hamper its progress. In
fact. we may sum up briefly by tho
well known saying that religion was
given for man and not man for re-
ligion.
The spirit can be CLEANED all through
Hebraic history. During the century
prior to the Christian era there existed
Jewish sect, who were styled Sep
aratiats. Their mode of living was Il
abstain from all pleasures in life AMI
just enough food to keep them alive:
to live apart in woods and beguile
their time away in prayers. Now. this
peculiar sect found little favor among
the people, for they were absolutely
useless to the human race. The rab-
bi of old taught that we are sent here
each for n different mission and II be-
hooves upon us to carry out that mis-
sion as much as circumstances will
permit. to exclude ourselves from the
world in order to lead angelic lives.
is contrary to Gods intentions. Too
often have the authors of the Old Test
ament been accused with ordaining rig
orous forms and rituals in order 10
refrain it's people from worldly antici-
patton, but never was so mistaken IN
idea expounded. Every page of the
a maj hot In nf
dom. IF you will obey my commands
YOU will eat the fruits of the land is
what the Old Testament frequently
teaches. The NaZarito who would
VOW that he will abstain for certain
period from eating of certain fruits ~:
drinking wine or deny himself of som,
other worldly desire was at the eX
piration of that period to bring a peace
and sin offering. This law was enacted
| in order 90 discourage self-denial their
idea was that man Is to partake of
| everything that nature has so bounti-
fully bestowed upon us. This idea has
been propagated all through Jewish
| history. If you will peruse the Jewish
calendar with its numerous fasts and
| feasts you will notice that a period Of
| festivity always follows a fast dav.
| If an anniversary of some Jewish
| calamity falls on the Sabbath day its
| commemoration is to be postponed for
| week day. in order to give the peo-
| pie an opportunity to enjoy their Sab
bath. The Jewish law-givers. who
knew human nature well, never in
sisted upon the people to wrestle VIII Il
nature, but give it full swing and 30
| made every act of enjoyment an act of
| Goodness. Even the apostles VIII }
were the pupils of these rabbis sought
| Whatever thou doest, whether thou
eatest or drinketh, let it be in the
name of God" From these teachings
can be seen that to abstain from the
world was not virtue, but rather
live in it and lead life of righteous
ness, was to be an act of Godliness.
| This idea is still in vogue among the
| Jews. You do not find among them
total drink abstainers, but they are
| noted, as community, to be sobe".
| This outcome is on account of the
Jew, when partaking of wine or spirits,
would invoke Gods blessing upon it,.
and naturally it would not be becom-
| ing to abuse Gods gifts by becoming
| drunken. The biblical characters new
er refraineG from dancing or any other
! amusements in order to be merry and
| joyous. Even dancing was made an
act of Godliness. The old fashione!
| Jews would take the scroll of the law
in their hands and dance with it. and
sing praises to god. This can be con-
iirmed by various psalms that was
adopted for that purpose. In fact, OPP
| tmsm Is the keynote of Judaism. ana
as long as that optimistic spirit ex-
listed in the church it lived. There
fore, the only remedy for the church Is
secularism. The church must unma SIX
and throw off the garments of super
sttion and infuse in it's stead a relig-
ion for the living. 1t must adapt it
self to the people. and must not COM
pei church member to groan under
its yoke: it must not hamper the long
ing Of the heart. but rather take cave
that the induging of natures DESIRE;
should not be abused by indulging -
excess. AT the present day member
of church stands alone, away from
his fellow-men. as if some supernat-
ural being. This merely shuts others
out from enjoying the blessing of re-
lgion. In fact, if the church is to full
fill its mission it's teachings must be
human; it must yield its fruits to it
people in this world; a religion that
must breathe justice and charity sa re-
| lgion that should clOthe the naked
and feed the hungry; religion that
should not oppress the laborer: re-
liSion to educate capital and labor Of
their individual mission. The church
today too frequently troubles itself t,
save the soul, while 1t neglects tn,
body II we wish to save the soul we
must preserve humanity, for humanity y
is the casket of the soul. In this
country the church would shower a
lasting boon upon it's people if it could
reform politics by educating the people
that a political position is not a posi-
tion for ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but duty
they hold to its constituents; politi-
cal position is not an Opportunity fng
plunder. but rather a position of enor
nous responsibility which each man
holds to his fellow-men. The churcn
must influence the people that if a
| man Is called upon to accept a certain
office he should first consider that h.
Is competent for the position. There
is abundant work for the church 10
do. and 1t behooveS upon the church
not to shirk from its duties, Otherwis7
II fails in its mission. Hair-splittin.. ).
| theories and other theological questions
| will not advance the church. Secu-
larism will. Here lays the opportunity
for the church wherein it may grow
and prosper. wherein 1t may blossom
like lily. wherein Gods kingdom upo1
earth may he established by coming
amidst the people. Then there W.T.
grow up a church that will tower n hoy,
others; a church that will prearI