The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-31
GREATEST OF ALL TRUSTS
REV. C. c. RowLIsoN TALKS OF A
CONSOLIDATION OF CHURCHES.
Christian People Must Get Together
and Work as One-Other Prob
lens Discussed.

Problems Unsolved by the Nineteenth
Century was the subject of the Rev. c. c.
RowIison's sermon at the Third Christian
Church last night. His discourse was along
the line OF topics Of paramount interest to
the public, dealing with subjects master
minds have and are attempting TO solve.
While these important problems have been
unsolved, yet he marked the progress that
had been made in the closing of the GEN.
fury and defined the status of the present
semi-solutions as ripe for great unfolding
and final solution in the twentieth century.
The first topic he spoke of was the social
problem. He said facilities and conditions
that have made 1t possible for the great
accumulation of wealth by individuals are,
perhaps, the most important phase of the
social problem. These aggregations of
wealth, he said. have clearly identified
money class with increasing arrogance that
now falls nothing short of King George
himself. He was pronounced in stating
that this class difference is becoming more
apparent every day and that some solution
must be forthcoming to bridge the widening
breach. The solution was coming, he
thought, in the twentieth century, and the
way is now being paved by broad-minded
men who are advancing their theories and
principles, but the assistance of the church
is to be the main factor in bringing about
condition more acceptable to all classes.
The position of secret orders in society is
another phase of the social problem that
will have to be solved, he said. In this
phase there is another classification, almost
as distinct as that between the money class
and the masses, but the influence and ten
dency to draw men apart is not so appar-
ent.
The race problem was dealt with in
like straightforward, but not offensive,
manner. He said with the abolition of
slavery was the promise to take the negroes
under the protection of the whites and
educate them. The education and assist
ance offered the negroes has not been car
rled out in the manner outlined at the
close Of the war, he said, and the negro
has been left alone to work out his own
destiny. The estrangement uetwcen the
races, he asserted, can be largely attrib-
uted to the lack of interest shown in the
negroes by the whites after they were given
their liberty.
The war problem that is so apparent to-
Cay. he said. has been solved in great
measure. In support of this statement he
said 1t has now become the custom Of ma
lions to apologize for bringing on war.
rather than entertain an enmity that is to
break out in hostilities soon after peace
reigns.
The problem of church union, he said, is
equally important compared with the social
problems, and while the spirit of the times
is toward consolidation and the combin-
ing of strength, he said, il is lacking when
applied to churches. Upon the theory of
trusts, he said, a consolidation of all
churches would mean the greatest of all
trusts, and that with SUCH a combina-
ton the onward march OF Christianity
would be given an impetus that would
mean the saving OF the world in a short
time. What the Christian people need, he
said, is to get together and work as one. If
dustrial and business life the result of a
united effort OF Christians would even be
greater.
Another great problem of vital impor-
lance to Christianity, he asserted, is the
conception Of God. He said this had ma
terially changed since the time of our an
cestorS, and that the comprehension of
God to-day is not what it was years ago.
1t is not necessary, he asserted. to consider
God in the old-time light as a celestial be-
ing who governs the world as piece of
gigantic machinery which He created and
set in motion. Now men study the rela-
ton of God TO man and man to God, and
consider the great unfolding that has come
from Him by this research. The new con-
ception of God has emphasized His pres
ence, His power and divinity that was not
heretofore known. These are some of the
problems, the pastor said, the twentieth
century will solve that the nineteenth GEN.
fury has failed to properly construe