The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-24
A MonERN RELIGION.

"A
A movement has been in progress for
an extended period among the several
religious sects to draw the laboring class
es to their membership. 1t has not been
disunctively a sectartan movement so
much as it has been distinctively relig-
ious movement. Elsewhere, as well as in
st. Paul, a closer relationship has been
established between the representatives
Of the societies of laboring men and OF the
several churches. In st. Paul through
out the past winter the meetings conduct
ed by the representatives Of the several
churches Of the city in cooperation with
the local Trades and Labor assembly were
productive of lasting results in many
laudable directions. They put an end to
the belief, which was growing into con-
viction among many working people,
that the administration of the various
churches had but little enduring interest
in either the worldly or the spiritual VOL
fare of them or their kind. They did
more than this. They gave the members
of various church congregations, as we'll
as the ministers of the various churches,
a closer view and accordingly better I'M
derstanding of the laboring masses in
their relationship toward the church and
religion.
No intelligent minister seriously con-
templates a successful movement In the
direction Of drawing poorer members Of
society to his altar on the mere presenta-
ton to them of the superior claims of bis
creed to represent the true doctrines IF
Christ. The Catholic church alone may
be said to maintain such an attitude con-
sistently. not only toward the masses but
toward the individual
The rennements Of sectarian teaching do
not appeal at least to the unlettered
among the American people. Sympathy
and feeling play an ever-increasing part
in the choice Of mems religion. Love of
ones fellow creatures is the essence OF
most mems religious belief. Day by day
this sentiment grows among thoughtful
men and women. Love IS religion in the
truest sense. That form of religious
teaching which is most certain to appeal
to the masses is the one which deals most
nearly with their temporal as well as their
spiritual needs. Men are coming togeth-
er more closely in this period of the
worlds progress than ever before. The
division of classes Is becoming less and
less marked, and men are fraternizing
the need of fraternal love and depend
ence.
In discussing this idea recently In the
Outlook, Mayor Jones' of Toledo, conveys
this thought very forcibly. his view be-
ing that among workingmen the idea Is
dominant that religion shows itself most
surely through love of ones fellow crea-
lures.
Even in their worldly interests, when
men are brought into closer relations with
each other, they beget the sense of iden-
tity in spiritual as well as in temporal
needs. That is the religion which is APP
peanng TO men individually and In the
aggregate every day. The great move
ment toward social and fraternal. and.
indeed, trade organizations. is one which
the church can if 1t will turn to the en-
during gain of religion. And every day
in which the churches consent to ignore
the great movement they turn their faces
=
to bringing the masses into religious COM
munion It does not take the average
man of our day long to learn that the
religious denomination which is indif-
ferent to his social interests can have at
best but a selfish interest in his spiritual
well being.