La Junta tribune., 1900-03-21
WHAT WOULD JESUS Dor
Rev. Elmer Ward Cole Discusses Shell
don's Practical Christianity.

sis DR. Sheldon's book In HIS
Steps, or What Would Jesus DoF
practicable; is it applicable to
modern religion, and what effect,
in your opinion, will the perusal OF
the book have upon church people
generally il read without preJu-
dice9"
Rev. Elmer Ward Cole, who is
now located at Falls City, Neb.,
replied TO the above query, in re
sponse to the reques; OF local
paper. We reproduce a portion
OF the two column article as it will
probably prove of interest to Rev.
Coles many friends residing in
this city. The article in part is as
follows:
A book so widely read as Mr..
Sheldon's ''In His Steps" is not to
be reviewed as the term, book re
view, might generally imply. 1t
is not mymission to review but TO
play the role OF critic. Not lit
erary critic, for the book is by no
means piece of literature; not a
theological critic for there is no
theology in its pages, so | am only
to pass my opinion upon book
which has had greater sale than
any other book since the days OF
"Uncle Toms Cabin more than
hve million copies having been sold
already.
No one can accuse its author OF
insincerity, for it brea,hes truly
earnest spirit, The outward ap.
pearance of the book is hideous
and the style IN which it is written
is but little better, both accom-
plishing most anything rather than
an appeal to the aesthetical taste
OF its readers. Down beneath these
layers is little kernel which is
swallowed by the general reader
with little effect, while in other in
stances it might have most telling
effect It's effect must depend
largely upon its reader. In some
cases it may make fanatics, break
ing up homes, making paupers and
perhaps adding to the large list OF
In most cases, how
ever, am inclined to think it will
accomplish untold good, for no
man with reasonable intelligence
can read the book without noble
shame. 1t will surely make the
reader dissatisfied with himself for
at least short space of time, and
that must be accomplished before
any soul can he awakened to a |
higher conception of life. 1t is
not a book that will leave the mind
at perfect ease but is bound to
awaken some profound questions.
There is nothing in the book in
with the humanity of
Jesus. The book is more rational
and human than all the systems of
theology Of the present day and is
much likelier to do good for striv-
ing humanity. The modern revi-
val is destined to do more harm |
than good while teaching the hor-
ror OF future hell or the beauty
Of a heaven OF myth, neither of
which the great mass OF society be-
lieve, hence do net answer to the
appeal OF the modern evangelist.
The book will not affect the ex-
tremely orthodox church to no.
ticeable change for the reasons that
they teach one thing and practice
another. 1t is not thefault OF their
lives SO much as their so-called
orthodox teaching. Their stand
ard is "Sell all that thou hast and
give it to the poor" and the prac-
tice is "Bny all you can on fall
ing market and sell on the rise.
Their standard is "Love your enc
mics" and the practice is "Smite
him at every opportunity" The
church standard is to "Lift up the
fallen" but how many church choirs
Of our own city would admit to