The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-22
THE CHURCH AND
THE Q
II

battle-ground for the support Of prohibi-
.iop of any number OF small ceremonies in
tended To incuIcato scholastic utilities or
tho alterations Of ages Of ignorance.
ALREADY SETTLED.
About all such questions, alike the great
Hebrew prophets and our Lord Himself
ha I'VE spoken with unmistakable plainncss.
Isaiah. jeremiah and many Of the prophets
seem not only TO ignore. but utterly 10
deprecate the whole mass of Bevitical in
stitutions which became the quintessence
NJ that pharisaic religiOnism which alone
kindled the burning mitigation of our Lord.
No one can study these utterances without
seeing how terribly such denunciations fail
on many of the forms which external re-
lieion assumes i'm the present day. and the
church will never do her full duty towards
the working classes until all such questions
and disputes are regarded as absolutely
nothing in comparison with the effort 10
relieve the oppressed, raise the fallen ana
set the ~captives free. This. at any rate. is
certain. that the vast mass OF the working
classes shows itself profoundly indifferent
to these merely sectarian and ecclesiastical
disputes. while they could heartily welcome
any great and real effort TO amend their
lives and ameliorate their condition.
When we look at the whole range OF re-
ligiOus history we are deeply struck by
the fact that almost every reform in re-
ligion or common life has been due TO the
work of single men. The whole Church OF
Rome was sunk i'm greed, ambition and
worldiness when the beautiful sincerity ~
sweet St. Francis OF Assist reused the
minds of millions to a truer sense Of what
God requires Of US i'm this, His world.
Europe was ~entangled in superstitution
n - ~ L..AI,~- - g.
onarola's eIoquence aroused all who were
capable of nobler ideals. The Church Of
England had lapsed into somnolence and
selfish individualism when Wesley and
Whitfield aroused men to face once more
the eternal realities. Nor is it otherwise
in the work OF social amelioration. Our
prisons might still have been sinks of cruel
injustice and every form Of iniquity IL the
heart of one simple and u~ngifted man. John
Howard, had not been touched by facts on
which the great mass OF the religious world
looked with profound indifference. II was
Towards life of self-denial and practical
pity which reformed the whole system OF
prison discipline. not only in England, but
in all Europe. Again, the condition OF
women prisoners might have continued 10
be intolerably disgraceful but for the COM
passion of the Quaker lady. Elizabeth Fry.
1t is usual to say, and with a certain
amount OF truth, that there was a vast
awakenment Of religious energy i'm the nine
teenth century, but in spite of that the
state of things in the working classes
showed the cruel indifference Of the ma
jority of churchmen fin many matters OF
the deepest Importance until Lord Shaftes-
bury devoted the whole Of his noble life TO
improve the condition of the poor. 1t was
he who removed the dead weight OF in
difference which acquiesced in the shame
fully long hours Of labor exacted even from
little children, anG the amelioration Of that
condition OF things was achieved amid
constant opposition and under a dead
weight of Indifference so heavy that Lord
Shaftesbury himself bitterly complained
that during his most arduous labors scarce
ly a single clergyman OF the Church OF
England stood by his side TO help him.
EARNEST WORKERS NEEDED.
We have in the present day many socie-
ties and institutions TO assist the poor and
suffering, and most Of them, we grieve TO
say, are involved with financial difficulties
which leave them to struggle with crippled
and insufficient means. Two Of the most
widely reaching works of philanthropy
which have striven TO relieve the miseries
and debasement of the working classes OF
England have been the work OF two Non
conformists. DR.. Barnardo. by his heroic
and continuous effort, has reached and ele-
waited thousands of destitute and neglected
children, whom he has turned into useful
and respectable members OF society. Of
which otherwise they would have been a
deadly scourge- Owing TO his initiative.
hundreds of young men and young women
are now living worthy and happy lives in
our colonies who would otherwise have
been members of our criminal classes. An
other Nonconformist. the Rev. Benjamin
Waugh, has founded the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty 10 Children, and no
one can be aware OF the amount Of good
which this society has effected who has
not read the terrible statistics which il
publishes from time 10 time. The church
should aim at producing a larger number
Of such strenuous individual workers and
giving it's whole efforts TO promote their
work, whereas at present. as in the case
Of the philanthropists whom | have named.
such men are too often left 10 struggle on
amid endless sneers, vituperation and in
difference.
We should say, then. that the chief
essentials i'm the duties Of the church
toward the working classes lie in greater
reality, a more systematic, self-sacrihcing
and a more ardent enthusiasm. The reality
should show Itself in not mistaking triv-
ialities for essentials. and i'm translating
the mere formula OF benevolence into
strenuous action. The self-sacrifce should
be manifested in the overthrow Of that
greed of gain which is the canker OF our
national life. The enthusiasm would both
call out a greater number Of Individual
prophets and philanthropists and would
lead TO their being welcomed as the real
regenerators of modern society.
In this paper ! have purposely touched
on general and far-reaching considerations.
but the application Of these principles will
readily present itself 10 all who will Sc
riously mediate upon them.
Canterbury. England.