The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-05-20

I is the true church because they have , the organization of the early churcf
 and are led by the New Testament in- structions; others say theirs is the true church because they preserve the rites , and customs of the first disciples, bap- tize as they did, commune as they did; some say theirs Is the true church be-
 cause 1t Is the church of which Peter was the head, and they have the only keys that unlock the gates of heaven. Others say theirs in the true church be-
 cause their church is founded on the
 creeds of the fathers, and so on and on.
 will not give the reasons the 150 de-
 nominations give. There is too much
 nonsense in them and they are not
 worth the time 1t takes to give them.
 In the light of this declaration of Jesus they are vanished into thin air. There is only one true church, and that is the church that is giving life to the world. One cares not whether it have a long unbroken past, or whether it be a few men for the first time gathered to- gether in some country to serve their brothers, whether it worship in stately cathedrals, with liturgy and solemn music, or whether it be few humble men and woHcen gathered in some lit- tie New England meeting house to break to each other the bread of life: whether 1t have elaborate creed. and confessional or whether it's members simply covenant. as did the Plymouth Pilgrims, to walk together in the love of God and man. We may have pref erence for one of these things or anoth- CT, but they have nothing whatever to do with the church. The true church is the church that imparts the life Of God to the souls of men. It is tl!e church that sends young men out into the world fired with zeal for pure lv- ing, high thinking and honorable ser vice Of their fellow men. It is the church that strengthens strong men in their endeavor for better customs, purer laws. It is the church that sends out men who apply the golden rule to business and who conceive of their work as an integral part of Gods re- demptive process. It is the church that holds duty up to be transfgured with divine meaning It is the church that with no uncertain tone proclaims the great principles of Jesus Christ as the principles that shall determine the relations between governors and gov erned, employers and employees, capi- talist and laborer It is the church that breaches character as the only wealth of abiding worth It Is the church that by It's ministrations opens a continual path into the higher life; comforts and sustairsN those who are bearing the burdens of the world, and keeps ever before both young and old alike the abiding worth of life, it's son ship in God it's glorious destiny. When you find tkat church. you have found the true church of Christ, for 1t stands, in the community for It's enrichment in the life Of God.
 herein lies the future of the twentieth century chyrch4, Its greatness will not be determined by anything but its con- to the higher life of the city, md any department of that life. It ,an never be mere society for private or even individual enrichment, oust must stand for the increasing dis of power and righteousness md truth. It must make Itself felt y broad vital pulpit u.terance. by a school that shall teach children that character is the greatest thing in the world but that 1t is not real character ill used in service and the enrich nent of the city's life: by strong men md women here receiving power from ,n high and witnessing of that power Il home and school, and the office, shop ind factory, and finally the religion of | he twentieth century has got to ad- | ust itself to this test. The doctrines hat shall rule these new years are the | that give life There is a | .ood deal of loose talk to-day about | he uselessness of doctrine It is said | hat 1t matters not so much what a | nan believes as what he does. My | riends, it matters everything what doc rine a man holds, simply because all | hat he does will be determined by his | aith. Actions are the fruits of thought. | Deeds fall from the tree of faith. If a \ nan holds severe doctrine of God he | ,il act out his life consistent with that | elef If man holds humane idea f God, he will act from different mo- ives and along other lines of effort. 'hus, if I believe that God is a stern, ar off imperial judge and good, whose haracter is justice untempered by | lercy. I will as sure as fate reflect hat faith in my attitude toward my ellow men. Whereas, if I believe that +od Is fatherly in His character, dwell- lg In His world 70 love it and show I will express that faith l all my walk and action. If be- eve religion consists in obeying cer- lin revealed laws, I will act from tern sense of fear or duty, and be one ind of man; if I believe that religion
 glad. childlike trust In heavenly ather. I will act from love and inn ulse and be another kind of man nd vastly better type, I think, The aul who held the Old Testament re- zion of the law was a vastly different ian than the Saul who believed in le Father of Jesus Christ. If I be- eve that all men are the children of i cd, I will treat them as my brothers;
 I believe that only few are thus llled os God, will not have much asslon for the brotherhood of man. ) you see it does make all the differ ice in the world what doctrine a man )lds-for it determines his character,