Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-25
;OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW.


Written for the Times Z phulis.an
The New York sun has "a reader of
looks Who has the faculty Of Offering
the readers OF that paper The meat OF
all noted books as they appear. thus
SAVING the inquiring, Intelligent man or
woman much time and mental work. Ii
Is We'll known that the author and wri-
ter. Mr.. Frederic Harrison. is far from
peirg an orthodox beieverin the Chris
tan religion, hence il is interesting
when We ar. told that MIR. Frederic Har-
tison is the most eminent representa-
tive of the positive philosophy III En-
gland He takes an extremely pessimis-
tic view OF the condition of Christianity
al the end of the nineteenth century. AS
10 the so-called revival of religion
which, II is alleged. has lately taken
place. he admits that in ceremonial, III
ecclesiastical celebrations IN clts'ical or
ganzation and energy the progress is
manifest. The rites Of the churches, the
3 dignity OF worship5the parade of church
societies. are in full activity. Never,
/ indeed. We're the churches more in evil
I@denceG than they are today Their pre-
tensions We're never higher: their Tolls
never fuller: their patrons never more
| illustrious. But. asks MIR. Harrison, rs
vital religion more general, more effect
i've? Is genuine belief in the creeds
/ more definite and clear? j s Christianity
more truly a civllizing, moralzing
force? Who will dare say 50? BY vital
/ religion mean not conventional
1 phrases about getting to Heaven
/ mean religion that can purify, direct
and inspire mans life on earth BY gen
| uire belief in the creeds. mean the lit
eral acceptance OF the three creeds in
| the Book of Common Prayer in their
plain sense. When ask il Christianity
! is a civlizing and moralizing force, 1
ask If 1t holds us back, as people. from
| Injustice and oppression. and as men
and women from the pride of life and
the lust of the flesh
/ In the major part Of his essay the au-
thor dwells at length on the evil things
patent in our modern life. the chase
| after money the rampant love of gam
/ bling, the extravaganza, the coarseness
1 and the materialistic spirit which seems
| growing on all sides. In his conclusion,
he inquiries, What have the churches
done to purify and check all this? Who
would care If they did try? Who would
believe them in earnest in doing it2'
/ CHANGING at the South African war, Mr..
/ Harrison queries: What We're the
British churches doing and saying yes
lttrday? Offering up from ten thousand
4 affairs prayers to the God of battle 10
Il bless our arms, j. e., that he might en-.
able us to slaughter our enemies and
4 possess their land. Not voice comes
4 from the official churches to raise a
doubt as to the justice, good faith and
). Christian charity of those who have
i thrust our country into wanton wal
OF spolation. Not word is breathet
from their pulpits of respect for the
brave civilians who are defending theil
. homes and their freedom. These Boei
4 republicans. we are told, gather rount
their hearthstones. whole families to-
gether. father, son, grandson. kneeline
down in prayer--they do sincerely be
lieve in their God and his readiness Il
Rear them-and then wives, sisters ant
, daughters arm them for the front; anc
when they engage In battle. their CAM
rings with hymns of prayer and praise
At home our own preparation for war i!
sounded in slang from drinking saloons
]. which is echoed back in pale and con.
: ventiOnal litanies from the affairs OF thu
state church. This Is how Christianit.
works out in practice at the close Of tn,
nineteenth century" Mr.. Harrison goe
. on to say that this state church an,
nl the creeds. to the husks of which It stil