The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-07

The picture which the New York Sun
paints Of the condition OF religion nc the
beginning OF the twentieth century Ia
rather highly coiorsd. yet 1t can
not be denied that there 10
truth In 1t. 1t is undoubtedly a
fact that the Bible has ceased to be
the authority &c was fifty years ago. Then
10 was Looked upon generally asinfAilibie,
rot merely as 9 religious guide, hut as 3
historical record. IL has entirely lost that
character with the so-oallsd liberal de-
nominations, and even thu orthodox re-
tect many Of its historical statements and
give a meaning Co many OF Its religious
teachings which fifty years ago would
have exposed them to the charge OF Inn
delity. There is less belief In the super
natural than there was, and q growing
tendency to submit everything TO the test
OF reason. Yet it would be far from true
to assert that there is not still q great
deal Of the old faith in the Bible. All the
pulpits have NOT been affected BY the
higher criticism" and there are
millions who still look upon Ii rs
the word of God-not merely the wor d
concerning God. Nor have revivals bssn
unknown during the last half century.
On the contrary, there have besn many
movements OF this kind, that have been
attended apparently with great spiritual
awakening. It is doubtless true, as the
San alleges. that many churches are TO-
day little more than social clubs, In
which one who did not belong to the pre-
vailing set wouli feel very lonesome,
and where the life that now IL gets far
more attention than the life that is to
come. Yet there are still many In which
the old traditions are adhered to, and the
doctrine Of the new firth Is preached
with as much fervenoy as ever. Perhaps
the worst blow to christianity among the
massas Is the wide disagreement among
the priests as to what christianity Ia. The
humble seeker after tbs truth finds such
wide and irreoonciliabie differences
among the doctors Of divinity to whom
he naturally looks for guidance, that hs
is at loss what to aooept ami what to
discard. The straight and narrow path
has been made 30 crooked by theological ]
disputes and discussions that one be-
comes bswildersd who attsmpts to follow
1t. Morsover. the doctors o: divinity
sometimes display a lack OF consistency
that has q prsjudicial effect. The gospel
which t hey preach Is a gospel OF peace
and good will, but many of them are
quite ready to pray for the success of
"our arms'' without much regard
whether "our arms from the stand
point of justioe and right, ought to sue
oasd or not, and some Of than are much
more tolerant OF the money changers In
the temple than was their great ex-
smplsr. Some Of than, too, in their
zeal to NIL up their churches, resort to
arts little better than thoss Of tins sensa-
tonal newspaper. The pure milk OF the
Word has become so much aduIterated In
some pulpits that 10 has ceased to be
spiritually nutritious. Yet there is still
abundance OF vital faith in the pulpit
and out of 1t, ana the fact that the
church ia now more active than form eriy
in works Of benevolencs is certainly not
discreditanls to 10, nor does it indicate
that philanthropy has superseded re-
ligion.