Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-24

mere IN champion. 1t Is always spoken
of In the papers as the most fashions
BILE church in town. Think of that!
So The News Crier stated in giving
the account of its annual meeting.
What do those people know Of sacri-
fee or of the spirit of Christ, who
gave up all his riches to become poor
for the sake Of dying humanity? I'm
sitting in judgment on them, and
shall some time be called to account
for doing 1t, but If was Catholic
I'd be willing to sit on the hottest fire
in purgatory to say what think about
an 'aristocratic church, And this one
here in Champion is only one out Of
thousands oil over the country. What
is the church, as IN Institution, doing
to obey the command of Christ, to
deny itself, take up its cross, forsake
its ease and pleasure and follow him?''
Again Eric turned in his walk and
confronted Andrew. Stuart and Rhena
watched him almost sorrowfully after
listening to Eric's outburst. Over An
drew's jolly, good nntured face crept
gray shadow of seriousness that
showed how deeply Eric's sharp con-
demnation had pierced
your question is larger than any an
swer l can make without taking up
hours of discussion" he said Mt last,
speaking calmly, but with evident self
control over a possible fury of feeling
"The church today contains some of the
noblest and some Of the meanest men
and women. There is in the church the
highest, purest, most sanity devotion
to Christ and his teaching, and at the
same time there are alongside of 1t the
most awful selfishness and love Of
ceremony. show and hypocrisy. The
scribes and Pharisees are just as much
in evidence now MS when they cried
to PLATE: Cruelty him! Cruelty himy
Long ago 1 came to the conclusion that
the same people would nail Jesus to
the cross again If he appeared in this
generation and denounced their hypoc-
risy and selfishness as he did before.
At the same time he would have
great army Of disciples, who would
suffer martyrdom for his sake. re-
gard the church Of today as occupying
a peculiar position in the world Of
struggle between different groups of
men. There is a growing feeling on
the part Of many churches that great
revolution in the methods and purpose
is at hand and that nothing will be
SO radically changed In spirit and pur-
pose as the church OF Christ. The
amount Of relief for suffering that
flows out of the organization we now
have is no doubt enormous. Propose
to any civilized community in this
country that 1t wipe out its churches
altogether, and the proposition would
meet with instant objection, even on
the part of those who are most ready
to denounce the church for its useless
ness. l am NOT attempting to answer
your question in full. Eric OF course
II l did not believe In the church,
mean in Its possibilities of sacrifice
l would not work from 1t as center.
I would get out and work from some
other basis. But this is my best rea-
son for believing in the church as a
power for the worlds redemptlye up
lift after all else has been said"
Andrew paused, and the rest listened
thoughtfully. "The church Ia the only
organization Jesus ever mentioned. He
especially loved 1t. 1t was not any
particular form or name that he loved,
but the dlscipleship organized in love
to one another and common Master,
going forward to conquer the world
for God. And after the trials and
false representations of Christ In the
church have had their day, after the
aristocratic churches have died and
the memory of their pomps and fash
ion Is no moro, after the cohness and
carelessness and superficial worldliness
of the church have had their time
lived out the true church will survive
the wreck OF all this agoniEing death
III life and be universal representa-
ton Of the 'crucifed Lamb of God, Civ
ing Its life for the needs of q suffering
and dying race. 4 believe IN the holy
catholic church meaning the church
in the sense that I be.
heve 1t contains the heaven that is
necessary to leaven the whole lump.
Why, ever the Salvation Army never
would have had an existence Il It had
not been for the church"
do you mean that the church had
grown so mean and useless that the
army had to be organized to do what
the church ought to have dope?" asked
Eric, with smile.
0Nn v,,onv, za.,... Ap.-A a..
Christian men and women who organ
lied the army had their nurture and
training in the church. She was their
mother. They went out from her
home to do a work they never could
have dono II they had not been trained
and taught at her feet"
us not the Salvation Army as much
the church us any other form Of or
ganization where Christian disciples
get together in Christ's namey' asked
Rhena.
ayes, think So" replied Andrew.
7 mean to prove 1t by joining both"
said Stuart looking at Rhena.
You can't join the army without
giving up your own wishes and obey
Ing the orders of your superior officer"
said Rhena slyly.
It's one of the rules Of the army
also, understand" added Andrew,
with twinkle, "that private cannot
even marry without asking the consent
If the commanding officer. Isn't that
so, Miss RhennP
1--WE asked 1t and obtamed IT," said
Stuart. "The commanding officer says,
Get married as soon us you recover
rom your present Illness"
"she doesn't, efther,- sold Rhena
hastily. Then, as Andrew and Eric
began to laugh, she blushed and said,