The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-24

URlNG the period known as the Christian
era the church has witnessed some radical
~ changes in religious thought and with tbo
coming of time other and equally radico,
changes are to be expected Indeed, i'm the presort
time the changes that are taking place and boino
made ready for equally marked as those Of tbo
past, and the bitterness of opposition though NOT 90
great, is still evident
Several days ago the presbytery of Elizabeth Y
j. took action that few years ago would have been
considered nothing short of heresy and worthy NJ
severest discipline known to the laws of the denomi
nation. Two young men who had been graduated
were applicants for licenses to preach but upon their
declaration that Adam and Eve and the Garden of
Eden were mythical and not historical they were r
fused Their cases again came up few days ago and
the presbytery finally agreed that they should he
licensed, the effect of the agreement being that tbo
young not wrong in entertaining their he
lief and that it would not destroy their usefulness as
ministers in the church
At a dinner in a club in Chicago recently which
was attended by siXtyfve Methodist clergymcn, the
startling declaration made that if the clergymen
of the denomination expect to keep their young men
and women in the fold they must do away with the
old restrictions against card playing dancing and at
tendance at theatcrs for if they are not allowed to
follow the dictates of their consciences they will at
tend churches where there such restrictions or
they will to attend church at ALL The question
was discussed in temperate language, the ministers
taking part in the discussion recognizing the stua.
tiOn that must be met
The church has lost much in ages past because Of
incorporate discussion and persecution in the mis-.
t.,I.,, '
little by little changes have been wrought and the
tendency to liberaity in the matter of religious
thought and the disposition to grant to all men the
right to follow the dictates of conscience have grown
with the years. till today the world witnesses broad
ening of views that would not have been tolerated in
the earlier periods of the churchs history and a
hopeful sign of the times that there is a disposition
to disregard the sharp lines that have hitherto been
drawn between different faiths and come together
upon common ground by which the good of humanity
he better served
In maintaining authority the church has lost
sight of great works that it might have performe
and today it finds itself with a limited field of wOr
Much of the work that it should have accomplishe
has been taken up by other organizations which have
grown and fourshed having for their aim the broth
erhOOd of man and the accomplishment of work in bis
behalf the relief of suffering and the care of the
widow, the orphans and the friendless
The church of the future must hope to accom-
psh great good for humanity, laboring with the
thought that in this life work must be done in the
spirit that makes alive and not in the letter that kills
1t is not all of Christian service to attend church on
Sunday, make the profession. 1t is in the doing
the works that the greatest test of character and ser
vice lies and therein is the honor and the reward.