Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-03-03
THE CHRISTIANITY OF THE PRESENT
AN ADVANCE OVER THAT OF
THE PAST.

"Say not thou, what is the cause
that the former days were better
than these? for thou dost not enquire
wisely concerning this" Fec. 7:1O.
Our purpose is not to explain the
setting of this text, not to enter into
any discussion of it's truth as used by
the wise man, but simply to enquire
as to the character of the Christianity
of to-day when compared with that
OF past years and ages. At the outset
it is necessary to notice that we can
not Judge all things by surface indi-
cations, for there are many things on
the surface of Christian life that must
cause any one to despair if he fixes
his attention on these solely. This is
a time when there is a constant de-
mand for that which is new, for that
which is up to date. Things are
changing so fast and flying with such
speed that even a flashlight picture
is almost impossible. New depart
ures" are advertised daily and the
world is watching eagerly for their
appearance. Panaceas for the cure
of all human ills abound. Cults and
fads and isms of all kinds flourish.
Things philosophical, theosophical,
scientific burst forth constantly. Al
most all of these are self-centered.
The more egotistical man, the more
vain, the more apt is he to produce a
new form of religion, and the world,
or part of it, is always ready to bow
down and worship. But beneath this
changing, transitional, nOrsensicdl,
surface appearance Ct things is a vast
deal of sane thinking and practical
living. Christianity has never shOne
forth in such a clear and strong light
as to- day; it has never SO powerfully
influenced men as at the present
time. In order that we may under
stand this more clearly, we need to
look at the intellectual, the moral and
the spiritual attitude Of Christianity
as we find it to-day. Turning first to
the intellectual attitude we fad that
it is saner and wiser than even few
years since. 1t is not long since the
Christian world was anxiously dis
cussing the conflict between science
and religion. Science stood by Itself
regarding Christianity as something
that stood in the way of progress, as
it sometimes has. The discoveries of
the scientist were looked at sus-
piciously by the Christian and very
often den ounced as that which was to
overthrow all the good that the world
had received. Religious men refused
to listen to the teachings of science,
declaring that they had a more GER
tain way of learning the truth Sci
entific men were arrogant and con-
ceited and looked with disdain on one
so simple as to believe in the Christ
whom we trust. The battle waged
fiercely, each side seeking to destroy
the other. Huxley devoted the most
of his life to the attempt to over
throw Christianity through science.
But that is all past. The world has
come to the conclusion of Huxley,
saying at the close of his life, "The
science that is not religious is false,
and the religion that is not scientific
is without foundation" Not only has
the war ceased but there is more than
peace. To-day science and religion
60 hand in hand. The more we learn
from the teachings of science the
more certain we are that our religion
is not hope but glorious reality,
the one real, certain thing in this
universe, The true scientist is
Christian man because he can't help
being. The more one honestly, con-
scientiously studies the world and the
things therein, the nearer must he
come to the Creator and ruler of this
world, and the Christian man has
learned to welcome all additional
knowledge concerning the ways in
which his God works. We have
learned that all true knowledge only
draws men to their Maker. To-day
Christianity gladly welcomes anyone
who can give true light upon God and
his methods of working.
One important factor in this change
has been the theory of evolution.
Whether you accept this theory or
not if we open our eyes we must rec
ognize that the world is accepting it
to-day as it has not in past years
This does not mean that all the crude
statements put forth by this man and
that are true, or that the world be-
lieves them. The conclusions of Oar
win are in the main discredited by
science to-day. 1t doesn't mean that
we accept all we read and hear on
this subject. The theories of evolu-
ton are legion, but the underlying
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