The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-10-04
DECLINE OF pRorEsTANr1sM.

Rev. Mr.. Raab takes very pessi-
mistic view of the outlook for Protes.
tantism in America. "The purpose
of this paper" he says, "is to criti.
else the abuse of religion by religion
lists, to show by simple process OF
reasoning that the present policy OF
Professionalism in this country, if per-
sisted in, must wreck it as system. I"
The first count in his indictment is
the reaction against dogmatic teach
ing during the last decade. ITO
some this may appear to be clear gain
for Professionalism. Without arguing
this point in detail, two facts show
that this loss of dogmatic teaching is
sign of declension rather than of
gain.
"The first fact is this: All faiths,
false as we'll as true, that have re-
ceived wide currency among men,
have been propagated through dog
matte teaching. The other fact is
this: The doctrines concerning which
Protestants speak with equivocation
are basic doctrines in their system. !"
Another point of weakness is a sub
stitution of faith in the material for
faith in the supernatural.
"Protestants never, in all their
previous history, set such high value
on money as they do today The
ministry itself is so gauged by money
that one of the first questions asked,
on the formation of new pastoral re-
lation, is How much does he get?'
The getting ability of a preach
er is, with many, far more impor-
tant question than his soul-winning
ability. And the lack of appreciation
of the humble and untutored, with
an enlarged appreciation Of the veal
thy, is growing weakness among
Protestants.
The old distinction between the
church and the world is growing dim.
''It is growing reproach to Protes-
tantism that it is treating as religious
men who are not religious and are
known to be the opposite. This is a
surrender of the fundamental doctrine
of Professionalism, that religion is a
matter of personal choice and can
never be ascribed to a man who per-
sists in badness. Greed, oppression,
unscriptural divorce, widespread in
difference to alcoholism, political cor
ruption, exposure of the human form
beyond the limits of modesty Gas at
the theatre, Sabbath desecration, are
tolerated and sometimes INDUCED in
by members of Protestant churches. !"
Radical attacks on the Bible under
the guise of scientific investigation are
being tolerated. ''It is fact too pa
tent to require proof that Protestant
ism is doomed if the Bible is untrust-
worthy. The defence of Protestant
ism can never proceed on the ground
of speculation, for speculation is Of
tener atheistic than theistic. The
whole right of Professionalism to exist
as a system of doctrine is derived
from the Bible and defended by the
Bible. Now for Protestants to sup
port men in attacking the Scriptures
is to lend aid to their own overthrow. !"
The church stands in great need of
"thoroughgoing reformation" "a
worldly, half-paralyzed church, led
by ministers who do not know what
to preach, will fall short of changing
the moral complexion of the world.
The weakened condition of the min
istry is quite as pathetic as that of the
churches. We may really indulge
the hope that men will so sicken of
this surface trickery in the name of
religion as to hasten a strong reaction
in favor of religious certainty and
depth. Our times are morally very
weak /; there is much breaking down
in the best of us. But the nerveless
resistance which has withstood the
declension of American religious life
will be forced into the path of posi-
tive reform"