North Park union., 1902-01-24
The Church at Walden.


torious on account of tho short CON-
ings Of its then pastor, the editor OF
the UNION wrote his version OF the
affair and sent il to Il Denver daily
for publication, but it wa, declined
because it was "hot stuff and might
subject the paper to prosecution.
Ever since, and before that time, we
hays watched the growth of our lit
tie church with mingled feelings OF
hope and disappointment Hope,
that it might go on growing and be-
coming moro useful for good, and
stronger as moral influence in
the community; and disappointment,
that it does this at SO slow pace
Possibly we expect too much in too
short time. We do not like any re-
ligion that is productive of cphsmer-
al professions. 1t is too much like
tho seed sown in shallow soil, that
springs up and is soon choked by
weeds or killed by the hot sun.
But even that kind docs not seem
to flourish much lately in
our little town. While the
growth is slower 1t actually seems
to be permanent But it is exasper-
atingly slow. What is the cause?
Who ia to blame2 Has the time for
the decadence of the church arrived2
1t had better begin to liUe before it
prepares to die. Well, we are too
pessimistic perhaps. What can be
done to cause the church to grow?
Or, IN other words, to revive the
church. These are no doubt serious
questions. Let us see In the first
place, we must not forget that we
are living in an age of advancement.
That is, we think we are.
And that advancement has dovel-
oped among other things potent
agency for good, known as Literary
Criticism. And that Literary Criti-
cism teaches among other things,
interpretations and explanations Of
the bible that would havc caused
their authors to burn at tho stake in
sls days of John Calvin or John
Knox. And much as we may dislike
it, much as we may taooo it, Literary
Criticism has come to stay. 1t has
also forced the thinking class of peo-
pie to abandon belief in the in
spiration of the scriptures from
beginning to end. Also that the
seven days Of creation were not sew
en- times twenty- four hours. but SOW
en- indefinite periods OF time. And
that such stories as Jonah and the
whale, and the food and the ark, and
| the drowning Of the entire world ex-
cept Noah and his family, and other
such legends, are to be taken with
allowance. That being the case, 1t
would be no more than natural for
Walden and North Park, by the nat
urll process of absorption, if in no
other way, TO imbibc Just little of
the so-callcd hercsy that comes from
these recent rigid examinations Of
ancient scriptures and so-called sac
red writings that come down to us
from the misty past, interesting in
some things, only because of their
venerable age and claim to in
tallible inspiration; the latter
OF which subjects them to the
most rigid scrutiny of modern scho-
lastic research. That beng the case,
can 4 preacher, even in Walden, sue
coed in building up church when
he insists on sticking with John
Knox tenncity to the interpretations
of the age Of the Spanish lnquisition2
We think not. Liberal thought is
abroad in the land, and no power
on earth can check it. Mod
ern progressive thought says:
~ don't care what you believe. l
want to know what you do What
you profess is nothing to me. What
is your life2 don't give fig for
your reputation. But what is your
character? You may say the Lords
prayer, teach the Apostles Greed,
make long prayers, wear phylacteries
broad and long,but unless you get
down into the conscience, and touch
human hearts and reach human SYM
patty, and human infrmities, very
much of your work will be in vain.
LATTER the foregoing was in print