The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-06


doing better than we think. But rest as
sured that every task we perform that
falls below the level OF the truth and
Righteousness In which we have faith. in
lures ourselves. IL Is false symbolism.
Let us be men and increase our manhood
by doing our daily tasks In a way that
they shall reveal manhood and II we fail
that failure will be sweeter than dishon-
est success.
SYMBOLISM OF SPEECH.
There is a second kind OF symbolism
that Is as common as our woark II Is our
speech. LET your speech" says Jesus.
''be yea. yea and nay. nay and whatso-
ever is more than these Is evil"
There is no art that is so difficult es
the art OF saying just what you mean.
and IL that IL not possible, then 10 re-
main silent II is diffichlt because IL is
In the air TO dissimuiate.
This art Is studied. There are express
sions heard everywhere that put 10
shame the shades OF the old priests at
Delphi.
The man who says just what he means
is below par in the various markets OF
the world. This is well illustrated in the
pulpit Men with liberal ideas In theology
today are often counseiled by their con-
servauve friends, and with the best of
intentions too, TO remain quiet In rela-
ton to certain things. The man who does
not say what he means In the pulpit or
anywhere else invariably says what he
does not mean. AS an illustration
quote from a book review I'm the last
number OF the Congregationalst The
book was written by Howard Agnew
Johnson, pastor Of a large church I'm New
York city.
He admits too much TO win the conf
dence of the conservative man and too
little 10 satisfy the radical.
He plants one foot on the traditional
view OF the Bible and the other on the
general modern critical view. and while
resting mainly onsthe former seems TO be
trying to balance himself on some prop
between them which, however. is not
visible.
Take for example these two statements
from page 253 "All Scripture is given by
Inspiration OF God"
Much In the Bible Is not inspired. %
This is splendid illustration of man
who falling to say what he does mean.
contradicts himself. htangles himself.
and goes down In history as having said
what he did not mean. And IL the Pres
byterian church follows well establish
ed precedent II will probably devote a
large share of Its time at the next gener-
al assembly In discussing some such
question as to why many OF the honest.
intelligent man In our various communi-
ties, men who say what they mean, do
not go to church. Just as at the last
general assembly a two-day discussion
on infant damnation was followed by the
question as to why more intelligent
young men were not entering the minis
try.
I use this illustration In relation to the
| church only that / may apply 1t to every
walk Of life.
INCREASES DISHONESTY.
II we are not honest. honest speech
| only increases our dishonesty. II we are
| only increases our untruthfulness. II we
are not sacrificial In our life this sacra-
| ment will only increase our selfishness
and hasten on our spiritual death.
| But II we are honest, true. sacrifcial.
| then every expression of these things by
word OF mouth will make US better men.
As we pray for the church OF God today
| let US not pray that II be Catholic or
| Protestant Orthodox or Heretical. con-
servative or liberal. let US pray that II be
| honest with God and with men for only
| In that way win II be honest with itself.
| May God help US all in every walk of
| life TO live up to that for which we hope
! in the church. How many homes today
| are divided because husband or wife lack
| the virtue of true speech.
| How many family breaches would be
| closed and how many broken hearts heal
| ed IL only the man or woman or both
| would speak out just what they think
| and feel and not the unmeaning equivo-
| cal speech that, because OF It's conse-
| quences is as false as a lie.
| Most trouble In this world comes from
| Misunderstanding and most misunder-
| standings come through the false SYM
bolism OF speech.
There is stiii third and last form OF
symbolism which I desire TO mention. II
| is that form Of action which lies outside
| the routine of our daily tasks 1t Is our
| political. our social action. II concerns
| itself with the state and men and the
| church II Is only in this latter relation
| that / shall emphasize II.
There are many people today VINO
| wonder why their interest and faith In
| the affairs OF church and state pale. They
| do not have the same feeling toward
| them as they once had. May II not be
| said, this too Is an explanation OF their
| condition. that they never quite acted up
| TO their interest or feeling. Interest is
a flame which like any other flame must
| be continually fed. 1t is oft times SO
| slight and delicate that a slight north
| east breeze Of opposition puffs It out. A
| candle overturned started the Chicago
| fire and even the nickering flame of In
terest may be famed into a blaze and
| blown into n conha grafton II only 1t is a
| little sheltered and fed by action that
| both stimulates and expresses II. Action
| is TO faith what a chimney is TO a lamp.
| 1t not only preserves the flame but in
creases It's brilliancy and usefulness.
| WHEN ACTION CEASES.
We lose our faith In anything when
we do not give expression TO that faith
1 through action. Faith and interest
| ceases. Faith without works is dead
| Our interest In this church will not de-
1 pend on the faith we have I'm II. but
| the faith which we express in our wor,
| for II. Faith is only the other side OF
| works. Take away the work side and you
! remove the faith side.
| Illustrate then. your faith In the church
| and the Kingdom OF God by action, or else
| submit to the Inevitable an dlose your
/ faith. The conservatives tell us today
| that II Is because OF the new theology
| that the church languishes and faith
weakens. The radicals tell us that IL Il
| because OF our clinging to hide-bount
| convictions and worn out formulas that
| we are iukewarm. Probably both are
| right Certainly both are wrong.
Under the direction of both kinds ol