The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-05-03

in winning Asia and Africa for Christ is
apparent And when we appreciate the
differences between Christianity and
heathenism, the differences among our
selves will lose much of their signifi-
canoe. The church at work is saved
from idle controversy, and the church
fully awake to her duty towards the
heather world will emphasize less her
differences in the United States. a
simple gospel which we all accept must
be preached in Asia and Africa. And
in the CongeSted and degraded parts OF
our great cities-a menace to our ciVili-
Zation-the conflict for religion and its
simplest sanctions is likely to be forced
upon Us in such a way as to make us
forget, in the common peril and the
common need, some of our differences.
Alay it not be that we shall be forced
by the necessity of common action out
of the UNCONVENTIONAL camps in which
we have intrenched ourselves?
THE LAY ELEMENT AGAINST SEC
TARIANISM.
And once more let account be made Of
the way in which the great body Of lay
men upon whom the churches DEPEND
for resources are looking at this sub
ject Do you think that laymen are
likely to go on indefinitely supporting
unnecessary churches and ministers out
of UNCONVENTIONAL pride? Is the call to
give that a church not needed may be
kept open likely to find the new gene
ration of laymen ready to give money!
VIII they maintain and establish seVe-
raj weak churches in the little towns
and villages in this new century? You
must have noticed that of the hundreds
of millions of dollars given by Chris
tian men and women in these last few
years for charity and public service the
church has received little for distinctly
religious uses. Colleges, hospitals, asy-
luns, public libraries, homes, parks,
have been munifcently remembered,
while nearly every church and distinct
ly church society are left with limited
means. The laymen are looking else
where for agencies to do the work
which belongs in special way to the
Christian church.
Laymen on the whole, look at this
question in a larger way than the eler-
gy. The clergy have been trained in
divinity schools which are largely train
ing men to work and teach in a world
which no longer exists. All other pro-
fessional schools except those of theol-
ogy have fitted themselves to the de-
mands of the new time. AS clergymen,
we have all been trained in our denom-
national forms and ways. We are on
our guard IN respect to our position.
And the laymen have not this feeling
and happily they have a great deal to
say about the course our church life
shall take They desire the emphasis
to be put upon the main things. They
try to see things whole. They feel that
the preaching of the great truths of the
gospel is the chief thing. And I am
to believe that the influence
of laymen as a whole will be against
and sectarianism in favor
of unity
LET US EMPHASIZE THE TRUTHS
HELD IN COMMON.
What can we do in our places to aid
this great cause? We may recognize
that our work is one of preparation,
that it is long and that it requires great
patience and great faith We must
prepare our own minds and hearts as
Christian teachers, disusing language
which initiates. We must, in the spirit
Of the Master, keep the generous atti-
tude of mind. There are many of the
clergy who need to be taken out of the
seat of the scornful. 1t is much to look
away from ones immediate surround
ngs with genuine appreciation of good
ness wherever it is found. We are not
here to build up parishes and religious
for themselves but to
use them as means for bringing in the
kingdom of God. So it becomes us to
preach the great saving and moral
truths of the pospel which we hold in
rather than to emphasize the
points upon which we differ. This may
seem to be almost unfaithful to our de-
nomination, but you will find that the
which breaches the gospel
IF Christ best and lives it best will
nave the largest place in the regard of
he people. There need be no fear for
he fortunes of a religious body in
which the gospel is truly preached and
ived
And let plea be made for the
preaching of the gospel which is simple