Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05

The communication of Bishop Warren A.
Gambler on "Appraising Christianity too
Low" was a very appropriate one IN
deed and in truth, and it was very inter-
esting as well as very humiliating to me;
but fear il has come too late to change
the current, which has been running in
that direction without serious obstruc-
ton for forty years or more.
/ do not think the bishops remark that
progress in Iiberality has been made dur
ing the last twenty-five years" is sus-
tanned by facts. 1t is apparently true In
cities where there are competing churches
composed of wealthy members, but a
critical investigation of the case. will. l
think convince the candid investigator
that the spirit of genuine liberality has
not increased during the time named. For
instance. when a congregation pays It's
preacher $4,000 to 100000, including salary
and incidentals, when thousands of chill
dren are growing up in ignorance, sin and
misery, as in the city of New York, II Is
evident that such large and unreasonable
payments to the preacher are not prompt
ed by the spirit of genuine liberality.
The bishops hint that Christianity is
on it's last legs" is fully sustained by num-
erous palpable evidences. The Saviour
said, "A house divided against itself can
not stand" The Christian church has d.
vided into hundreds of competing organ
izations that do not fellowship one anoth-
er. each claiming to be the true Christian
church, and the dividing continues in an
increasing ratio and it is now a house d.
vided against itself on grand scale. In
addition to this the entire civilized world
is a house divided against itself on the
same scale in every plane of activity-re-
ligious, political, moral, social, and secu-
lar, and according to our blessed Saviour
who was the truth, can not stand.
The Saviour told his disciples that his
church would apostatize, and that the
apostasy Of his church was essential to
his second coming. The words he used
were these: There must first come fall
ing away, for unless there come falling
away, that day cannot come" The apos-
ties taught the same Saint Paul said:
THE time will come when men will not
endure sound doctrine" That time has
come; If not how is it possible that hun
dreds of competing organizations, each
claiming to be the true Christian church,
exist? The. fundamental characteristics
Of the genuine Christian were these-they
all continued steadfastly in the apostles
doctrine they were all of one heart and
one soul. neither OF them said that aught
Of the things he possessed was his own.
but they had all things in common, all
that had possessions sold them and laid
the money at the apostles feet, and dis
tribution was made TO every man accord
ing as he had need, and there was no one
that lacked: they saw eye to eye, were
all Of the same mind. and all spoke the
same things. I do not know of a Chris
tian church wherein a single one Of these
characteristics exists. All Of which is re-
spectfuliy submitted to the careful and
most candid consideration of the readers
Of The Journal-Bishop Gambler and other
intelligent preachers in particular, feel-
ing very confident that they will be great
~ benefited, which was the object that
prompted me to write the communication.
n n. ZELLNER.