The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-12-04
The BATTLE OF
Christianity
Is Being waged Not in DecOrus Pull
pits, but Down IN the Streets,
Says Rev. Herbert S Bigelow.

Cincinnati. Nov. 2S-'The Life Of
, Religion the Death OF the Church. I"
AT the Vine ST Congregational
church, the pastor. Herbert 5. BIgelow
discussed, unoer this title, the
question as TO whether In the pro
gresslve society of the future, there
would be any need Of the church
Mr.. BIgelow said, IN part:
There Will be no police men IN
heaven, AMI no churches. Botn In
situations are born of the imperfectiOns
of society and must disappear together.
There was man, prophetic soul,
AIMED John, who drea dream
saw d vision of the heavenly city. In
the twenty first chapter of Revelation,
we read that, at least, In two respects,
this was a most remarkable vision.
First as to the location of this
city. 1t wac not in the clouds. 1t
vas on the earth He did not see
people ascending TO heaven. He saw
heaven descending to the people.
And l, John, saw the holy city
coming down to dwell with them
= The klngaom of God is within
you, said the Nazarene. 1t is the
work of evolution to bring 1t out
Divided by selflshness and blinded by
ignorance though we be, we are heirs
of the kingdom, and the love and truth
that we already have need but to be
unfolded to make heaven here. The
divine thing about man is his capacity
for progress. The germ of all mill
leniums is in him.
Another remarkable thing about
this heavenly city, as seen by John.
was the absence of any church. And
saw no temple therein Society
ls to be redeeemd and earth made
hea venly, not by the building of costly
churches and the nursing of religious
but by the diffusion of |
the spirit of true religion through the
mass. This is a bold thought. We
think Of the multiplication of churches
and the growth OF organized religious
activity as signs of progress In
measure this is true. Yet there Is
also truth In the paradox which was
by John 8 cnurchiess heaven.
progressing society means vanish
ing church.
docs not history bear out the
prophecy The priests used to be our
doctors. Dowie and so ne others still
practice medi inc by divine right, but
Tor the most part, the church has
dropped that function. Education
used to be monopollzed by the church.
The state is taking over that function. {
As public educator, the prerOgatlves {
If the pulpit have been usurped by the {
press Once even the matter OF civil c
government was largely directed by q
he church. As moral power, the I
hurch has many competitors today. T
In the beginning, the church was c
In the end, it will be l
Iothlng. The church is to die that L
ne world may be saved. a
I'm the recent election in OHIO, the 9
hurch was successfully appeale: to to q
efeat an amendment which had for
ts object, the removal of cOnstitu "
lonal obstruction TO reform In taxa q
ion The argument was that some y
1ture legislature might put church O
roperty on the tax duplicate. The CT
nancial interests of the institution Z
ere placed above societys liberty to z
rake progress. The church lost that L
pportun,ty to die for the world. 81
Many preachers feel that the real
attic of Christianity Is being waged,
ot in tner decorus pulpits, but down B
the street, where the love OF free 81
)m 10 coutendlng against the might
wealth tor civilization where
ere shall be more justice and more
,pe. Often times, their hearts long
{ the freedom to throw themselves
to the glorious contest But to do
would mean the alienation of many b
pporters. 1t would mean a strain ur
ION the organization. 1t would III
can, for q time. at least, vacant be
WIS and depleted treasury. These oe
eachers are not takers of oribes. az
1t they have been trained 70 feel tic
at they mnst hold the organization m'
tact, and keep peace, and raise the fa'
,rtgage and add to the membership ia
Tor these are the signs by which ms
cir professional brethren judge of ge
Dir success or failure Thus IT is A
at the preacher hesltates to take the TO
lnge and proclaim from his pulpit ia
use truths which wealth frowDs upon a
the multitude is afraid Of. but wa
ich men must be- taught ii society
to go forward.
1t is an opinion Of mine, from r
lch m nv noble minded men will cas-
sent, that we have. in the pulpits CIR
,oday, many gifted preachers, but 1t
prophets. The church does not ext
Ike the deepest cords of IN odern Id
. The mighty hopes which are or Dr.
inning to stir in the hearts OF r raii
n are not inspired by pulpit bv
luence. 1t Is not to the hnsts that
II Incense in the temple, but to 7
humDle men in the strset. that the
evangel OF our day has come. plv- ,.ss,
ming to the weary aud heavy 81.
IN. GLAD tldings of great JOY. ono
To those who sit in The darkness. a 0O0
t is breaking; the light IS the tom
n of wonderful faith; faith cleo
; humanity is gathering strength and
a mighty forward impalse; and (ne,
after the impending storm Is tor,
g.. the rose Of equality viii bloom
blossom on the deserts ana plague 80.
= of earth and the harvest songs
rave men. and the luliabys of free I
len and the laughter OF welcome but
dren Will mingle in a new won
Is anthem of praise TO the God of
RI, and Truth Il this tiospel 10 8