The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-09
PANORAMA OF HISTORY
CHURCH OF GOD HAS EXISTED
THROUGH CHANGING ORDERS.
The Rev. e. z. Newbert Thinks the
World Ii Coming to a Universal
ReIfgion-Soul Growth.

At All Souls Unitarian Church the Rev.
Elmer Z. Newbert had for his theme. The
Church of the Living God" After speak
ing of the greatness OF the theme and his
own inability to give more than the rough
est outline sketch, he went On to say. in
part:
1.-The sectarian and the religious zealot
think they know what the church OF the
living God is They can set it forth in exact
terms, giving names and dates. But the
sectarian is narrowed by his little formulas
and the zealot is blinded by his zeal. To
face such theme calls for the open mind.
We need to forget much. for we are taken
out into the boundless moral universe and
are invited to read history In the large. 1t
Is necessary to sit at the feet OF philosophy,
TO note the great events. 10 dwell upon the
crisises of human history, TO study the
moral import OF great wars, TO learn or
science and be taught OF literature we
need to ask soberly what progress means,
what growing intellect signif1es, what effort
and conflict and achievement lie hack OF
the moral splendor of our civilization. In
deed what means evolution? What is IL for
soul to come out of the clod? What Is IL for
man to separate himself from the brute and
take the upward way and strive for the just
and the true? How thrilling the story OF
tie development OF motherhood and father
hood and family Society is seen 70 take
form and men feel moral oougauca uatl
savagery becomes barbarism and barbarism
civilization.
What We discover is that nature is moral,
that the universe has moral order. moral
law beauty love. Ii Is all summed up In
the phrase, The Church OF the Living God
But what of beginning. When founded aud
what are its limits? Its limits are those or
humanity, and IL is coevel with man. Jesus,
Moses, Abraham. How names come to
mind but we dare not stop with names.
What world Of human life and effort lies
back of them! Think OF the unnamed MIL
lions who have lived and died before the
dawn OF history. What OF these millions1
l take my stand by the side OF the road as
the races OF men pass by. What process
/ can all but hear the tramp of the host.
Rough stone age. age or polished stone.
Think Of the generations between, passing
TO leave hardly trace: Mothern0od: tstn,
TO duty, moral responsibility, al this was
there. Sayagery? Yes; buttt embodied the
germs of civilization. The Church OF the
Living God began when man became con-
scious, when soul awoke, when love began
and sentiment made men human. And IL
is in the world to-day. The divine halo is
over the heads OF all Every man worships,
for worship is wonder. awe, admiration.
One soul gives his prayer words. another
sets his 10 music, another deems consecra-
ton 10 duty prayer Religion Is universal,
faith we are coming 10 a theism which will
bring eyes into range wish the stars
Universal religion, the contribution or all
times and races and the union OF all moral
forces and the recognition Of humanitys
many saviours. has temple. none other
than the temple Of the living God. To IL all
tribes and races come for worship. drawn
by an awe, "A wonder and an admiration
common TO all. This temple has an altar 10
love. another 10 duty, another TO hope. an
other TO the common faithfulness which
passes without record. Universal religion
has but one dogma: one God over all. one
humanity under God.