The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-07-15
"BR0ADMINDEDNESS"
Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. Dr..
Henry c. Swentzel.
Contrasts the Church With the Narrow Gauge
Average Man-0ue OF the Miscrics OF
lrrcgion Pointed Ont ia Detail

NEW York ClTY.-Dr. Henry e. Swcnt.
gel. rector Of st. Luke's Church, Clinton
avenue. near Fulton street, preached Sun.
day on The Broadmindedness OF Chris.
tianitv.' He took his text from Psalms
cXiX;9d: Thy Commandment is exceeding
broad DR.. SwentZel said:
The Son OF God Las called men into
pace OF liberty and has set their feet in a
large room; His example. His teachings
ard His whole tone Illustrate and prove
His broadmindedness. No one who rightly
appreciates the Gospel can well contend
that It seeks to make human nature smaller
and feebler than it is. or that it would
lower the dignity and essen the freedom
and banisn the opportunities of human
In the broadmindedness Of Jesus is one
OF Ills most notable characteristics. lie
lived in the open, and His every word
Indicates the cOmprehensivenes OF His
thinking and the perfect sanity of His
conclusions. He is the broadest being
who has trod this earth and He has given
The hroadest religion that man has known,
a religion which is not racial. national or
provincial, but worldwide. II is intended
to inspire the most liberal ideas and to
make the largest men. II is the cmbodi,
ment of broadmlndedness in doctrine and
ideal. in its outlook, its estimate OF posi-.
bi,ities, and its conceptions OF human des.
tinv.
Every follower of Christ should divest
himself as far az possible OF narrowness and
pettiness in living his life and doing his
work, Let him be thoughtful and honest
and industrious and brave: let him be
sane. broadminded in his ideas. generous
IN his principles and loyal in his conscience.
He is not called upon TO emulate the
paltry disposition of the rast, or to try
to restore tho regime OF a bygone age or tG
c'amor for the return OF conditions which
were well enough for a Younger civilization.
which sboul1 ia ,ps.ollal
twentieth century. Religion is not super.
stitlOn. faith Is not bigotry, godliness is
not intolerance.
We all do well to take account of the
Lords admonitio1 concerning the use OF
language. He has warned us that we must
answer - the last for every idle word we
speak How many idle words are used,
and how massive il human guilt in this
particular. Even those words which
should be pronounced with reverence are
mixed with frivo'lties. Other words which
should be used always seriously and with
the utmost accuracy are connected with
the, nronouncements OF g9rru,ous brains
and fipDant lips. Breadth" is one of the
words against which people sin most often.
so that earnest souls have almost reached
the point OF suspecting its tenor whenever
they hear it. In common plrlance
'broad" Homanist is a Roman Catholic
who cares little or nothing for his church
or Tor the religion which it breaches. 4
broad Christian is man who. though
he may not have broken with Christianity,
has no definite religious principles. no
c.ear'y stated rules OF right and wrong.
and has TO fault to find with a propaganda.
the success OF which would mean not
only the overthrow OF faith but the ruin
OF society. IL is supposed to be broad"
TO be not too scrupu.Ous about ones amuse.
ments, to encourage rreligion. 10 disregard
the sanctities OF Sunday IL il supposed
''hTn11' 10 gn.s a,,1 - 4.
that would indicate that one has religious
feelings, TO put himself in the attitude OF
sympathy with bad things 1t is supposed
to be broad to upset the Bible. to cast
dscredt upon the church. to brand holy
traditions as a pack of lies. to make the
gospel mean as little as possible, to reduce
religion, not to its lowest terms. but to no
terms at all. Thus the noble word is
clothed with sense which it ought not to
have. When people tell of a broad state.
ment they mean a statement which is
nsplclous, II not inaccurate. When they
iefer to broad story" they mean a story
which is not quite decent. 1t were well
TO dlstlngui.h h between a true breadth and
spurious breadth. so that we might be
spared from the ills that follow in the train
'ot mere cntchword. and have the blessing
ana the power which are impaired by the
breadth Of thought and sympathy which
of God.
-, From whatever staHdnoint it is viewed
The religion OF Je>us Christ is characterized
Tor it, observation-disclosures. 1t il to-day the
only word religion, and the church looks
1orW1rt to the time when all the people
OF II the nations will become the Lords
discip..es. An examination OF the theories
or schemes which have heen set up in
opposition tn. or rivalry with the everllst.
ing gospel VIII disclose their essential mar
fowne,s. both as to ideas and life. In con.
trast with the notions held by those who
stand a'onf from Christ. how broad and
strong ) the p'atiOrm OF Christian belief,
IN all the word there is no creed or con.
tessIon which Is so amD'e and liberal and
comprehensive as the Nicene creed IL ia
great IN what IL says and in what it does
not say, IN what it defines and what it re-
iuss TO define. Its expressions and its
tetlcence are significant and impressive. In
u technical terms have been reduced to a
minimum, and 1t stands as an unfaling
source Of truth and aspiration which shall
bless and enrich all classes of humanity I'M.
~ the close OF the latest age 1t proposes
the divinity o; the Trinity and the trinity
OF divinity, but not in the forms of mil.
ossophv j. dec are, the Fatherhood OF God.
the Sonship Of Christ. the perpetual min.
istIy OF the Holy Ghost, but not in the
eator1te phrases OF the theologian, IL
upho,d the virgin birth OF Jesus. His
worldwide office and His omnipotent en-.
geayors Tor US men and for orr salvation"
put without the CLOSES Of q mistaken
Devotion. u proclaims he continuity
OF the church OF the anost'e. Jur without
the specn ations and dicta 81 lna ecclesi.
oioglSt. II announces the neaIT.-ss ri Gods
Snlidren IN every world, and the blessed
I've OF endless felicity which awaits the
saais that He has redeemed frs ..,hout
,he iancies and guesses and ', ydl-e. which
nave Yain,y tried 10 explore /. q ",,.after.
1hese truths are not only re. ~ RI ab'a in
the manner OF their statement IN, a,sn i'm
themselves They are the fouiIatic- on
which we are asked to build whiio ~. s.e
mere, and the structure OF our ti,o.'.Grs
and motives and efforts should be "a :ous
accordingly
What an unspeakable crime il a. ~.
tack such a belief on the score os !; al.
ieged rarrowness. II presents the largest
Ideas that man has known. and il PRESENTS
them IN the largest possible way. Its por.
diNine majesty; ITS account OF Jesus has
the sweetness and reverence OF the Qosnel
according to st. John; its Interpretation
oi the Holy Spirit il a comforting and in.
spring doctrine for the needs and sorrows
and possibilities OF the present; its declarn.
tion OF the church marks it as a society
of grace and blessing which was founded
by the Lord, and. like a Jeautifu angel,
u points TO "the life OF the world to come"
These are the dearest OF all doctrines, the
best and the brightest, the largest and
most liberal. Whatever else they are, they
are not contracted or paltry, but as cath.
olic az God and as universal as man. In.
deed, our religion IA the only thing in the
word that processes to desire the allegiance
OF everybody; il has the length and