Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-07
THE ONLY WAY.

1t is a coincidence that at the same
time that Dr. CAROLS statistics OF
churches for 1902 are published, con.
trbutor to The Biblical World comes
out with the statement that The
churches fail to reach those who are
most In need OF spiritual aid. DR.. Car.
roll finds 2S.ss9O2s commandments in
the United states, and li71l3 minis
tiers. There are no less than forty-two
more or less important sects. with the
Catholic church leading them ALI yei
It Is asserted that there Is an increas.
ing number OF leading men and women
whose membership IN the church
means little II any more 10 them than
their membership In the art institute.
or the orchestral association, or the
women's clubs.
The writer In the Biblical World
takes the undoubtedly correct view
that the sects ha.s assumed an atti-
tude Of waiting, hoping that someone
will point out the right path TO them
In behalf OF hesltating Christendom he
asks whether Protestant order vowed
10 poverty and service OF The poor serv.
ing IN a new spirit and form Of con-
secratlon, IL not needed. Professor
Harnack, he says hints that this 70
needed, that missionaries and mission
workers should take The tenth chaptcr
OF Matthew as their rule Of llfe DO
we" he continues, "nnd the right
guides In the ministers who are going
20 factories and other great business
oenters. and there preaching to the
woFkingmen and reaching them per.
sonally? Is Dr. Strong the true
prophet and does he point out what Is
truly TO be the next great awakening?
This at least is clear to US, tina, the
ministry and the church must be con.
secrated as never before 10 real social
service there must be less follow
ing Christ for selfish reasons, and more
takins ~ Of the cross. But who viii
show us the vay9"
Or. Lyman Abbott. we think, Incl.
dentaJly shows just what IS the mat.
ter With the churches A lady. st
seems, wrote him, asking for counsel.
She had been told that n she would
only Join the church and believe that
Christ had pardoned her sins all would
be well" She did as loid. hut found
disappointment Behind the belief
that Christ had pardoned her. she
found herself, with her strong lncllna.
tlons to sin and doubt And. now, she
turned 70 Dr. Abbott for advice.
The reply Of the learned doctor OF
divinity is remarkable. But II il. no
doubt. true. And II reveals a condl-
ton that accounts sufficiently for the
failure Of the sects to reach the
masses. or 10 give satisfaction to earn
est seekers after life and salvation. Or.
Abbott tells that lady;
Your experience is not at all UNI
usual. There are In the church n
great many who want 10 be Christians.
and yet who have not the happiness
which belongs 10 normal Christian ex.
perience. They read that the fruit
Of the Spirit Is love. JOY. peace. They
have some love. but they have little
i0y and no peace. except at times WHOM
they forget their religious experience
and so forget themselves. This is not
because they are not conscientious II
is not because they do not try. They
are the victims Of n misdirected con-
science. They try too hard. what
they really need Is some one to explain
TO them what Is meant By the very
familiar saying, believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou shalt DE- saved.
They 40 no, know what II means. Je-
sus Christ Is the Savior OF men, the