The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-28
A Religious Invasion.

We print to-day letter from woman
who, bewailing her loss OF religious
faith, wonders if she may not find
some sort of guide in the Chris
tan Science theories at this time 80 sig
nificantly prevalent among Christians.
1t is subject on which we receive many
letters from earnest and oftentimes very
intelligent correspondents For exam
pie, we print to-day such letter from
a man Of intellectual training lawyer,
and an obviously thoughtful man, who is
able to give reason for the faith that is
in him-something which many of the
Christian Science enthusiasts cannot do
in any ineligible manner.
1t has become undeniable that the
theories OF the Christian Science people
are having wide influence in moulding
the thought of minds of a strong religious
cast. Every Protestant Church is feeling
this invasion into its precincts. il not in
their precise form. yet in their general
spirit-belief in faith cure and the
like. Even the very conservative Lu-
theran Church has lately had before it
case of this kind among its ministers, ap-
parently man OF some prominence, since
he was the pastor of Trenton church.
Pastor HUGO wendell has lately been
tried for heresy before the Ministerium
and found guilty. His heresy consisted
in claiming to have communication
with departed spirits and the Angel
RAPHAEL, and in engaging in the prac-
tice Of healing The holding and
teaching such error, says the report Of
the committee of the Ministerum,
whether from the pulpit or otherwise,
is inconsistent with the Office of minis
ter OF the Gospel and renders it's subject
one against whom, as a religious teacher
and guide, it is our solemn duty to warn
our churches and people, Accordingly,
the verdict was that until Pastor wendell
recants his errors and pledges himself
not to preach or profess them he be sus-
the ministry.
Pastor WENDEL's notions are described
by the Ministerium as the old Devil and
the old serpent who also converted ADAM
and EVE into enthusiasts and led them
from the outward Word to spiritualism
and self-concet y; but the circumstances
that the Ministerium felt called upon to
denounce their appearance in the Lu-
theran Church is suggestive of fear lest
the invasion may become disturbing,
as it has become in other denominations.
to the extent, at least, of weakening their
hold on their followers.
The Lutheran Church in all it's branches,
it must be remembered, is third in the
list Of the Protestant denominations
with the greatest number Of members in
this country, only the Baptists and the
Methodists having more than its l,7OO,-
600 communicates, and the whole Presby-
terrain family Of churches having about
100, 900 less. 1t is also as we have said, a
very conservative Church, founded on
the Augsburg Confession; yet Pastor
WENDELs case indicates that the Devil
and the old serpent of the new school OF
religious thought or emotion has entered
into its ranks and is menacing its doc
trinal harmony.
1t is not surprising, then. to hear that
an emotional woman cropping in the dark
to find her lost childhood belief
should even turn in her desperation to
Christian Science with glimmer Of hope
that in that revival of an ancient theory
she might possibly discover a ray OF
light to help her out of her maze OF doubt.
1t is not unusual that when people of a
strong religious temperament lose one
form Of religious belief they fly in terror
to another which tasks credulity far more.