Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-26

of the other German stttes-aH hold
Ing substantially the same faith-nas
rot proved a success. 1t is an inter
esting fact that these united bodies OF
Lutheran churches are at variance
oyer the question as to the best metnod
of holding their own against the Ho-
man Catholics.-a question not impos-
sible here in the future; in which case
II is clear that the smaller the denomi-
nation that takes it up the better TO.
all concerned. as it has all the elements
Of a long and bitter quarrel. Nor
should Ii be forgotten that union fof
the sake of economy and effectiveness
overlooks not only the fact thaf
union in belief could not thus be Sc
cured. but also If gained might de-
velop and bring to the front once more
the differences. These differences are
real and do but sleep.
Not less perpiexing is sudden ap-
parent dying out Of interest in the
churches, with corresponding indiffer-
ence to religion an those classes where
one would expect 1t to abide. Reasons
of widest variety are given to account
for this strange lapse and confusion
which we take to be the chief feature
Of the religious condition of the church
NJ nresent. The causes oftenest alleged
are evolution in science and the high
err criticism. The vast majority OF
those who compose our 147 denomina-
tons fail to comprehend their import
beyond that they stand for change'
which Is always the signal for fear and
outcry among the ignorant. But the
more Intelligent class. who perceive
how thoroughly evolution modifies all.
thought and theories. ard at the same
time find 1t hardly recognized, or
named only to be denounced in the pull
pits, stay away.-not because evolution
is not preached, but because the whole
order of thought pertaining to 1t Is
passed by, and they find themselves In
dead world and out Of gear with all
that is said and with most of what Is
done. In the long run the man OF
thought will worship in the world In
which he thinks; and the more
thoughtful he is, the more difficult he
finds it to cooperate with a churcn
that denies the ruling ideas and ac-
eepted facts that he encounters every
day and receives as his own. The
thing to be done at present is not to
crowd upon men a system conceived
In some way to be true. nor to bind
.them down to a hard. literal, undis-
cerning reception of texts, but TO set
forth the identity of the faith with
;he action of mans nature In the natu-
raj relations of life; 10 show that the
truth of God is also the truth of man.
The churches should look well to their
charities as hiding-place against the
coming storm. If men or churches are
doing good, they can carry heavy
load of heresy or dead orthodoxy and
still live.
And here we are brought to consd-
or one of the most immediate ques-
lions before us. that of the Roman
Catholic church 1,ha family; obedi-
ence to law; labor; these are the prob
,ems with which the nation and the
churches are struggling. but no church
is doing more to safeguard these vital
interests than the Roman Catholic
church. The question how it happens
to have this influence max go by; that
Il has 1t is sufficient at present. 1t
would be worse than idle. It would be
caIamitous, 10 oppose the Catholic
church In the present juncture OF our
affairs. 1t is full Of superstitlons, most