The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-11

man nature accent. has coma eohtng SeSA
ths ages-''what - tbs truthTs Aa1 thSy
seek II IN many and DIVERS vxy1
Who can look about and So O. ns9
temples ane the new shrtnSs that eFo sF4S-
Ing and still deny that this 10 q RA q
/ religious unrest and tsrmentationf
IN q generation one Of the moygmenta
merely outlined may have become %
sacred. 50 idealized. that ths pen ok the
present writer. II. unhappiiy. his VIVA be
not all blotted cut 5J To- short life OF
wood pulp paper. shall b ~ down - that
| OF a blasphemeF.
hourtHhinE religious MONUMENTS. and the
children OF men may have gons back fnto
| the ale channels OF religious thought or
be seeking the eternal veritiss IN other
! directions.
Certainly there is nothing very novel IN
any OF the new creeds. and there - much
that Is very old-for instance. the revival
OF the tithinE system. fundamental with
Christian Science and Dowieism. which
Is as old as the world
The new teachers would seen % - vut-
ting old wine into new BEETLES. eottles
with hlEh-soundinE names and artistic
labels. and then they add q new ingredi-
ent. which they promise VIII give life to
the old vintage. which. otherwise. they
pronounce TO Be dull. faced and tasteless.
II is the old story. probably. Of some
thing old and something new. gomsshinG
false and something true"
Who Is the prophet 20 bold a. ts say
which OF the many new churches Of the
new movements Spreading over the land
which are filing our most popular a. ven
as our most fashionable avenues with
magnificent places Of worship WIN ln the
next generation gather to its bosom the
greatest number OF converts7
VIII they survive or win they vither and
die. as Is the fate OF ths seed that falla
upon shallow Eround7
NOTABLE LESSON TAUGHT
By HISTORY.
History teaches Us to be careful. Proph-
ecy Il 4 dangerous profession We should
not be unduly impressed by the hiars Of
the brass bands and the sight Of ths many
converts.
In the land which is the Christian Holy
Land to-day the religion OF Christ
which has overspread the earth and
shaped the course OF weIl-nigh every EVIL
ization-thirty years after the crucinKion
was weighed in ths balance BY = church
historian Of whom Roenan speaks and
found OF so little importance as not TO be
worthy OF the slightest record IN his emu
meration Of the religious sec'B which
then prevailed and prospered.
Perhaps the lesson OF history viii be
that those who burrowed in the oata-
combs and sought their shelter In the
dens OF the wild beasts buIlded better and
more lastingly than those who now are
rearing the lofty temples. at sight Of
which we are all amazed
Perhaps Americas greatest contrIbu-
ton 70 the religious education OF the
world has not been mentioned here.
Probably It's devotees meet together In
some back room far from the fashionable
thoroughfare and may be you could count
the present congregation on the fingers
OF your hand. II It really seemed worth
the while.
And In another sense the situation 10
not changed, though. specifically OBJ
served. II may appear TO be SO. Ths
churches are no longer formulated By
the blood OF the martyrs. yet the element
OF persecution Is not wanting. The brave
man kills with the sword. but there are
other weapons
Who is there so fortunate a. not to
have witnessed one Of the many family
tragedies which the new religious move
ments have entailed?
Often the searcher after truth returns
to-day as in the days OF old with n nav
light In the eye. and the words, Il have
found peace" upon his lips.
And to-day. as In the other days which
We label the era OF religious fanaticism.
ne or she must give up her souTs peace
or be excluded from family, frfends and
home ties-an that has hitherto ben halA
most dear.