The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-11-27

he smites Holmes before the judgment
seat, "The curse Of God so with thee"
We see the three frail Quaker women
scourged through the settlement until re-.
proved at last 40 the point of death We
see Ann Hutchinson. her reason wei nigh
gone, driven through the deep SHOWS 20
perish nt the hands of slaagrs. no clio.
ment Of horror lie wanting e. the scene
Fines, Imprisonment whipping mutia.
ti0Ns. Punishment, death, await those WIN
under stress Of present convictions seek
70 be faithful % the lesson Of fidelity 10
conscience learned from their Puritan
fathers and associates ~ the land from
which they have cone. Such intolerance
Vas hideous enough. though ii was based
4 BART upon strength Of conviction.
To-day the pendulum has swung 30 the
other extreme. We are In a day when
mischieyous moral malaria steals subtly
into tho fiber Of 81 ong endeavor. The age
Is drunk with materials !. the south wind
blows softly, and mutitudes are enervated
by it's soothing touch. Some would seem
to think that in this day the towers of a
lofty Christian life and character and Of
the great splendid structure of the king
dom Of God are going TO leap up in the
night like Ionah's gourd; that we are
going 10 wake up some fine morning to
find the building miracuous!y finished,
without our endeavor, to the -rret-stoue.
Understand me, the heart OF the church
still beats strong and true, but great
masses of nominal Christians are in a 10.
tus-eating atmosphere, listiess, idle, unac-
comphshng.
federation is a long advance from intol-
erance, but liberation easily becomes in
difference, and both are utterly made
quate to express the ideal relationship be-
tween bodies of Christs followers, Toler-
ate? Endure? BE indifferent? Shame on
those who would thus cruelty the Christ
afreshl Like a mighty army moves the
church of God" shoulder to shoulder.
heart beat answering to heart heat, steps
swinging in time TO the martial music of
tbs church militant and the church trium.
plant, Like a mighty army moves the
church Of God" No regimental sacrifice
of conviction, but above the flag Of the
regiment, the flag Of the army above the
standard Of the denomination, the white
banner cf tine Captain of the host. the
Commander Of the armies Of the faithful,
the King, Omnipotent and eternal Not
intolerance not liberation, not indiffer-
ence, but fellowship. is the rallying cry,
and we NAV believe that it finds q sympa-
thetic chord in every heart Of this great
company.
A good beginning has been made. Fed
GRAFTON is fellowship put into nractice.
Federation of churches and of Christian
workers has ceased to be a dream. 1t is
far from uncommon TODAY in single com.
munties, in counties. in States Let me
| indicate very few Of the lines which have
| been suggested and actually followed in
| this federated work. A religious census OF
| q given community, resulting in 4 religious
directory, showing church and Sunday
school membership and attendance; Chris
/ tian citizenship efforts including those
/ against the legalized saloon. and AGAINST
/ the desecration and annihiation of the
/ day of rest. a bulwark Of our national life
| row thrown down and trampled in the
! dust-our brethren under other national
flags are not free from the bitterness Of
this assault; a common rallying for the
/ preservation or the securing of IN ideal
/ public school system; where it can he done
a wise direction of UNCONVENTIONAL enter
prises in the way of the founding of new
churches, thus tending to economy Of eff
fort and wise stewardship of resource. but
chiefly. chiefly. co-oDeration in the vital.
invaluable work Of the church universal in
evangeli7ation. this above everything else
the Joining hands of those who believe
that the world is lost without Jesus Christ
in harmonious and loving FELLOWSHIP Of
action for the worlds salvation. In all Of
these endeavOrs we may work together.
our hearts beating as one IN our common
love and loyalty to our common Lord
Let me suggest two thoughts which may
strengthen US in our fellowship.
First-The enemies Of Christ and lis
followers are neither dead nor sleeping
Luther SAID, as a representation OF the
church in his day: "Who would paint a
picture of the present condition of the
church let him paint a young woman in =
wilderness. or in some desert place, and
round about her let him fipLre lions, whos1
eyes are glazing upon her and whose
mouths are open tn devour her substance
and her beauty" That is the natural con
dition Of the church When the church
in that are, in this age. in am age, il trulv
alive, and is fulfilling her destiny, she will
find about her. as of old men more crue
than ravenQus beasts The gospel means
battle. It is rightly on the offensive. not
the defensive. The gospel divides, when
ii IS manifested in a disciple whose EN-
hodving of the gosDel is strong enough t.
divide anytime. The block will bear al
,dled by the feeble fin-ors of an infant but
the axe goes ceaving through the wooC
when the edge comes down under th'
sweeping power of n strong mans arm
True. multitudes Of nominal Christian,
live on most amiable terms with the
world, and know next 70 nothing Of any
trihulation OF opposition occasiNned by
tnelr profession o. ChrStlt NIFTY. But tina
is not because there is anv real alteration
IN the consequences Of close union witt
Jesus T. is because their uniol Is so very
slight and superficial Tho world loves IT.
own. and what can it find TO hate in tn,
shoals Of people whose religion is confined
to their TONGUES mostly and has nothing t.
do with their lives? 1t nls not ceased t.
be a hard thing to be a real and thorough
Christian.
, IT, he s,,ro o-vo.;+;o. E,1- d;eoro,
foes to-day than in some other DAYS. 70,
: know tn what lengths IL has go7e. TIL
Inuusition. the rasspcre Of St. Bartholo
NEW, the reign Of Philin IT, of Srain, tn
Duke of Alva with his satanic deeds in tn
Netherlands. the fros Of Smithfeld thes