The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-25


they were deposed from office they would
probably hnd that IL was more convenient
10 attend church at home and tell you with
the innocence OF a child or their sur
prise at not having found II out before.
Tammany hall is said TO have only one
competitor In the field OF sharp politics
and that is composed OF the delegates to
the general conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal church.
These things are not mentioned for the
sa atisfaction Of the critics OF the church
on the outside; they are dwet upon for
the conviction OF sinners on the inside.
TOO often the church Is criticised be
cause OF the faults OF It's membership.
II Is forgotten that the churcn is not a
choir OF angels but a very real and tan
sible human school II we were all born
wise there would be no need Of colleges.
and II we were born perfect there would
be no necessity for Sunday schools and
churches Nor are these reasons in any
sense an adequate explanation OF why
people attend church any more than ig-
norance is an adequate explanation OF
why they don't attend. The explanation
in both cases is deeper seated than In
the frsth and foam OF mems vices.
II the fundamental reasons for not at
tending church are found I'm the under
lying currents Of our social order the
reason why people do attend is found In
the nature OF man.
Logically we ought to have stated hrst
why people do attend church rather than
why they do not. The burden OF proof
lies on the non attendants. The natural
thing is 10 worship. The unnatural thing
is TO refrain. A feather may reveal
which way the wind blows A question
in itself reveals much more tnsn any
adequate answer that may be given TO
Il Men have been asking for a long
time why people do not attend church.
the natural supposition being that they
once did end still ought 20. Our un-
conscious expression Is usually truer than
our studied logic. II was not until re-
Gently some one asked why people do
attend church and since then the cart
has been before the horse.
We shall right this only by recognizing
that II Is fundamental in the heart of
man 10 worship. II has been said that
humanity changes but man ever remains
the same.
NOT ExTINGUISHED.
The old primeval fire that burned in
the hearts OF our ancestors VINO wor-
shipped sticks and stones has not been
extineushed Instead of outgrowing the
need OF worship we grow through wor-
ship II YOU ask why IN all ages. all
classes and conditions OF men have been
religious II can only be replied that II Is
because man Is man. We do not know
man as yet, consequently we cannot
solve all the riddles OF his nature.
BY analysis, however. we can approach
toward a solution just as we can ap
proximate a reason for wood growing.
| water running the pointing OF the mag
netic needle toward the north and the
revolution Of the planets around their
sun.
Man reveals himself in three ways II
he IN an animal he is al least a knowing
feeling and a willing animal. AS
knowing being he seeks truth. AS an
emotional being he delights in beauty
AS voiftfonaf being he strives for goed-
ness Thus we have the scientific man
and the philosopher. the lovers OF truth
and wisdom. We have the artist who
moulds for us In forms OF beauty the
ideals of his thought. We have the man
OF affairs who willing the right endeav-
ors to realize IL in character through
action.
The seeker for truth Is not however nec-
| essarily a man OF religion Artists have
| never been noted as class for their
piety. The efforts to realize goodness
may be the struggle OF strenuous moral
ity rather than the gentle bowling OF the
| head in prayer. A man may follow either
! OF these ends and still take more delight
| in a pagan saturnalia than In the wor-
| ship OF the living God
! 1t is only where truth. beauty and good
! ness become joined in supernatural be-
l ing that We have an object worthy of be-
| ing worshipped by man who by hts ma
| ture Is fitted for truth. beauty and good
| ness.
| Thought too demands that this unity be
! effected The unit OF mans life demands
| unity In the world In which that life finds
expression Hence philosophy Is born, the
| effort TO reduce all things back to one
unifying principle.
\
! maid OF the heart. desire for what the
philosopher seeks to accomplish through
| reason the humble man OF God finds
through his worship in spirit and IN
| truth
I canno. tell you why we seek 10 see
things steadily and TO see them whole.
! can only say II is because OF the nature
] OF man.
| POsTUI.ATES GOD.
Thus human reason postulates a God OF
| truth. beauty and goodness and worships
| that being not only because the mind de-
mands IL, but the whole man needs 1t.
| Says Edward Card. We postulate God,
freedom and immortality not because we
can prove them to be real, but because as
moral beings we cannot do without them;
because the attitude towards the world
| which we necessarily take up. when we
| regard ourselves as moral subjects, I'M
solves their objective reality"
In other words the unity OF our know
ing, feeling, willing reason demands the
| unity 'of truth. beauty and goodness in a
| reason that In objective to our own. 1.-The
| righteous man." says Kaub. may say:
| will that there should be God
On this faith insist and will not let II
be taken from me-"
The university may lead men TO truth
the gallery and studio may lead men ia
| art the world may lead men to right ac-
ton. but II Is the church, and the church
alone that leads the whole man TO the
alteration and worship of the union OF
these three IN supernatural being. And
men come and worship that being because
of their nature. Because they are made ir
Gods image. Because their finiteness Il
only a term for a fraction OF the Infinite
In other words we come to the Father be
cause we are sons. II you ask me for the
justification OF this worship shall reply
that the highest ideal OF manhood. Jesu;
Christ, lived as no other man. a worship
ful life.
The difficulty. however. OF this expla
"A A. ~. 49,.