The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-21

the voice thereof. but knowest not
whence II cometh and whittier II goeth; ;
so Is every one born OF the spirit" Men,
however. in all ages have been wiser than
Jesus. They know whence II cometh and
whittier IL goeth and how.
The Catholic church knows. 1t comes
and goes through the church. Outside
Of It's channels OF grace there is no saliva
tion. There may be some large souls
who do not accept this. There are many
men inside the Catholic church who do
not deny salvation to those outside Its
pale. In being true 10 themselves. how
ever, they become false to the church.
The church teaches otherwise. Protes-
tantism has fallen into the same error.
Not that this is the fault OF the spirit of
Professionalism. quite the contrary. But
those who gave Professionalism Its birth
violated its principle.
We no longer deny that men may be
saved who do not accept our interpre-
tation ~ fundamental truths and sub
scribe 10 our creed. We do not denounce
Unitarianism as our forefathers did. Ger
tainly we would not assert that the man
of Unitarian faith will not be. Is not
saved. In so doing. however. We are rot
In accord with the spirit NJ our creeds.
IL ii is not necessary to salvation TO be
llevs that Jesus Christ was. very God,
pre- existent, born OF the Virgin Many,
Why DO we insist on men dc ,eptiny such
a statement
TO -HE POSITION OF JESUS
The truth is that We are peiny forced
un~il!ibgIv and regretfully or times. 70
the position OF Jesus. IL In not a dues-
tion of the whence or the whittier. 1t Is a
question of the what. Is the man OF the
flesh or OF the spirit7 Does he live from
below or is he born from above? This
settled, everything IL settled. Whether
that higher life has moved him and won
him quietly and gently through the chan
nels OF home and Sabbath school, or has
laid hold upon him like the rush OF
mighty waters. we do not question.
Whether II has come through the well
worn sources OF orthodoxy or has flown
into his life in a new and unique way we
no longer question. There IL the fact
We know he has passed from death 10
life. We know IL because he lives.
Why should We small insignificant crea:
lures pretend or dare TO say In what way
God shall come to men. DO not all state
ments or this kind savore OF presump-
tuousness? Are not all creeds in a meas
ure arrogant and born OF self conceit7
Necessary, yes, natural: we cannot ques- !,
tion that. Important In the life OF the
church, II cannot be questioned,
~ oNE fCffosE'
Yet, let Us never forget that they have
but one purpose. They serve as tes-
tmony OF our faith. not as a test OF the
faith OF other people. The moment they
become that they shout defiance at God
and command infinite intelligence 20 shed |
abroad Infinite love In terms OF fnite is-
norance upon finite selfshness.
We cannot understand the workings OF |
the spirit In our human relations. We |
do not know whence love cometh OF |
whittier n goeth when once n hath fed. |
out of the window II goes. a. the spar
row files out into the darkness OF the
night. Two souls come together from /
the antlpodes and they know each other,
and together walk hand in hand on out |
INTO the future Sings Browning:
There's a palace IN Florence the world
knows WELL
And q statue watches 81 from the
square.
And this story Of both DO our townsmen
tell.
Ages ago q lady there
Al the fsrthest window facing the east ]