Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-11-24
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read seem to me to deal with mere slde IS
sues-why young men don't attend church
how to reach the masses-while L want
to hear land never do hear)-about the
fundamental, elementary. principles OF re-
lgiOn. Is man immortal? Is there God,
and if so, why does lie leave us in doubt?
What is the Christian religion reduced to
it's simplest expression? | am sick of plati-
tudes, evasions and glittering generalities:
| want to be treated with sincerity. |
want to hear he.simple truth, not "as t"
little child" but as to grown man, who
must reason as well as feel, a man who
has sinned and suffered and now fain
would find a safe anchorage for his soul
in this sea of doubt and trouble"
The editorial article written in answer
to this communication breathes the spirit
of Him who went to His disciples in the
storm with which they were batting on
Gallee. 1t says very little about the
1t takes God and the soul for granted. 1t
reduces religion to its simplest terms and
lets it go at that for the present. Whether
it has accomplished anything for the
stormtossed correspondent do not know
But do know some whom it has helped
and others whom it is likely to help. Men
of whose spiritual vicissitudes | have some
knowledge have spoken of it with graft
tude.
The narrower method OF sectarian. dog
matte insistence is perious. The existence
of a denomination may depend upon the
observance of the seventh day of the week
as the Sabbath. But it is ruinous thing
for young person to gcS the idea that the
existence of God is wrapped IN in that
dogma and that he might as well abandon
the religious life altogether as 10 let that
dogma 60. 1t has been an element of de.
nominational strength to have certain fixed
ideas with reference to the proper mode
and subjects of baptism But it is a spirit.
ual misfortune if young Baptist has not
pastor wise enough to tell him. if he lets
go this doctrine, that religious life is quite
possible without it. 1t is possible to cher.
ish and to insist on views of the Bible, the
they find it necessary, to threaten the very
foundations of their faith in God.
Religion is an affair OF the soul and God.
The Bib,c, the church, the creeds, the sac.
ramCnts are designed to serve the soul and
God in this high and holy relationship.
God has n life in the souls of men which
these means are meant to promote and
never to hinder. They do not come be.
tween the soul and God Some sweet old
mystic has said: 'Thc eve by which | see
God is the same eye by which He sees me.
And we may say, also: "Thc longing with
which we long for God is the longing with
which He longs for lis. The love with
which we love Him is from the fountain Of
His love for us In relationship which
is the sharing. the identity of life. what
room is there for Intermediary means and
MINISTRIES: We have precious documents,
precious doctrines. precious sacraments and
ordinances Bat ii is not they that give
life to the soul. They do minister richly
to that lie. but it is, as it were, from
without that they minister. II the soul
ever really knows God at all. it knows Him
as it knows itself The soul is sure of IL
self. BY the same sort of certtude 1t Is
sure Of God.
Don't get the idea that YOU can prove
the existence Of God. Some day YOU may
fall in with man who is a better rcasoncr
who viii take the other side. Then. If Won
really think You believe in God because
YOU can prove that He exists. You may find
Your faith badly shaken. Every one that
ioveth is hcgotten of God and knowcth
God. He that loveth not. knowcth nos
God; for God is love" We know God with
that immediate kind of knowledge with
which We know the feelings of our own
hearts. If it is possible for us to love, it IS
possible for us to know God and to know
that the proof there is God and to be
known and that we know Him, is the same
kind of proof. the very same proof, that
we must give. if we say that we love.
Luke tells MS how Jesus sent out seventy
Of His disciples to DO in all the towns OF
Gallcc ~ they had seen Hum do They
healed the sick. They preached the gospel
of the kingdom. Men aud devils gave heed
to them. They returned to Him with
great JOY to tell Him all As He listened
to them. as He looked into their faces, He
rcioiced. They had understood HIM. 1t
was then that He said: II thank Thee o
Father Lord of Heaven and Earth. that