The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-21
REV. {. {. NEWBERT SAYS
THIS is AGE OF QUESTION
Everywhere There Is an Earnest
Seeking After Reality, Search
ing for Truth.
"THE LARGER FAITH

"Our age is often spoken of as an age OF
doubt" said the Rev. E. E. Newbert in
his sermon at All Souls yesterday upon
1.-THE Larger Faith" 1T is happier phras-
ing, however" he continued, Ito speak OF
it as an age of question. Everywhere there
is an eager seeking of reality. an earnest
searching for truth AS result we have
the larger faith, bounded by no mans creed
and bearing no sectarian label. This larger
faith is true to truth Its foundation is
actual human experience. 1t is impatient
with shams, and there is no quackery about
il. Religion and truth have never mated
we'll Prophets. modern and ancient, have
been stoned. But knowledge is rising and
spreading like light Faith must now so
on with knowledge or remain a dead thing
without living symbols.
THE larger faith, too, is the faith that
makes faithful. 1t makes us confess the
supremacy of character. Its leaders are the
apostles OF work and duty. Religion has
been too much a thing apart from life. The
burden of preaching has been the other
world. 1t might be better even TO forget
for little t4e-o other world while we give
earnest heed TO the life we now live. The
nearby end OF religion is not to be de-
spised. What of the day, its work and duty,
its joy and sorrow? What of life? How
best to live it? AT least, faith is poor
thlng that does not make men faithful.
common honesty should flow from rell-
g1on. 1t should make for the clean hand
and the pure heart. The present demands
faith that means trust in God and 100
cents on the dollar standard yard stick
and correct scales and measure
over against all this let me set a re-
cent incident. The man suspected of the
Bedford murder was handcuffed, taken by
officers from his cell to a church. His
handouts were removed, he was baptized.
Again he was handcuffed and taken back
to his cell. What does the performance
really mean? Oh, this is the other world
idea given spectacular setting. If the man
is innocent let, him wait. II guilty all the
water IN the world can not make him clean.
All this is as far from the faith that makes
faithful is the moon from the earth.
With 1t in mind, think of the japanese
Sailor, found frozen in the turret of his
at his wheel till burned to death while
steering his burning ship and hundreds of
passengers to safety Think of the engi-
neer who bitches his train and gives his life
TO save his human freight. Or think of the
faithfulness to the commonplace in every
day Think how we'll men and women serve
in minor places. Or think of the round of
petty duties well done between morning
and evening, and of the thousands who
come every night to their resting beds
content and undishonored
The larger faith too is the faith that
makes hopeful. Its watchword is conf
derce. II is optimistic. 1t promotes hap
piness 1t cultivates joy. 1t makes room
for the pleasures of life. Religion and fear
have gone on too long together. They
must separate now. Religion must live;
fear shall die. Religion shall be made 10
mean assurance of good. And the basis OF
this change is knowledge. The poor little
world of theology. easily wrecked and like
~ to come TO an end, is passing dreams
pass at the waking hour. In its place we
are being taught to behold the infinite and
eternal universe, without beginning. with
out end, ruled by law and fitted TO human
happiness now and forever"