Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-09
True MISSION OF CHURCH
A Scholarly Sunday Sermon By Rev.
WIN. Brundage.
Foster and Develop the DlstlnctlveIy Rellglsas
Life Of Humanity.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-For the first sermon
of his pastorate of the Unity Unitar-
ian Church. the Rev. W. NJ. Brundage
took for his subject Sunday morning
'The True Mission of the Church y
The text was from |. Timothy iii.
IL: 1.-THE church of the living God"
In the course of Il strong sermon. list
ened to by a large audience, lie said:
From the conditions which prevailed
few centuries ago. when the church
was without q rival to contest dts au-
thority, to its present condition, when
1t must contend with numerous COM
petitors for the very right to exist,
humanity has taken a long stride for
ward Freedom has come to be more
than Il mere name. Multitudcs of peo-
pie have seriously begun to think and
act for themselves. Less and less Is
the church able to live upon its record
in the past; more and more has 1t be-
come manifest that it must justify its
continued existence by the work that
1t does, by the service that it renders
to society. Unless our churches OF
.. every name can be brought into vital
and helpful relations to the real life
of the people, they are doomed to per-
ish. The traditions of the past cannot
save them. Their service in the past,
great though 1t has been, cannot jus
tify their present existence. DO they
minister in an essential manner to the
best life of to-day? An affirmative an
swer to this question constitutes their
only justification. Brotherhoods, clubs,
philanthropc associatio without
number are competing with them; Ii
braries, newspapers and periodicals.
| and educational institutions are doing
| much of the work which they once
did. work that was formerly left IT-
clusively to them. We find nothing in
the origin of the church that entities
1t to claim divine right 10 persist
If 1t persists it will be because it does
better work for society than any
other institution can do,
What Is this work that the churches
are qualified to perform better than
other institutions? Can they feed th"
hungry, clothc the naked, visit ana
! comfort the sick and Sorrowing, car"
for those who are IN prison, minister
to the orphan and the Outcast in fine
engage in all sorts of strictly philan-
thrOpc activity better than multi
tudes of existing benevolent instltu-
lions? Certainly the churches Will
continue 10 do such work rs this, be-
cause they are Or@anlza ions OF those
who love and serve their fel!oWmcn.
But clearer and clearer does it become
manifest that other institutions can do
most kinds phlanthropic work as well
as, if not better than, the churches.
On the whole, the great fraternl-
ties everywhere established III our
times can do it better, The organized
charities of our cities. the prison re-
form associations, the humane socle-
ties and others can do it better, more
economically. more effectively,
Can the churches, however continue
to maintain themselves as centres for
the propagation of great dogmatic syS-
tens. or, on the other hand, as centres
of mere protest against the dGgmatic
systems OF the past? ! do not believe
that they can. The forum for the dis
cussion of such systems is being rap
idly shifted from the pulpit to the
Dress. The great magazines ana re-
views and religious newspapers OF our
time afford more favorable field Tor
their discussion while the masses OF
the people care less and less for them.
incidentally the churches will continue
to urge upon their people what they
believe to be a true philosophy OF God
of the universe and of man, but this
work alone cannot justify their con
tinued existence.
Neither as purely Sacramcntarian Ia
stituti0ns can the churches long retain
their hold upon any large number OF
the people, because with TIE CROWN
and extension of lew knowledge the
claims OF sucrameEtariAnlSm are rap
idly becoming diScrcdited. what is
called "thc high church reaction so
widely known Is after all but reac-
ton and cannot be permanent in its
Influence. 1t is but return to the
childhood Of religion and the thinking
world demands the religion of man.
Can the churches. however. continue
to maintain themselves as social clubs,
os organizations of congenal people
who come together to enjoy one an
others companionShip:
But when there are so many social
clubs in every community. membership
in which can be restricted TO people
Of congenial tastes and Kindred puf-
suits as membership in even the most
exclusive church cannot he, DO not
believe that the churches can long
Justify their existence as the mere COM
petitors Of these clubs.
Has the church then out!ived its use
funeSs and is it about to pass away!
Certainly not, If it arouscs itself ana,
| becoming conscious of its true mission,
resoluteIy devotes itself y its dis
tinctive work. This | believe, is what
the churches can do better than any
other institution-they can and do, i'll
multitudes of instances, act as great
tnspiratonal centr.s 5 ministerinE to the
life of the spirit, to the life OF the
Ideal to the life of God in the soul Of
man. They come into vital md helpful
relations with the people II just so
as they inspire to high thinking and
feeling and loving, i'll just so far as
they inspire and quicken the religious
life Of the community.
Let the churches, therefore. cea-e
regarding themselves as authoritative
ecclesiastical institutions, authorita-
tive sacramentarian or dOgmatic in
stitutions, and become free democratic
religious societies for the propagation
of pure and undefiled religion, for i'll
spration to high and worthy ideals,
for actually helping men "to do justly
and love mercy, and to walk humbly
with their God" The churches that
are most truly and profoundly religious
forces will best justify their existence
In the twentieth century.
TO foster and develop the distinct
lively religious life of humanity, this
Is the true mission of the churches.
They must be lightgivers and life
givers. They must be spiritually
alive In order that they may impart
life. for life is what most counts. The
outward activities of the churches
must be the natural expression of what
they are.