Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-03-16

Of congenial tastes and kindred pur-
suits as membership in even the most
exclusive church cannot be, / do not
believe that the churches can long
justify their existence as the mere COM
petitors of these clubs.
Has the church then outlived lis use
fulness and is it about to pass away?
Certainly not, if it arouses itself and,
becoming conscious of it's true mission,
resolutely devotes itself ., its dis
tinctive work. This, I believe, is what
the churches can do better than any
other institution-they can and do, in
multitudes of instances, act as great
inspirational centr>s ministerinC 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 and helpful
relations with the people n just so
as they inspire to high thinking and
feeling and loving, in 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 in
spiratiOn 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
fvely religious life of humanity, this
is the true mission of the churches
They must be light-givers 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.
The methods for the expression OF
this religious life will be varied be.
cause the dispositions of men vary.
This or that particular form of activ.
1ty is unessential. A longer or q
shorter ritual of worship is unessential.
provided the light and power Of relig-
ion are present Faith, worship, as
piration, loving human service, these
are the essential elements in religion
and the forms in which they embody
themselves will be vital.
The living, 1nspirational church that
Is saving men from worldliness and
practical materialism, that is helping
them to see the unseen and eternal,
that is helping them to worship in the
nob1est sense of that word-that is, to
attribute supreme worth to the lofty
ideals of justice, truth, love, which are
only another name for God. to love
and revere these ideals, and to devote
themselves with perfect conservation
to their realization in human society
such church is fulfilling it's true mis-
sion, by whatever name that church
may be called, and is in no danger of
being discredited in our modern life.
In such a church there will be no
distinction between classes, between
the rich and the poor, no lingering caste
spirit, no recognition of a difference of
rank and dignity between ministers
and people; in the conscious presence
of the All Father there will be perfect
equality between the worshipers.
In such a church there will be no
spirit of solemn gloom miscalled rev.
trent ave. an inheritance from prim-
ftve religion Of fear, but a spirit Of
radiant hope, of abounding joy, of
genuine human sympathy, the spirit
of larger home.
The themes of the pulpit of such a
church will be closely related to the
actual needs of the people, selected
from every quarter, but selected solely
that their consideration may minister
most effectively to personal and So
cial righteous character.
Membership in such a church will
be unrestricted, free to all who share
common spirit and are seriously
working toward a common ideal end
In such a church there will be no
jealous rivalries between the members,
but in place of these a generous spirit
| Of emulation to serve one another and
| the common cause. AS said before,
| the practical activities of such an in
| Spirational church will not be artificial
md forced; they will be the perfectly
natural expression of the vigorous
religious life Of minister and people.