The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
WHAT 10 Z" V""1cIH .N-Nf
Argument That Christianity Consists In
Believing Rather Than Doing Discussed.

To re .r.rc. O. Ts. srx-ss..-: Tie reason
Jesus insisted upon faith In Him as the only con-
ditioA Of salvation was because that alone would
secure the promised Holy Spirit. without whom
NO man Is . Christian.
The world will never know how much II has lost
and suffered because men In all ages have insisted
upon substituting their own GOOD works for faith
In Christ, In consequence Of which nearly all the
% called great reforms Of the past have been
prompted by the spirit OF error. which is always
the sctuating power In the world. Jesus said that
the Comforter whom the Father would send In
His name Is the Spirit OF Truth. whom the world
cannot receive.
II men would only believe In Jesus christ and
stop dirty works the Spirit OF Truth would lead
US as . nation and % individuals out Of our sins
Into the liberty Of the children OF God we are
the children OF God by faith In Christ Jesus"
NEW YoRx. Aug. 10 F. N. PALMArIK1.
To TIE EDITOR OF The SuN-sir: M Virgins
argues that Christianity consists In believing rather
than doing.
The teachings Of Christ however, show plainly
that no man can truly believe without making
consistent effort TO act UP 10 tho belief. Surely
Mr.. Virgins would not assert that the mere ira
dtional acceptance Of the facts OF Bible history
Il the open sesame to heaven!
Though not . Catholic, the religion for me Is
that preached and lived BY the late Cardinal Man
ming OF London What life this would be II We
all tried 70 come UP 10 his idealsi The Idea Is con-
the Phansees.
Only recently heard OF . scrupulously religious
man who discharged gin from his employ be-
cause he learned that she had spent Sunday st
coney Island. In business this 10 as notorious
for employing child labor In his unhealthy factory,
for his mean and underhand methods and long
hou1 OF overtime wrung from his once stan. az
he Is famous Sunday for his regular church
attendance and pious professions In church circles
The gin whom he held to be UNITED for place
49,
day. has supported . semi blind mother. and the
oheerfulneA and self-sacrince with which she has
given up all her evenings AFTER q hard days work
10 keep the mother company has been the wonder
and admiration OF the nelshborhood. VIII profess
son or act be more acceptable 10 God In this casei
BROOKLYN Aug. IL DOGMA.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE SuN-sir. whether
Christianity consists In being and doins" or In
believing" Appears 70 me to be mostly matter
Of opinion - 10 what belief" really means. Right
belief inspires hight conduct. II the average
Christian believed In his heart what he processes
with his lips, ~ Armly as he believes that are will
burn, his conduct and his belief would no doubt
be In perfect harmony
The belief" 70 which Jesus Chriu reieu In the
te1ts quoted by Mr. Virgins In his letter Of Aug is
cannot be that Of the ordinary orthodox, church.
going Christian or clergyman. for In Mark xvi
Ills. We read; And these signs shall follow them
that believe. they shall take UP serpents
kuo " tuoy uIluA Any uo1Qly tnlnG, " SHALL not
hurt them These are things which the said or
binary orthodox Christian Is manifcs.ly not able
to DO. c. J. DucAasI
NEW YoRx. Aug. IA
TO THE Eprrol o. TH1 SuN-,sir. What SHAH Mr.
Goodwin Smith give 10 In place Of the supernatural
which his papers In TIE Sun Indirectly, II not al :
roctly tend 70 destroyf thou shalt NOT kill. -
Thou shalt not STEAL" Thou shalt not commi,
sdultery.- &C.. will have lost their charseterstic
guilt - soon a. the old traditional SUPERNATURAL
measure Of the morality OF human actions shall have
Destroy the supernatural, and what alep,blc IN
left 70 TEST and prove the morality OF human action
Now We know why theft IL then. murder murder.
adultery adultery, because We poSseas a super
natural test or touchstons which catches the true
or false ring OF every human action But in the
now order OF thines, Of which Mr.. Goodwin smith
10, 81 least sugEestively, protagonst, what risht
shAn be left TO man, nation or Church TO Use The
words thief. siandcrer, adulterer, seducer, muir
deref?
In other words, when the supernatural sbs,,
have become myth. what shall then be the test
or touchstone - prove that this IL good, that
wicked; this praiseworthy, that punishable; thls
man noble. that man IN Infamous scoundrelf
The permanence OF society. Of governments AM
cv,n.Auon oemAhds an answer. II. c. G.
ConoRs, Aug. 10