Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
RELIGIOUS THEMES
FOR SUNDAY READING

ated by Jesus Christ and the holding up of
New Testament standards, in season and
out of season.
IF it be said that It's is a truism, i
would answer that If we realize strongly
the truth of the truism, 1t would become an
energizing power in leading to some kind of
religious social union. This is social age.
when, in worldly life, social motives are
irresistibly powerful. Those who super
ciiously stigmatize loyalty to the Christian
faith and fidelity to Christian principle in
the conduct of life, as narrow mindedness
are bound together by the closest of social
ties. And here are we Christians, all fol-
lowers of the same Jesus, with no counter
acting social power to oppose against the
inroad of the world the flesh and the devil;
unable to make any Roadway. nay actually
losing ground day by day, because we hold
our New Testament ideal so feebly.
II know the differences which separate
one Christian communion from another
would not ignore those differences, l would
not in any way ask any Christian body. and
least of all our own to act inconsistency
with it's doctrines and beliefs, but l would
say, with my eyes fixed intently upon our
common ideal of Christian life, that II
there is any way in which without sacri-
icing our religious or ecclesiastical convic-
tons, we may enforce that ideal upon the
hearts of the people, by common and con-
certed action, tnen it is our bounden duty
to discover that way; our duty to act to-
gether in the maintenance of those CHRIS
tan principles. regarding which we do not
differ; our duty to make the younger people
of the community realize and feel with en-
thusiasm that the social bond of union,
which unites Christians together. is stronger
than the social motives of worldly life, our
duty to present united and unbroken front
as followers of the Lord Jesus, against
these three enemies, the world the flesh
and the devil.
Formulation of Plan.
''The difficulty, of course, would be to
fl ruulate any plan for action which would
commend itself to all Christian bodies, and
yet interfere with the principles of none
to devise some kind of an institution or OBJ
servance or association in which their MIN
listers and laymen would unite and consult
together in monthly or fortnightly or even
weekly meetings. Again, even if this diff
Eculty were overcome greater one VIII
i.stantly suggest itself to every mind. Even
if so desirable an end We're attained for
moment, the movement would not be strong
enough to have continuity of life and ef-
fort; enthusiasm would quickly eVaporate,
old differences and Emergencies would Soo1-
err or later reassert themselves, leaving
only handful to persevere: in short, anna
all the differences of our divided Chrlsten-
dom it may we'll seem as if the hope that
Christian bodies could thus be brought to-
gether in any common cause were like the
dream of enthusiast.
Il feel the full force of every such OBJ
teeticn. These obstacles would be unsur-
mountable, indeed, were there not one IN
stitution, already in existence. old enough,
strong enough and inspiring enough to give
the needed vitality to such q movement.
1.-THE institution to which l refer dates
back to New Testament times. 1t has ct
least the sanction of apostolic example.
Its existence has not been confined to the
primitive church, but has been continuous
through the Christian era. In addition to
this 1t is not new to the actual experience
Of the Christians of the twentieth century
Its preservation is equally dear to the
So e aI,n,- Of oil
bodies, because it is associated with the
rncst sacred memories of each one severally.
II refer. of course to the institution of
the Lords Day, the observance of which
has been so closely associated with the life
of the American people from the earliest
colonial time that it has been declared by
the Supreme Court of the United States 10
be part of the common law of the land.
Fix your minds, l pray you, intently
upon this fact, for an opportunity is here
afforded US for just such concerted action
as Is most needed at the present time
We have not to create an institution or an
observance or an organization of any sort
IN order to have frequent meetings for the
incubation of Gospel ideas, for we have
one here, already at hand, accepted by ev-
cry Christian body, with regular weekly
meetings at a stated time; when whole |
day is set apart by common consent for
religious purposes; when such meetings are
held, not in one place, but in hundreds of
different places all over Washington, and
tian people are such that they always ar
range their time and their other engage
nents so to conform with Sunday OBJ
servance and attendance upon church serv-
Ices
Here Is a distinct coign of vantage; a
citadel which commands the situation on
that very part of the field where the OPP
posing forces of those who are with and
those who are against Christ are destined
to meet and contend for the mastery.
'Ir order to make this more plain let US
pause moment to view each of these con-
tending forces.
ION the one side are ranged those who,
while they do nothing which can be dis
tnctiy branded as immoral, nevertheless
assume an opposing attitude and therefore
are against Christ
Those social influences which are slowly
but surely destroying the old simplicity of
Washington life and the religious tone of
its people are very subtle, very hard to
fasten upon, very hard to combat.
Greatly as Christian people may deplcre
the process of moral degeneration brought
about by too much money, too much lux
ury, too much pleasure and amusement, too
much of everything in the world way, and
too little of everything which creates the
fiber of true manhood and true womanhood:
greatly as Christian people may deplore
the growing careless feeling OF lrresponsl-
bilty, thus engendered, there is nothing
one can put his finger upon and say, This Is
felt by all right-minded persons to be
pronounced evil Indeed, the danger
W0QlQ De Tar less dangerous Win dli the
evil more definite and open, for then it
COULD be recognized by ALL
But when this type of life becomes so
strong that 1t leads TO gambling, not only
among men. but among respectable women;
when it claims the Lords Day for worldly
recreation and amusement; when 1t goes
still further, and throws the network of its
specious influences over the young, unsus-
pecting members of Christian households
in such a way as to ALLEVIATE them from
Christ and the Christian religion, here we
have a definite issue forced upon US; an
issue in which We must defend our posi-
ton be disloyal to Christ; an issue by
our defense of which communicates who
have been false before the world to their
confession of faith will be compelled to
SHOW whether they are on the Lords side
or no.
"Of course, the charge of interference will
a once be raised if such an issue is openly
made. The world has its shibboleths and
stock arguments which never vary from
age TO age, and this is one of them.
The one never ceasing cry, which the
old pleasure seekers of the Roman empire
raised when the Christians of the first
three centuries came among them, was,
Your God interferes with our freedom
Yet in five or six generations the descend
ants of those pagan men and women were
wo-shiping at Christs affairs on each Lords
Day. What a lesson for US Christians of
the twentieth century now when that same