The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-01
The Church of the Age.

THE world is passing thru period Of regenera-
Il tion. 1t manifested itself in America in at
tack upon the abuse Of the power Of money in Russia
it takes the form Of demand for liberty; in France
it has decreed the dissolution of the contract between
church and state in Great Britain it has proclaimed
the downfall of the last ducal cabinet; in Germany
it revolt against the policy of blood and iron and
return to normal conditions under which Germany
led the world In the search for truth.
There is worldwide movement for equality. The
demand for the 'square deal' fills the unwired ether
and bounds from continent to continent.
The democracy of America which fondly be-
eved was firmly established and almost the per-
lection Of has recently been subjected to
fearful test Careering over boisterous sea OF ma
teria1 prosperity were suddenly swept into the
yawning trough Of graft black dismal and apparently
bottomless. 1t seemed, almost that the nation must
be submerged. T.
The record of the exposures of the past few months
is familiar too familiar to the public It is unneces
sary to restate the facts 1t is enough to say that
there time when, surfeited with lies overfed
with fraud, nauseated with cheats the American
science revolted the American people rebeled. The
time was ripe for change and with the time came
the There sprang into the arena that twentieth
century knight the champion of civic honor Theodore
Roosevelt. ~ ..
He has led the White Crusade Of national CON
science Casting aside old friendships, old associa-
tions old prejudices, he planted himself on the rock
of justice and the law. The people heard him gladly
and followed him eagerly He has brought the brutal
beef barons their knees; he has laid the big stick
the back Of every volator Of the square deal he
could reach from the rebatng railroad president to
the labor delegate attempting deny the right of his
fellow citizens to work. The Tagging zeal Of reform
ers is quickened the spirit of atruism is revived;
justice is replaced on her pedestal The only dis
cordant owl boot from Syracuse where sits the
blinking chancellor mourning his crumbs from the oil
kings table.
mean9 It is uprising of the It is the birth
of universal citizenship. Every land is moving
toward democracy every democracy is moving toward
a truer expression of itself Who shall lead in this
new world movements The politicians7 Time
who take the direction Of the wind before they acts
StatesmenS They touch the people at too few points
to become tuoAr familiar mentors. Business mena
They are too often for lifting the lid to If per-
help but too remotely.
The force which is to teach this citizenship is
the untrameled unpensoned nonsubsdied free church
the people The church too has had it's baptism
of conscience. 1t has dropped its Journalism. 1t has
surrendered it's creeds and gone back to the inspiration
and stands today in attitude of blessing. 1t
is here to
The church has gathered vast constituency which
1t organize 1t has organized charities hospitals
MISSIONS but it has not realized it's power and duty
to organize citizenship. Does this the church
shall 90 into politics; tell its members how they shall
vote? No.
1t means that the church shall teach personal
righteousness that there will be need to discuss
politics. The church then will be composed Of men
imbued with high Of the honor Of citizen
ship that they will cast their votes always in the fea
Of the Lord and in the terror of men. 1t viii
teach civic economics until business will tina
there is profit in pandering administration.
The church is the mother who buckles her sons
the whole Of God-the breastpate of righteous
ness the shield Of faith the helmet Of salvation
sends them forth to do battle against principalitie
and powers against the rulers Of the darkness Of hi
world, against spiritual wckedness in high places.