Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-04-22
EVOLUTION IN RELIGION.

EVOLUTION IN RELIGION.
 Says the Kansas City Journal: Dr. Ritchey in a recent sermon, said: "A great many preachers realize that they are in the wrong profession, but haven't the moral courage to say so. CT who dares assert he has made a mistake in his selection of a profess 1 sion." At the time of this religious discussion, which began ten years ago, and is going on today, as to causes and the cure for the waning influence of the church, Dr. Roberts had already left the Baptist church and become Unitarian preacher, be- cause he realized that he could no longer satisfy his conscience by con- forming to it's tenets. His sensitive soul dreaded the moral stigma" per Iaps, but he had the moral courage to brave every criticism except that oi his own conscience. AS the next step toward greater religious freedom he decided to leave the Unitarian min istry and establish the Church of This World" This meant. the cut ting loose from all polemic theology, with it's hair-spliting controversies, and the founding of a church which would put aside all disputed points and unknown quantities in future world and deal exclusively with the affairs of this earth. It's creed might be summed up substantially in Carl yle's admonton to do the duty that lies nearest and the next one will become clear. It taught right living as a sure passport to heaven. aa2 natures memorable law Of ret1ibeti 3a. a., a man sows so shall he reap. ia- stead of the doctrine Of atonemenf: that if a man does wrong he Is sure to suffer. although not eternally, a1ft with him who does rie1lt all viii be well when he comes to face his loF- ing Father.
 The movement was a local success in that many or the best citizens of Kansas City followed Dr. Roberts ln his new departure, and they profess tc have found comfort and satisfae- ton in his teachings during the ten years that have intervened.
 The new church. they claim, has
 
 ci relioious intolerance and in direct ing mems thoughts along broad, prac- teal lines in adapting their religion to their everday affairs. The spirit that led to it's founding is finding stronger expression each year, as eVi- denced by the petition of LOO clergy men in Engand last year some of them the ablest and most distinguish ed men in the Church of England, to tie Anglican bishops, asking for greater liberty in respect to theologi- cal tenets. including the authenticity and authority of the Scriptures. This year a similar movement is going on among the Episcopal clergy and laity in this country. Among them all there prevails the desire to bring the church up to date and make living force among men.
 That Dr. Roberts has gone so far fl on the beliefs of his youth without severe struggles and soul racking sui Ielings would be incredible. Every l. an at some time in his life has his Gethsemane, in which he must Nlestle with his own soul i'll fearful Goubt and darkness; and those who have solved their doubts and found d happy outcome will sympathiZe with this high strung. gifted man who leaves Kansas City, as he says, ito forget and be forgotten" No one who has known him as a simple hearted afectionate man, or listened to his eloquent words as a preacher and philosopher, can forget him; and the hope is widespread that Dr. Roberts will forget only his trials, and find brighter and more useful future in wider fields for the uplifting of hu- manity.
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