The Washington herald., 1906-12-16

LID. r. X. D. FilAtNi ite-- Va -A-N N--+NN-
sity Of Birmingham, has issued the text
OF a cateehism which he read before a
gathering of nOnconformist ministers in
London and which is designed for the
use of teachers interested in the educa-
ton of the young. IN the preface Sir
Oliver says:
From the viewpoint of a teacher and
a trainer of teachers the following clauses
have been drafted by me as affording a
partialIy scientific basis for future reIi-
gious education:
Ouesti What are your
Answer "A being, alive, conscious upon
this earth. my ancestors having ascended
by gradual processes from the lower forms
of animal life. and with struggle and
suffering become man"
Q. What is the distinctive character Of
man?"
A. AT a certain stage Of development
man became conscious of the difference
between right and wrong so that there
after when his actions fell below a normal
standard Of conduct he felt ashamed and
sinful Nevertheless. the possibility OF
the fan marks a rise in the scale OF /
existence Creatures below this level are
irresponsible. feel no shame, suffer no re-
morse, and are said to have no con-
science
Q. What is the distinctive character of
manhood"
A. "That he has responsibility for MS
acts. having acquired the power of choos-
ing between good and evil, with freedom
TO obey one motive rather than another.
Q. What is the duty of manT
y ITO assist his fellows. 10 develop
his own higher self, to strive toward
good in every way open 70 his powers
and generally to seek to know the laws
Of nature and obey the viii of God, In
whose service alone can be found that
harmonious exercise of the faculties
which is Synonymous Of perfect freedom
Q. What is meant by good and evil?'
A. Good is that which promotes
development and is in harmony with the
will of God. IL is akin to health, body,
and happiness. Evil is that which re-
tards and illustrates development, and
Injuries some part of the universe, and is
akin to disease, ugliness. and misery"
O. How does a man know good from
evil?"
A His Own nature. when unCOTrupted,
is sufficiently in tune with the universe
TO enable him 10 be well aware Of what
is pleasing and displeasing 10 the guild
ing spirit OF which ne himself should be
the real effective portion.
@. How comes il that evil eXists?"
A. Acts and thoughts are evil when
they are below the normal standard at
tained by humanity. The possibility of
evil is = necessary consequence Of the
rise in the scale of moral existence. just
as an organ whose normal temperature
is far above absolute zero is necessarily /
liable to a damaging deadly cold but
the cold IS not in itself a positive or
created thins."
Q. What is sin?'
A. Sin is the deliberate, wiIlful act
of Il free agent who sees better, chooses
worse, and thereby acts injuriously to
himself and others. The root of sin is
selfshness, whereby needless trouble and
pain are inflicted on others. II is akin
10 moral suicide
Q. Are there beings lower in the scale
of existence than man?"
A. ''MuItitudes; In every part of the
earth where life is possible We find it
developed. Life exists in every variety
of animal, III the earth, in the air and
the sea. and in every species Of plants"
Q. Are there beings higher in the
scale OF existence than MANI
A. Man is the highest Of the dwelieTst
on the planet earth, but the earth is only
one Of many planets warmed by the sun.
The sun is only one of a myriad OF similar
suns which are so distant that We hardly
see them. and group indiscriminately as
stars. We may be sure that in some Of
these innumeFable worlds circulating in
distant suns there must be beings far
higher in the scale Of existence than our
selves. Indeed, We have no knowledge
which enables us to assert the absence OF
intelligence anywhere
O. What causes and what maintains
existeuCe2"
=. "Of our own knowledge, we are un-
able to realize the meaning of the origina-
tion and maintenance. All We can accom-
plish in the physical world is to move
things about by means Of our bodily or
ganisms and then leave them to act on
each other. But We conceive that there
must be some intelligence supreme over
the whole process of evolution. or else
things could not be as organized and
beautiful as they are"
Q. rs man helped in the struggle up
ward?'
A Man did not bring himself into ex-
istence nor can he, unaided. maintain his
existence or achieve anything whatever.
There is certainly d power In the universe
vastly beyond our comprehension We
trust and believe it 10 be a good loving
power, able and willing TO help us and
guide US wisely This loving kindness
surrounds US every moment In It We live
and have our real being. It is the main
spring Of love, joy, and beauty. We call
il the grace Of God. 1t sustains and en-
riches all worlds. It may take a multi
plicity OF forms, but its essence and
higher meaning is especially revealed to
the dwellers on earth in the form Of the
divinely human. perfect life Of Jesus
Christ through whose spirit and living
influence man may hope to rise 20 heights
at present inaccessible"
G. How may we become informed of
things too high for our own knowledge"
A. I'VE should strive to learn from
the great teachers, prophets. poets. and
saints OF the human race whose writ
ings have been open 20 US by education
Especially should We learn how TO inter-
pret and understand the Bible, whicn the
nation holds in such high honor"
Q. What then, do you reverently be-
lieve can be dedueed from study of
the records and traditions Of the past in
the light of the present?''
A. Il believe in one infinite. eternal
Being, a guiding, loving Father, in whom
all things consist. l believe the divine
nature IS especially revealed TO man in
Jesus Christ. who lived. taught. and suf-
fered in Palestine 1900 years ago. and has
since been worshiped by the Christian
Church as the immortal Son OF God and
Savior of the world. l believe the Holy
Shirt Is ever ready TO help us along the