The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-03
IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.
What the Church Folks Are Thinking About and Doing
Religious News From Everywhere.

center. Th1S tabernacle was con-
structed according to minute tnstruc-
tons given by himself; for that which
affects the relationship of man with
his Creator should not be left to
chance and hap. Orderliness, rich
ness, ceremoniousness, excellence and
symbolism all characterized this tent
which was the first house of God upon
earth. The entire scheme was de-
signed to awaken awe and reverence in
the minds OF the worshippers. These
unstable and irreverent Israelites
needed to have ever before them in
dications of the majesty, awfulness
and authority of Jehovah. All the
rich symbolism OF the tabernacle, from
the texture of the cloth to the gold
of the mercy seat, was calculated to
longs to God.
This same place is filed by the mod
ern church. 1t is a visible reminder
of the invisible verities of faith. 1t
is the focal point about which devo-
ton and activity rally. Its spires ever
peint upward to the realities which are
more important than the actualities
of earthly existence. 1t is also sym
boil of aspiration, telling to all who
can understand that there are near
men and women who care for the
things of the spirit and who seek af-
ter the upWard-looking life. Further
more, it is a shelter for the soul-worn
and heart-hungry; a haven of rest for
world have bruised. So 1t conserves
the spiritual energies and culttvates
them in regular ways. A religion OF
the spirit is bound to express itself in
forms
The Cathedrars Mission.
Anyone who has wandered rever-
emily through the spacious aisles OF
st. Peters Cathedral, in Rome, or
Westminster Abbey, in London, can
not doubt the influence that these and
ali similar temples of religion have ex-
erted upon the people. Their very at
mosphere promotes reverence
Through all the dark days CT the Mid
die Ages the cathedrals stood as tok-
ems of the steadfastness and enduring
pre-eminenc3 of religion. They were
fulfilling the mission of the tabernacle.
The iconoclastic Puritans, with an
austere conception OF religion which
nobody today considers a true concep-
ton, demolished, as far as possible,
the beauty of the old churches. Had
they more carefully observed the pat
tern shown to Moses in the mount
they would have perceived that the
best belongs to God; the best in art, as
well as the best in character; the best
in architecture, as well as the best IN
human service; the best in music, as
we'll as the best in creative thinking.
Whatever tends to set forth the su-
preme worthiness of Jehovah is to be
cultivated.
Bishop Chadwick speaks wise
word in this connection, although he |
is writing, primarily, Of the golden |
candlestick: "a lamp gives light, not |
because the gold shines, but because
the oil burns; and yet the oil Is the |
one thing which the eye sees not. And |
so the church is a witness for her |
Lord. a light shining in a dark place, |
not because of her learning or Gull |
ture, her noble ritual, her stately |
buildings or her ample revenues. All |
these things her children, having the |
power. ought to dedicate. The ancient |
symbol put art and preciousness In an |
honorable place, worthily UNFOLDING |
the lamp itself; and in the New Tesla |
ment the seven lamps Of the ApOca- !
lypse were still of gold. But the truue |
function of the lamp Is to be lumin- |
Gus, and for this the church depends |
wholly upon her supply of grace from |
God the Holy Ghost. 1t Is mot by /
might nor by power, but by my Spirit, |
saith the Lord"
When the church is such that the /
Eternal may abide within her walls, |
she has a permanent place in the life |
of the race. No need is there for her
to rush frantically hither and thither. |
calling to men like a distracted hen
to a hayward brood. She |
needs but to stand steadfastly to her |
first mission, and mankind, respond
ing to its deep need of the divine, will |
resort to her for worship, rest, in
struction and Inspiration There is
always a place for the church that |
knows her place.