The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-16
In order to explain religion, it must
be regarded as constitutiYe and strnc-

IL,
be regarded as constitutive and struc-
tural In human nature. 1t is not an
accident or incidental annex to life
but a veritable part of life. Men
seek God and fellowship with him
because they must, Man was made
for religion. and hence this funda-
mental and structural idea finds recog-
milton in all the great and learned
public gatherings of this age and ex-
preston In genuine and sympathetic
feeling toward religion.
The idea that God is good only to
those nations who have embraced the
Christian faith, and that all other
people outside of it's pale, are under
the wrath of God and consigned to
perdition has partly faded from the
Christian consciousness. and men no
longer libel the Divine compassion
and goodness by believing or giving
utterance to such horrible bias
phemy." Any, one who reads the
Evidences" of Christian apologists of
hundred years ago and compares
them with present day apologize liter
ature, will be convinced of the happy
change that has taken place in this
behalf. Men now see that all religious
systems had place in the scheme and
purpose of God. and that he used them
as media through which to express
his wisdom and love. The great re-
ligious teachers of the past-Mo-
manned, Buddha and Confucius-in-
terpreted the God-given religious con-
sciousness to their times. He is 1.-The
light that lighteth every man that
cOmeth into the world ~
But some will say, IF these things
be so, why make any attempt to evan
gelize those peoples?" Much error
and groveling superstitution are inter-
mixed in the heather religions and
can never raise man to his best es-
tate. lnasmuch as our Christian re-
hgion embodies higher and purer and
h0lier conceptions God and man and
life and destiny than were ever
dreamed of in any of those mont Chris
tian religions. 1T is highly obligatory
on our part to take to them the "good
news of the gospel" for in this way,
and in this way only, can the nom
christian nations come to their best
estate, socially, politically, morally,
reltgiously. Incidents were here cited
to show the Unreasonable superiority
of the Christian Faith over all other
religions whatsoever in times of be-
reavement, sorro wand calamity.
There are certain great and out
standing characteristics which must
always be found in 1.-THE Perfect Re-
ligion:"
First: Intelligence. This is the
first requisite-religion must satisfy
and meet the demands of the intellect.
History shows how that owing to
darkness and ignorance religion has
produced many foul and base things,
and such spread its whitening and
paralyzing influences over all the
field of human activities. In the
daylight of science and intelligence,
and in such an atmosphere and in a
soil thus prepared, religion, true, sin
cere, perfect. will flourish.
Secondly: The perfect religion
must issue in personal and social
righteousness Much confusion has
been apparent on this point even with
in the Christian church. Orthodoxy
has been substituted for righteous
ness. But no amount of orthodoxy or
religious zeal will excuse man from
the demands of righteous living. We
demand pure and spotless righteous
ness in man as we'll as in the creator.
Malachi expressed it in its entirety
when he said: what doth God re-
quire of thee, o man, but to do justly,
love mercy, and walk humbly with
thy God?" This is the acme of the
morality and ethical thought of the
Old Testament.
Thirdly: The perfect religion de-
mands goodness. This means that the
conception that we hold of God must
be that He is supremely good and
whose goodness and love must extend
to all His creatures, and man must
look up to Him in full surrender and
love. There must be love in man as
well as in God. Indeed. love is more
necessary down here than up there,
for we think they can get on up there
pretty we'll, but down here is the
place for its exercise and power"
Supreme Goodness puts God under the
greatest moral obligations He is full
filling these in the highest and best
possible manner.
Fourthly: The perfect religion
must be worthy of mans best en-
(Continuel On Pare e.