The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-03-01

IdE CH RCH OF IOMORROW
Rev. G. E. Haywood, Sec. of the
Y. M. G. A. of Springfield, VT,
preached in the Congregational
church, Sunday morning. Since
it was a sermon as good for one
church as another, and since it
applied problems which confront
the whole world, christian and
secular, the reproduction of a
brief resume ought to benefit all,
who read it. The first duty of the
church is to build character. 1t
is possible for one to be in the
world and yet keep pure and
strong and good. This is the
church's prerogative. The church
has no right to withdraw from the
world and say it is nothing to me.
Every human activity is some
thing to the church, since all
things Of the world, are of them
selves good, and 1t is the church's
duty to keep them good. 1t is the
Church's attitude which is respOn-
sible for some of the corruption
of originally good things, since
the Church has made no effort to
prevent the corruption. Progress
is the cry of the secular world.
Progress must be the cry of the
church if it is to succeed, if it is
even to hold it's place, if it is to
do its work adequately. Educa-
tiOnal methods have progressed.
Church educational methods have
not improved. Science has devel-
Oped until now facts and proved
facts are the basis of the secular
worlds reasoning, and all that
they will accept, yet the Church
has not recognized this great fact.
The world at large cares nothing
for traditions, for theologies, for
dogmas, but it does care tremen-
dously for facts, facts which 60
down to the bed rock of reason,
vet the church feeds her children
often upon hazy traditions, dog
mas of bygone days, and upon
what, to the world are non essen
tial, standing firm upon her past
history, which if we read it cor
rectly, we should know urges us
on to progress. The Bible is full
of facts, and unless facts are
brought out of it and proved, I'M
less the church changes, not the
truth of it's teaching, but the
method of it, it will drop further
and further behind in the race.
The truth there, is truth pure and
scintilating and no matter how
much it has been befogged by
tradition or higher criticism run
riot, it will stand the present de
mand for unhinching search for
facts and that is what the world is
asking of the church. Give us the
facts.
Every other organization should
be second to the Sunday School.
Teach in the Sunday School by
the most pedagOgically advanced
methods used in public schools.
Present to the Sunday School
facts. Do not take the whole
time giving good advice, for it is
never heeded. Teach the facts
persistently, clearly and cOnscien-
tiously and the children will live
good lives, they will accept the
truth because having the facts be
fore them they will apply the
same reasoning and heart to this
problem as they do to other life
problems when the time for de-
Gliding comes. Then will the com
ing church be strong in faith, be
cause they know upon what they
have builded then will they be
pure because from knowledge
they know that purity must go
with truth, then will they love
God, because they will know that
if is reasonable and right to love
Him, and, then upon this founda-
ton, it will be only natural that
they will work for righteousness.
Education in the churches is the .
CRYING need of the church and the .
world. When the church is pro
gressive, valiant and strong, then
me so called secular education
will gain the other help which it
needs to make it successful in
character building. Schools then
will have cut away from the false
notion that morality and a sim,
pie religion is not a part of the
curriculum; and churches will
know that to make a character
strong as well as righteous, intelli
gent teaching must be given. The
of the churchis TO be a
leader, to be in, if not of. the world
as a pioneer to blaze the trail to
God, to build character upon rock
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