The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-03

son for August 4 is "The 1doeI-
nacle," Elk. 4O:I-13, 34-3S. The Col
den Text is ''Then a cloud Covered
the Tent of the Congregation, and
the Glory OF the Lord Filled the
Tabernacle" Elk 1924.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Religion in summertime has of late
years betaken itself to tents and
woods and street corners Ph1ladel-
phia and New York are conspicuous
instances of the tendency TO take tne
gospel out of the church to the places
where the people gather. Summer
eyangelistic work of type entirely
different from the normal church
methods, has become quits an estap-
lished feature of the days religious et-
fort. In Philadelphia, Sunday services
are held in one of the music pavilions
in Paramount Park; and for time
meetings were conducted, AFTER the
regular performances, in certain or
the amusement resorts. Theater meet
ings are common all over the CONT
nent; sometimes the preaching I'M
mediately following the play, and to
the same audience.
As news, all this is interesting. 1t
shows how greatly times have
changed. 1t indicates that the church
Is less sure of herself and her methods
than she once was; and 1t betokens
a remarkable adaptability on her part
Moreover, 1T is a confession Of failure
the church in her establishments;
therefore the church is willing to make
great concessions in order to go to the
PEOPLE. There are many who rejoice
that Christianity pursues men into the
workshop, the playhouse, the bar
room, the brothel, the open air, and
wherever they may go for diversion.
What Is to Become of the Church?
When followed to its logical conclu-
sion, however, this movement suggests
some startling possibilities. Is the
church of the next generation to be
salvation army street parade. follow
ing men into all their haunts of pleas
ure and sin? Is it to be an elaborate
organization for social service and ap-
piled Christianity, with soup-kitehen,
ccncert-hall, gymnasium, school-room,
dSnce-hall and employment agency
attachments? Must the minister be-
come modern administrator, seated
in an office chair, between telephone
and a card catalogue? In a word, is
It so important to follow insistently
and undeterred, the man who turns
his back upon the church and her his
tcric ordinances. that the essential
lost?
The timeliness of these considera-
lions lies in the fact that the Sunday
schools of Christendom are to apply
themselves this week to a study of the
tabernacle, the first visible church
building. This implies a frank, pres
ent-day consideration of the place and
character Of the institution which is
the logical successor of the tabernacle,
the organized Christian church, with
her places of worship. Quite beside
the mark would be any attempt to
study, exhaustlvely, the various pat
terms and furnishings of the old taber- !
nacle, giving to each some spiritual
lied meaning. Nor is it worth while |
TO follow very closely the development |
of the tabernacle through the success |
sive temples and synagogues. This is |
the year 1907; the important question
is whether there is a place today for |
the tabernacle's successor.
Making Religion Vague.
A weeks reading of the current !
prints, both secular and religious, |
shows that there are numerous advo- |
Gates of diluted religion who have |
scant time or respect for the old-fash- |
icned institutions of Christianity. They |
claim to be able to worship God best |
IN the open air; and to find an elastic |
creed of human broth erhood" better |
than all the formulated doctrines and |
ordinances of the churches. They |
want preachers to be practical" |
Roaming secular; and they would have |
would give away all the positions it |
has attained through the slow process |
of the years, and stand for nothing at |
all that is positive
uttered by men and women who are |
earnestly seeking the highest cultiva- |
ton of their own spirits and the great |
est possible service of their fellow |
men. Much of it. though, is mere |
twaddle, rsverberating from human |
echoes who have neither the intellec- |
tral strength nor the moral purpose |
to give serious consideration to the |
big themes of religion. These smart"
moderns substitute sneers for sensi-
hnN dnp 20 NJ erfo -
like Augustine, Calvin. Luther and |
Wesley, only because, though pigmies |
themselves, they are heirs of the spir-
itual ar.d intellectual liberty which
these and kindred leaders won for
them.
The easiest, cheapest and Irpst pop
ular form of courage is to utter filings
AZ the church and her ways; yet the
church, BIO It remembered, Is still, as
The ever has been, The greatest bene-
mother of education, the fostering pa
tron OF art the inspirer Of invention
and discovery, and the servant of the
poor and the oppressed, the churoh
can command only respect from II
men who think soberly, even though
ment with her.
The Tent at the Center.
An emasculated religion-with no OBJ
iSations, no services, no offerings, no
claims upon time and labor, no visible
,enters or ordinances, no priests and
20 goV@rnment-would speedily be-
come vague and ineffective and dec-
sdent religion. Jehovah understands
human nature. for he made It. Thus
10 decreed the tabernacle as a point
about which worship Of himself should
SalVar Cures Blood POSiOn