The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-10
MOVING TO HIGHER GROUND.

1t is not very easy in these days to
liefs While holding fast to the form
of accepted creeds many churches
have apparently lost the substance and
spirit of them. There is cropping af-
ter more adequate expressions for the
modern religious mind. It Is time
when many churches are feeling their
way This applies especially to Protest
antism. But amid the general uncer-
tainty there is one clear note of GER
tainty as to what is to be done. For a
generation now Back to Christ" has
been the rallying cry. What may it
mean? Is there any confession in it
that the Christian church lost its
bearings somewhere and got astray
amid the multitude of speculations
about the mission of Christianity?
A study of the subjects preached by
many clergymen from Sunday to Sun
day reveals the character of the in
quiry after the truth Of what Christ
himself said and what he meant by
what he said and the nature of the
rover that he used for human well
fare. 'rhere is growing disposition to
go to the original source to find in
spiration and direction for right living
now. The problems of past times and
the conclusions concerning them are
Interesting enough as they are read in
the various theologies but they are
not the problems Of the present that
appeal for an intelligent understanding
and a solution in the light of scientific
knowledge and of the truest Christian
thinking.
There are various movements at
present taking place in human life
that seem at first sight to many to be
I incongruous or entirely apart from
Christian thought. but careful search
I by a mind open to truth may find
that these movements are the pro-
ducts of the one energizing spirit who
/ is working at the heart of things.
That more or less Of that which is
/ false or of no service at all to hui
man life will gain credence with
that which is true may be expected,
. but in the processes Of change and
by persistent search after the truth,
the ephemeral and traditional incum-
ORANGES of healthful and helpful Chris
tan thinking will fall away.
The historical and literary study of
the Bible has uncovered much truth
that is directly useful in application
to modern problems. There was at
one time dire apprehension that the
purpose of such study was to destroy
the Bible and there may be some such
lingering apprehension still But it is
to be kept in mind that truth can
not be destroyed and it was necessary
to do some painful pruning in order to
free living truth struggling to express
itself adequately in human life. What
ever are the completed results of such
study it is becoming more and more
certain that when ones mind has
reached the Christ and his teachings
in their simplicity, Invested of the
theological trimmings and excrescenses
that have attached to them through
the centuries, those truths will be
found unassailable
The ministry of healing which /:
interesting the Christian church in
these days is an indication of the re.
turn back to Christ There is dis.
elimination to be exercised here thai
the essential truth shall be reached
and anything false discarded In the
sermon Sunday night by Rev Artema,
J. Haynes in the United church pul
pit just tribute was given to thu
work of Christian Science in using {
forgotten truth in the service of HUI
mainly and the irrational and un
Christian attitude of those who max,
unthinking attacks on this movement
was kindly pointed out We have n,
brief for this movement. but ventur,
simply to suggest that the best wa,
to approach any subject is with ever,
prejudice put aside and a purpose I,
know the truth. There is no doub
that the remedial and reconstructiv,
processes of Christianity in the earl,
church included the ministry Of heal
ing. 1t is clear that the attitude to
ward the work that the Christian
Science church is undertaking is grad
ually undergoing a change. At first /
was regarded as preposterous; thel
aid of law and the courts were invoke,
to forbid it: this was followed by
period of reflection, and now bill i
introduced in the Massa chusetts leg
islature authorizing II and Christian
churches here and there are seeking L
make use of the good there is in II
But this is the curious course tn
human mind has ever taken in an
preaching something new
The larger interest that Is beinl