The new South-news., 1908-11-28
THE PUL1E.
N eLooVeNv suvoAx sGe&1o .,
The REV. n. MAArW. ~. o.


IN The rirst Church Of Christ tDlaei-
piesj. the pastor. the Rev. Herbert
Martin. Pm. d. preached on Religion
and Life" The text was from John
I0:10:-l came that they may have
life. and may have II sbundantly.
DR.. Martin said
Christ came not to teach 4 theol-
ogy primarily. II at all. but 10 give
life. more life. He came to give life
to others rather than live 4 seif-cen-
cred life. came that they may have
life He came to give life here and
now His emphasis was upon the
present life. lie that hath the Son
hath life. Life In the future II 4
rorAllary to present life. To have life
here and nov Is The only guarantee.
the only possibility OF future life.
The value and need Of religion for
the present life are being emphasized
to-day ~ at no time since the early
Chris'lan era. This Identification OF
ligion a normal phenomenon In hu-
man experience. Religion has long
suffered because OF its almost ex-
elusive other-world emphasis. Its re-
moval to the future as the proper
sphere OF Its activity. Its other world
advantages caused men to regard 1t
Rs an abstract, vague and unreal. and
10 treat II az having little practical
bencnt for the present. Under such
conditions religion would be dlsre-
tarded, or. II accepted. It would be In
an almost altogether objective way as
precautionary measure, and thus
never become a vital element in the
program Of daily life. The normal
man is Intensely interested In the
present. and In the sweet by-and-by
only as It IL related TO his present
interest II religion is TO cut any
real figure in this life It can do so only
ms It links itself to and Identifies itself
with hts present interests. And this
religion is capable Of doing. and is
doing The Master identified Himself
with the life OF the people. in fact.
He came that lie might give life TO
the people.
The same hopeful sign In discovera-
BILE In the educational world. Com
pare the curricula OF the schools and
colleges OF other days with those OF
to-day and how evident Is the differ
cnce. Education as preparation for
living In the far future. even Of the
present life. does not and never did
appeal to the normal mind unless the
appeal was effected through q liberal
application OF physical force. Since
the days OF Rousseau education as
mere preparation has gradually and
beautifully fallen into dIsrepute. Ed
ucators have discovered the practical
ly complete absorption OF the child In
the present. They have discovered.
furthermore, that even the young
child must live while being educated.
and that as such It must enjoy certain
rights. Az a result OF these discov-
cries education IL no longer mere
formal process whose goal Is utterly
remote from tho present life inter-
csts. Education aims to equip the
student sov pr~r~uy living sine3 SH'-
must live while hd Is In process OF
being educated Ybu cannot tnke a
boy of fifteen years and educate him
for some position at thirty and ex-
pect him to MI that position satisfac-
torily II you wholly disregard the fact
that he lives and must live from
fifteen to thirty. Modern education
takes note OF this and seeks. while
looking toward the future. to qualify
the student in the largest way to live
the fullest life in the present days and
by so living will he be able to realize
those future expectations. In addi-
tion to form. education gives content.
or better. to-day minds are formed
and fashioned by giving them a con-
tent Education and religion seek to
vitalize the present and out OF It to
make possible the future Their aim
is one. inspired by the Master. to give
more life.
Jesus came with life for the peo-
pie and brought II to the people. He
sought the people. He went out at
ter them instead OF waiting for the
people to come to Him. His life was
one OF faith In God and service to
and among men. lie came to min
lister. and did minister. lie came to
give life and He gave It every day
The life OF men was being enriched
and ennobled as He gave Himself.
His life to them each day. The CIV
Ing OF His life on the cross was, from
this point OF view. the final act Of
that life which was. par excellence,
the life-giving life. Organized re-
liSion II beginning to go out after
and to the people. Churches have
long since ceased TO be built whose
entrances are guarded by iron gates
and padlocks. strangers welcome, ="
that condescendinE phrase, does not
appear 30 frequently on our church
signs. Religion has girded herself
for service. She Is working In the
Young Mems and Young Womens S
Christian Associations. and 10 found
in settlement and Stun work. Her
voice is heard In the factory MONDAY
meetings, on the street corners. in
the theatres and in all the busy
haunts of men. Organized religion Is
hearing the Masters voice. Is .Satch-
ing His Inspiration who said, II came
that the. may have life" So OF edu-
cation. II is being given TO the peo-
PIE. 1t is no longer the peculiar
privilege of the few. The people are
being sought out and compelled TO be
educated Education is for the peo-
pie and is being given to the people.
Education aims to give more life
to the individual. and more life for
more individuals. II is true that
knowledge enlarges ones world and
contributes to his survival His hori-
Kon is widened. his ideas and ideals
are enlarged, he discovers a deeper
meaning in things. life takes on other