Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-09-03
THE PULPIT.
4 BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV, S. II. COX.
Subject: Church Of the Future.

Brooklyn, N. Y.-The Rev. Sydney
Herbert Cox, in an address to the
people of the Congregational Church
of the Evangel, of which he is pastor,
spoke of "The Church of the Future"
such a church as he would like to see
built and sustained. Among ether
things he said:
The Church of the Evangel-Con-
gregational-is free in its offer OF
church membership to any persons
who, without accepting it's creed as a
test, will make a single and simple
confession, that they believe Jesus to
be the supreme expression to men, in
human form, OF what God is like, and
what He would have us become. This
is what we mean by modernism. That
the life Of a church depends not
upon its creed, but upon its spirit.
Therefore we do not insist that any
one else shall accept Our creed in the
exact terms in which We interpret
it.. It is impossible for a thinking
man not to have a creed OF some
sort. But as Congregationalists we
agree to differ upon all matters that
we deem unessential. We believe
that the example Of the life of Jesus
as we have it in the four gospels is
sufficient to make any nan who will
try it such a man as God would ac-
cept as His eternal friend, and help
toward perfection Of character.
Therefore we ask of a man who
wishes to join our church, not what
does he think concerning the lead
ing religious doctrines of his day, but
does he believe in following Jesus as
the Master OF men and is he honest
ly trying to Go so? His creed only
interests us as the intellectual ex-
pressions of his moral and religious
character. He depends for his au-
thority in religion exactly as we do,
upon direct communication with
Gods spirit. So, in this intellectual
attitude toward religion, we do not
decry or unkindly criticise those
other religious bodies whose adher-
ents differ very widely from our
view. We believe firmly and CRATE
fully that Greek and Roman Catholi-
cism, all forms Of Professionalism,
Unitarian and Trinitarian, as well
as Judaism, have each contrib
uted much to the worlds religious
life, and that even the faiths Of the
Orient, both ancient and modern,
have been a part Of Gods growing
revelation to the world.
The social message Of Christianity
has long been misunderstood or ne
elected. Now it is being proclaimed
everywhere, and no live church can
escape it's appeal. In the church we
are to build, and the work we seek
to GO, we must recognize it's place.
I have spent ten years amid social
problems, six years in the Hell's
Kitchen section Of Manhattan Island.
I believe that my experience has
equipped me in some humble way tc
up a church that shall represent The
life Of God in the souls of men.
I do not need to proclaim myself
a Socialist Of any brand, nor to joir
some new ism, in order to love my
fellow men and serve them. To MT
the biggest opportunity in life is
to be a Chrfstian-a Christ's man, tt
serve men. What kind of a church
then, do I hope to see built and 70.
what work?
Christianity and Socialism alik'
seek the development Of an eficien
society, a social order of stabl
equilibrium. But Christianity in
sists that there can be no p~erfecte'
society, except by the regeneratio,
Of each individual. It is not enoug.
to provide a perfect environment Q
justice and live by the most beauti
full socialistic legislation; there mus
be a moral power in each person
causing him to fit in to such a pei
feet society! Such a moral poWe
can never be produced by perfet
economic and social legislation, BIT
by the making Of a new moral ma
in each individual by some Divin
power outside himself. Such
power has not been found outsid
Jesus Christ, however He is to
interpreted.
If the Christian religion is
make each individual an emcie1
member of society, it can only do
as it perfects each function of tn;
individual man. The Christian r
ligion must improve his body as we
as his mind and soul. 1t cam
achieve M and neglect either.
Doth Of the others.
Our supreme work, however,
he culture of the soul. Few of
can define what we mean by the so,
:. But all Of us understand what
. meant by the culture of the so,
: n phrase appeals to me more al
more powerfully as I grow .olde
The development and enrichment
the highest powers within us so tn
We feel our personality ennobled
y the kindling of sacred fires and t
= consciousness of divine passions on
= which we know this transitory wo1
y has no ultimate dominion. The Ct
: ture of the soul involves for me thr
IT elements: worship, education a
work.
l What is worship? 1t is devotie
d instruction, evangelism. In de,
h ton mans soul expresses his era
:, tude to God for life and it's hop
. his contrition for conscious sin. a
% his prayer for strength to endure t
l. discipline of his spiritual educati,
and to achieve his final spiritual v
tory v the lower and sinful Sc
l By instruction man seeks to acuu
~ in orderly possession by sure kno7
st edge those doctrines Of faith VIII
describe in his own language the
~ periences through which he
"a passed, or those which he hopes
possess and believes to be a part
his eternal inheritance from
ny Father, God.