Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-06
THE CHURCH Of TODAY.


We take pleasure in acknowledging
the courtesy OF Rev. Joseph Henry
Croker In sending us his excellent
treatise on "The Church of Today" 1t
is a thoughtful presentation of a sub
ject in which all followers of tho MAJ
arene should be interested. and 1t Is
very timely
Mr.. Croker starts With the PROPOSE
tion that the most urgent problem in
the religious world today is How
shall we create and spread abroad
widely among men a clearer under
standing and deeper conviction OF the
need and worth of the Christian church
as an institution He argues that
many of the contrivances to attract au-
diences are calculated TO make de-
vout man profhne.' and that many So
cletles of religious character fail to
make the churches any stronger. 1T Is
a serious question, he says. whether
these agencies are even evidences OF
general religious growth"
The author then discusses the OBJ
istacies In the way Of the church.
Among these are, the stress and strain
of modern life; Sunday work. Sunday
amusements; Sunday newspapers and
magazines; foreign travel; modern fiat
life; and the multiplication OF broth
erhoods" and clubs. The influence OF
such competitors is seen In the decrease
of students of theology; the lack OF
interest In books on theology; in the
sensatlonaiism of some of the puplts;
the failure of congregations to increase
in proportion to the increase OF the pop
ulatlon; ard in many other particulars.
The author then shows the value Of the
church to the state. He shows that II
Is needed nov more than ever and par
ticularly MS a representative of the
teachings Of the Master
This Is a brief outline of the little
book. The following extracts VIII give
an idea OF the style and logic OF the
author;
Can anyone adequately describe how
great service the church performs for
human society when II develops II great
eoul, and then preserves the memories
aud ministries associations and aspira-
lions OF that noble life within the
treasury OF It's organization where all
this spirituality operates to educate
and enrich other llyes2'
ut Is In the church that men ara
most impressed with the deep sense Of
moral responsibility, for there alone are
they trained under the eve of God ana
Win reference to their future destiny
Therefore II Is not an extreme claim
that the church does more than any
other agency to create the conscience
headed nFhs
market place"
III is the office OF science TO discover
truth; II Is the function OF the church
TO make all llcls 1--we In tho lives OF
men. The one Eliminates the face OF
nature; the other vltalizes human
hearts with ethical motives, Therefore
the more truth scientific discovery may
present TO the world, the greater the
need OF the church to make this truth
effective and productive In human char
acter"
1T Is the only institution that minis.
tiers, directly ana specifically To man
as AN immortal being. The church
alone addresses man as tie Son of
God. who is the heir OF eternity"
We can conceive OF no greater service
religious teachers OF today otn render
fNN'f 'NA'N Th'HA WAN ~ Nhilllh AHilI
attention to the need OF the world OF
visible organized church representa-
tive OF the Lord and Redeemer. Many
have lost sight or the fact that the
church Is an organization. They are en-
crossed In contemplation OF the IN
visible church 70 such an extent that
they ignore It's status as an institution
With a mission among men on earth. II
us wen, therefore TO preach THE visible
church" II should cause inquiry
The church, or ecclosia, IN ancient
Greee was "a congregation" But It
was not promiscuous congregation. II
WAS representative assembly-palled
together under certain rules and for
sss!t..iii, iyelt defined purposss. i, was
parliament. a congress The members
came together when duly called. 70
transact business pertaining 10 The