The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-01-03

ourselves wholly within tne class OF
the so-called ethnic faiths. In other
words some OF us. too many of US in
fact. have become so broad that We
have become shallow, and so tolerant
that We have become vague, and so
good-natured that We have become
superficial. Too many have forgotten
that the heavens and the seas are
both wide and hospitable TO all and
deep. Because l shake the hand OF a
Mohammedan and have respect for
his convictions and admire his sSrcer-
ity and emphasize the points of agree
ment that exist between his system
and my own is no sign that l relin-
quish in any sense or fashion my con-
victions as TO the personality OF Jesus
Christ or the finality of the gospel
that He preached. Because l am
sensible enough TO see the clear evil
dences of the working of the Spirit
of God in faiths other than my own
is no reason why / should belittle, ac-
tually or inferentially, the supreme
consequence of Christian truth. For
IL is as clear as day that whatever
may be the undoubted excellencies of
other faiths there is no truth so COM
prehensive, no salvation so efficient,
no message SO ultimate, universal or
exacting as that which is comprised
in the Christian scheme OF things.
knowing that We should be tolerant
and at the same time fervent. we can
afford TO be-
Jesus was militantly righteous. He
had no use for the militarism of
Rome. Nor would He have any word
OF appreciation for the militarism OF
to-day. He was man of peace, ex-
cept when He was face TO face with
sin. He was peaceful in His attitude
toward sinners. He was militant
against their sin. Jesus was a fighter.
He carried the warfare into the enc
mics country. He could turn His
back upon the representative of or
ganized wickedness. He fought sin
with no care for the cost or the con-
| sequences 10 Himself But He was
no quarreller. He vas therefore diff
ferent from a host of His disciples.
The trouble with the church, among
other things, is this, that we quarrel
rather than fight. We seem TO enjoy
row among ourselves as much as
we fear 10 take up the cudgels of
truth for God and humanity and go
down to the warfare against wrong
wherever We may assail IL and what
ever may be the cost III some
! churches had a coat of arms a shil-
llalah rampant would have a promi-
nent place thereupon. We need TO
quit -scrapping" and begin To fight
sin For until we cease to belabor
each other, and besiege the strong
holds of sin we shall be neither true
disciples of Jesus nor credited among
the men who live in the busy world.
For We are called To warfare, and
the world knows the difference be-
tween a row, a sham battle and a
war
Jesus was man of optimistic fore.
sight. He had confidence He be
/ lieved what He preached. He did moi
discount sin or its power. He was
never foolish enough TO deny its ac-
| tuality and the grewsome evidences
of its activities. He was no pessimist.
| lie was not SO unwise as are some
contemporaneous optimists. But He
did have confidence in the future, in
the efficacy of His truth, in the suf-
ficiency OF the God of ages. He was
unlike too many Christians who seem
to take delight in declaring the work
of Transforming conditions that have
become intolerable impossible and
| hopeless. And III we are true disci-
pies of Him who never despaired we
shall have to cease to doubt the ca
| pacity of our truth or our Leader To
dissolve difficulties and to remove
mountains We must be sanely hope
! full.
A large outlook a catholic spirit. a
| militant righteousness, an optimistic
foresight, upon the pattern ont
wrought by Christ will rehabilitate
our forces and enthuse our member
ship and inspire our sonls and res lr.
rect our hold as church upon the
hearts of men. Aud IL is high time
We had them.