The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-08-28

world has no other literature com.
parable 10 the Hebrew Scriptures
OF the Old Testament and the Chris.
tian writings of the New Testament
These writings. library Of sixty
six books, commonly called by us
the Bible, constitute maryelous
book of life. with every variety of
human experience, written in every
type OF literary presentation. and
possessed all through by marvellous
moral power. spiritual illumina.
tion and grip on mans moral being
which make this Bible something
in mans life which he cannot avoid
without moral loss, and cannot read
without spiritual reproof and re-
morse or defiance or renentapce. The
Bible must be reckoned with. Man
has a right 10 its constant perusal
and self-interpretation which some
churches deny 10 him. Millions of
our fellow men go through life un.
conscious of this priceless posses
sion. which, IL they once realized its
existence and value. they would give
al, else 10 be able 10 enjoy and nos
sess. Millions more in Protestant
Christendom come 10 years of ma
turity utterly ignorant Of the real
value and moral vitality of this great
book of God. and though nominally
accepting its contents at their pre-
sumed face value. place no actual
reliance upon it as a source OF life.
This Is partly due 10 an unreal meth
cd of Interpretation, partly 10 an
unreal theological authority, and
partly dne 10 its exclusion from our
public system OF education as
literature for literary analysis and
examination, and as a great treasure
house of moral information capable
OF being memorized without re-
course 10 sectarian explanation or
ecclesiastical influence of sinister de-
sign. No Congregationalist believes
in State aid 10 religious commune
ties or ecclesiastical objects. Let
every religious organization stand or
fall, live or die. according as it eX-
fall, live or die, according as it
gives IL n right TO live in a free at
mosphere which is guaranteed as
necessity of life. How then is Bible
study 10 be pursued? BY oquipping
every church as a thorough Bible
school with every modern facility
known TO pedagogy, philosophy,
psychology and religious admins
tration.
The churches of the future CEN
turies will only live as they are
worthy to live with the advancing
sciences of government. industry
and education.
We are TO do the work of build
ing up men in Christian character.
Not merely moral men, or educated
men, or civilized men, but men re-
deemed and reconstructed in charac-
ter by the power OF a Person whom
we love and worship as the Christ of
God. and apart from whom we do
not believe this spiritual life of re-
generation is possible.
This work demands that each
member of the Christian church
shall do his share. II demands that
we shall live and work for the COM
munity all the time. Not for our
selves-the community and the
community Father will care for us.
Some souls need worship, some need
social life, some need good books,
some need physical culture, az the
starting point of new intellectual
life or spiritual passion. The Chris.
tian church can sanctify all these
modes OF renewing mems life. 1t
must be a working institution. Open
at all reasonable hours. for all ra-
tional purposes that aid In religious
development. 1t must be the great
spiritual centre from which radiates
the religious strength OF the homes
that stand around II and to which
comes the spiritual response that null
tiplies and maintains its power and
resources.