Evening star., 1908-12-21
NEW BASIS FOR FAITH
Christmas Thoughts Voiced
From Many City PuIpits.
WORLD GETTING BETTER
Christian Love the All-Conquering
Power Over Sin.
CHURCH STRONGER THAN EVER
Lessons of the Season Impressed by
Pastors Upon Their Congrega-
tions in Holiday Sermons.
CHURCH STRONGER THAN EVER

The services in many OF the local
churches yesterday were in celebration Of
Christmas and the music and sermons
were appropriate to the holiday season.
Nearly all the auditoriums were deco
rated with Christmas greens, holly and
other plants.
Rev. John Van Schack. jr.. pastor Of
the Church of Our Father, preached yes
terday morning on 1.-The Wise Men and
the Shepherds Today
These old stories of the shepherds and
the wise men cannot be literally true,
he said in the course of his sermon.
speaking of the passages of the Bible
describing the scenes on the first Christ
mas morning.
The astrology of the oden days is not
recognized today he continued. signs
and omens are no longer regarded. In
the world of religion, well as in the
world of science. we admit that stars do
not leave their places and move bout
from place to place. These old stories
of the shepherds and the wise men cam
not be literally true. But whether they
be prose or poetry, history or legend. they
are full of beauty and suggestion.
My Christmas thought for today is
that these Christmas legends call to the
service of religion both the wise men and
the shepherds.
Religion for ALI.
Religion is not simply for the wise. It
is for the humble. 1t is not simply for
the humble. 1t is subject worthy to
engage the attention of the highest wis
dom of the age.
THE two things suggested by this com
prehensive call are the fundamental SIM
plicity of religion and the need Of scholar
ship in the church.
Nothing is more characteristic Of our
age than the better understanding Of the
fundamental simplicity Of religion.
with the coming OF the modern wise
men will be established new basis for
our faith. It will rest not on the infal-
libility of the church. 1t will rest not
on the infallbility Of the Book. 1t will
depend not on the accuracy of creed
the leadership Of a man. 1t will go
deep down for support to the funda-
upon the bedrock truth of the need of
man for God and the need of God for
man. 1t was upon this foundation that
religion was put by Jesus Christ.
Sin Is Being Conquered.
''sin is being conquered; holiness is
prevailing: the church is stronger than
ever" declared Rev. Wallace Radcliffe.
pastor of the New York Avenue Presby
terian Church. in his Christmas sermon
yesterday. He spoke on The Crowns of
Christ
Love makes the world go around"
declared DR.. Radcliffe in the course of his
sermon. 'It shouts today in song and gift
of home and friend and benefcent min
istry. Every heart confesses the impor-
l. l,~l
movement down the centuries. No pes
simism today. Sin is being conquered;
holiness is prevailing: the church is
stronger than ever. There Is better public
conscience because private conscience is
better. There is larger kingdom of God
in society, because more individuals are
brought into the kingdom of God. The
only redeemed society is the aggregation
of redeemed men. The only public con-
science is the aggregation of private con-
science conquered by Christ. The Chris
tian Of today is truer. juster, more faith
full living. and Christlike than the Chris
tian of the other years. To these causes
we bring the crown of our loyalty. Love
is the simplest as it is the greatest, thing.
Love is the first commandment 1t Is
the last commandment. It is the greatest
commandment. 1t is all the command
ments. For love Is the fulfilling OF the
law
Ennobling to the whole race. said DR..
E. F. Marshall to the congregation of
the North Capitol NJ. E. Church. is the
feeling of man that he is OF divine origin,
made in the image of God and fit to be
a brother Of Gods divine Son.
This, said the minister, lis our high
est proof that man belongs to two worlds.
Christ held constant communion with the
unseen world, and His departure from
this world showed Him to be master of
death. His resurrection and ascension
are the greatest victories for the race.
AS He arose. so shall we also.