Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-23
Not Based on Authority or
Bound by Creed.
SURGEON TO BE MINISTER
Prevention It's Watchword and Not
Consolation.
RELIGION FOR GOTH CENTURY
Promises of Future Have Delayed
Observation-Disclosures to
Prevail.

BOSTON. July 23-Charles W. Eliot.
president emeritus of Harvary University
sity, outlined in an address before the
Harvard Summer School of Theology yes
terday afternoon his idea of the new re-
iigion-that of the twentieth century-a
religion not based upon authority or deal
ing in promises of future compensations-
religion among whose ministers would
be the skillful surgeon, whose aim would
be prevention. not consolation.
"You have been studying this year"
said DIR. Eliot. about changed views of
religion and increased knowledge, new
ideas of God, as seen along many lines;
you have learned that social progress has
been modified and that energy is being
conserved.
From these and other indications you
must believe that religion is not fixed.
but fluent, and that 1t changes from CEN
fury to century. Such, indeed, has been
the case.
Twentieth Century Religion.
1.-THE progress in the nineteenth century
far outstripped that of similar periods.
and il is fair To assume that the progress
of the twentieth century will bring about
what 1 call the new religion. First. l
shall tell you what this new religion Will
not be- and second what it will be.
THE new religion will not be based
upon authority, either spiritual or tenn
poral: the present generation is ready to
be led. but not driven AS rule, the
older Christian churches have relied on
authority.
But there is now tendency toward
liberty and progress. and among educated
men this feeling is irresistible. In the
new religion there will be no personifica-
ton of natural objects: there will be no
dedication of remarkable human beings,
and the faith will not be racial or tribal
"A new thought of God will be it's
characteristic. The twentieth century re-
ligion accepts literally ST. Paul's state
ment: In Him We live and move and
have our being.
Monotheistic Creed
"This new religion will be thoroughly
monotheistic. God will be so imminent
that no intermediary will be needed. For
ever man God will be multiplication of
infinities. A humane and worthy idea of
God then will be the central thought of
the new religion.
This religion rejects the idea that
man is alien or d fallen being, who is
hopelessly wicked. 1t finds such beliefs
inconsistent with worthy idea of God.
Man has always attributed to man
spirit associated but independent of the
body. This spirit is shown in a mans
habits, in his appearance and actions-in
short, ii is his personality, it is the most
effective part of every human being. In
the crisis of battle it is superior soul
that rallies the troops, and it appeals to
souls-not to bodies.
The new religion will admit no sac
raments. except natural, hallowed Gus
toms. and II will deal with natural inter-
pretations of such rites. Its priests will
strive to improve social and Industrial
conditions. 1t will not attempt to recon
cile people to present ills by the promise
of future compensation.
Freedom Delayed by Old Faiths.
Il believe the advent of just freedom
for mankind has been delayed for CEN
turtles by such promises.
Prevention will be the watchword of
the new religion. and skillful surgeon
Will be one of it's ministers. 1t cannot
supply consolation as offered by old
religions, but will reduce the need of
consolation.
The new religion will laud Gods love
and will not teach condemnation for the
mass of mankind.
The true end of all religions and
philosophy is to teach man to serve his
feiioW-man, and this religion will do this
increasingly. 1t will not be bound by
dogma or creed. Its workings will be
simple, but its field of action limitless
Its discipline will be the training in the
development Of cooperative good will.
Again and again different bodies of
people such as Spiritualists and Christian
Scientists have set up new cults But the
mass of people stay by the church. Since
there will be undoubtedly more freedom
in this century, 1t may be argued that 1t
Will be difficult to unite various religions
under this new head. But such unity, l
believe. can be accomplished on this basis
the love of God and service to ones
fellow-man
There are already many signs of ex-
tensive co-operation-democra individu-
alism. ideaiism, tendency to welcome
the new and preventive medicine Final
~, believe the new religion will make
Christs revelation seem more wonderful
than ever to US