The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-29

Is right in judging creed by conduct.
A man may not take refuge from his
failure to square himself in the
worlds eyes by whimpering that he is
not understood.
There is a language that is never
misunderstood, in earth or in Heaven,
and that is the language of practical
conduct. If a man is tight-fisted;
crafty, usurious, unmerciful, and
blind to the claims of his neighbors
where as a religious man, though he
make prayers as long as one of Paurs
letters, and dot the landscape with
memorial churches. "As the body
apart from the spirit is dead" even
so faith apart from works is dead
has sought to weed out credal here
tics. Better far would it be for her
to pluck out the dead members of the
sort described by James. who are a
contamination and reproach.
Who Was the More Religious?
Two men were holding a coftro-
Versy concerning orthodoxy short
time ago. One was inclined to deny
to all who did not hold his faith the
right hand of fellowship or any hope
of divine favor. He would give them
no hearing and scant charity. In his
earnestness he cited by name a per-
son known to both, whom he said was
away OFF, in belief.
The other rejoined: 81 grant that in
some matters of belief this person is
not as fixed as you or I; yet in the
practical religion of actual good
works and in the spiritual attitude of
reverence and devotion, which is the
foundation of all religion, she is more
religious than either you or /" But
the first man had evidently not been
reading his Epistle of James. He
could not conceive of Gods viewing
with 60 hltrt nd r.
full and seeking and charitable spir-
it as this common friend. because. for
sooth. her credal subscription was not
orthodox. The religion of James is
the religion of his Brother and oLrd:
the religion of his Brother and Lord:
Lord shall enter into the Kingdom;
but he that doth the will of my Faith
er which is in Heaven"
AssaiIing Friendly Church.
The twentieth century is not in
terested in any religion that does not
produce good works. Social service
has come to be the accepted test of
church's right to live. The
liberal" sects have made them
selves strong in popular favor be-
cause they have emphasized mans
obligation to God. 1t is a point for
the most serious consideration of
theologians and religious leaders. in
the present state of religious
Orthodox sects have been as strong
or stronger than their critics in their
ministry to mankind. Assuredly the
sterility of formal reiigiosity can
have no defenders in these times.
One denomination has been
thrown into considerable agitation,
in which a large body of the public
shares, over the criticisms upon
Trinity church. in New York. The
great newspapers and denomina-
tional organs and public speakers,
both in and out of the church. as
we'll as innumerable private critics,
have hurled their severest con-
domination upon the Trinity corpora
ton, primarily because it has lived
for itself, and not for service. 1t
has considered before the welfare of
people the prosperity of Trinity's in
vestments. 1t has not even paid its
current expenses out of the contribu-
lions of its own members. but has
drawn on the money Which 1t has
made of tenements and other invest
ments. Its missionary contributions
have been pitiably small. 1t has the
unenviable distinction of being the
richest ecclesiastical corporation in
America, but despite ALE that may be
said in it's favor. it has come to be
SYNONYMOUS with the sort of church
pointing the finger Of scorn. AT the
Judgment bar of public opinion. as
well as of Christian truth. Trinity
has been called to make answer;
and has promised to mend its ways,
This criticism of a wealthy church
cornoration is really a wholesome
sign. 1t shows that our day is de-
manding that Christianity make
good according to the standards of
its founder The sentiment of the
civilized world dooms the non-Chris-
tan faiths, because they are not pro-
ducing. in the social order which
they dominate, the spirit of helpful
ness, brotherhood. and progress.
Therefore they must go. even as
Christianity would have to go IL 1t
did not do the works of Jesus. No
creed confessed can save a man from
the Judgment of this present world
if that creed is not certified by an
unselfish, brotherly life.