The Newtown bee., 1909-01-01

| AASnstHt NuFs w "ts Hipis ai"h WIT
 querers, for to-day the church is mani
 festing such purpose in it's actua
 work that 1t ought to afford us inpsi
 ration and quickening power. Witness
 the great young peoples movements
 within the church, the enthusiastic
 inception of the brotherhood idei
 among men, the meetings in which the
 church and laboring men are coming t
 understand one another, the strong
 influence for morality exerted by hei
 members in high public office, and,
 above all, the marvellous way in which
 the church has sent her messengers tt
 all parts of the world. The twentieth century presents the great modern mir
 acle of missions. Surely the organiz-
 ation that is accomplishing these re-
 suits has reason to enter the battle with confidence.
 And now we come to an element of primal significance. We have seen that
 the modern spirit of materialism has invaded the church, that it's ravages
 have laid waste many fair fields.
 Over against this, the church must set with unyielding confidence the great fundamental truth of all religion that the spiritual is the only eternal and abiding verity. It must proclaim
 with Paul that the things which are seen are temporal, while the things which are not seen are eternal. IL must hold with unwavering fidelity to the basal thesis that all reality is the expression of spirit. It must confident ly assert, even in the face of materi- alistic age, that the things of sense are unable and unreal, and that the things of the spirit are permanent and abid- ing. It must never forget that the universe is Gods work, that righteous ness and love are primal, that in the last resort truth, and not error, will be victorious. It will, therefore, re- joice in all forms of activity which make for righteousness. It will not be- moan extra church Christianity, but rather glory in 1t.
 It will unhesitatin gly, unfalteingly go forward and in the very midst of apparent death, never doubt the truth of all'religion, that the spiritual is the eternal and. .that God abides.
 f Again, arising out of all the pre- ceding elements, there emerges the truth that Christianity involves hope full, courageous warfare; that the only true church is the church mi li- cant, that the ideal church must ever include the necessity of battling against imperfection, evil and unright- eousness. The true church is the over coming church. It recognizes without dismay or despair the great defects of its organization and its work, but undaunted it sees that evils exist to be cast down. Conscious of its own weakness, it thereby renews its strength. Rejoicing in its glorious heritage and noble fruition it doubles its conscious power. Confident in the ultimate victory of truth and right eousness, it goes forth to battle to overcome, to be victorious. The church that overcometh, this is the church which IS true to its heritage and its mission.
 In short, the spirit which the church needs to-day is intense loyalty to it's great Captain, Jesus Christ. He en- tered the conflict. Against scribes and pharisees, against every form of sham, unreality, selfshness and loveliness, He cast His great strength. He came not to bring peace but sword. The seer on the Isle of Patmos behe Id his warrior Master and described Hlm thus: "Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged word; and his coun- tenance was as the sun shlneth in his strength His combat was always hopeful and confident. No note of dis couragement ever marred His words. "Think not that I cannot beseech my rather, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of an gels?" His confidence and loyalty to the Father gave birth to victory. He entered the conflict, He hoped, He overcame. "In the world ye have trib- llation, but be of good cheer, l, even [, have over come the world" He that overcometh, will give to him to sit down with me, in my throne. even as overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne" Jesus conveyed the same spirit to His disciples. He sent forth the twelve, Paul, the ,hurch. to overcome. He. sends us forth ,n the same mission. He summons IS to none other life than the over coming life He desires no other church han the church that overcometh.