The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-06-19
PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY
A Little Sermon on Matters That Each
Must Decide for Himself

Must Decide for Himself
The principles that are best for our
spiritual growth are the principles to
apply in our business. 1t is work-it
is scientific-it is scientific Christian
ity.
| have suggested that the ministers
preach practical Christianity. To
bring my past articles more forcibly
20 your minds, let me refer to the
statements of the Hon. Mason S.
Stone of Montpelier, superintendent
of Schools in Vermont. In his adj
dress before the Congregational state
convention, held at Randolph a few
days ago, under the heading Where
in the Church Fails he says: In the
minds of many the church is a deadish
institution because it lacks life, pur-
pose and program. 1t fails to adapt
itself to modern life and thought and
the preaching is not vital, direct cen
crete and businesslike. but has too
many reams of speculative philosophy
and too many creeds against lifeless
issues. Again he says Most church
es are dedicated as houses of worship,
rather than institutions of service;
the members are worshippers, rather
than workers, receivers rather than
| givers, believers, rather than doors.
The church not only must teach but
if must serve and when it comes to
its own. it will be more serviceable
and prosperous than at present
Last week my mind turned to the
membership of the church, which
would add acre may be divided into
three classes:
LIST. The Indifferent and needless.
End. The faithful and hard work
ing.
3rd. The aggressive and unsettled
To the second class the church must
look for its support. They pun along
the first class and sincerely strive
with the third who are apt to get
away from the church doctrine. Many
have become Christian Scientists but
here they are restricted again. fol-
Mrs. Eddy forbids their reading out
side teachings, lest they forget heI
positive statements and become neg
alive.
A man of unsettled spirit is bound
TO keep questioning and studying un
til he winds up outside the institution
because every organization must Aav'
it's creeds and bylaws. Then VII!
should you hold him back or condemn
! him? The creed that fits today may
not fit as well tomorrow and to stol
growing is death, If he keeps going
1 he is sure. to become an individualist
and the world will wake up to tn,
army of them in a few years to come
rhe churcn itself was founded by al
| individual. Christian Science is thu
| work Of an individual and it has Ger
i tainly proven many things concerning
the Real Man Many would have SAT-
the same of it that was said of Jesu.
| that it is the work of the devil, bu
the same answer holds true OF Mrs
Eddy and many of her followers, "Ta
devil cannot cleanse the devil"
| The coming Individualist, however
| will not form an institution. His CT
| is scientific christianity or more con
monty practical Christianity II
recognizes his life as an individual g,
preston of the one life He is guide
| by the law of suggestion prompted b
his inner consciousness. His churc
is the universe. His God is all an
in all His Sunday is every day an
u every sincere desire of his heart
= prayer. He would have you free
live your highest whether a Catholi
Protestant, Christian Scientist {
4 Spiritualist, knowing that "All thinl
y work together for good to them tn;
serve God"
Frederick T. Huntington.