Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-31
"GdE CHURCH IN OUR TOWN"
Reflections and Observations Of an
Omaha Critic.
u REASONS FOR ALLEGED FAILURE
Does Not satisfy "the Intelligence Of
the People, Their Reason or
Their Northumberland
of Science Ignored.

of Science Ignored.
The church in Omaha is a failure, its
teachings more fable than TRUTH II ig-
nores the truths OF science, psychology
and ethics, and does not satisfy the peo-
Pies intelligence. their reason or their as
pirations. are a few Of the assertions made
by DIR. l.. A. Merriam OF Omaha, in a paper
contributed to Golfers Weekly series on
The Church In Our Town"
Ministers and church people generally
will be interested in the reasons Or. Mer-
riam gives for his sweeping indictment,
hence the paper, unabridged, follows:
The church in our town is not a success,
because It does not teach the truth. The
people are in earnest, and anxious to know
the facts, and the truth. as to their origin,
existence, purpose and future. The church
does not satisfy their intelligence, their
reason or their aspirations. The people
would go to church n they were taught the
truths OF modern science. psychology and
ethics instead OF the fables of antiquity
the folklore OF an early and ignorant peo-
pie, used by king, prince, priest and po-
tentate, to enslave their minds, and make
them submissive to the ruling classes, who
always robbed them, just the same they
are doing everywhere today. The church
should teach modern science, and the prin-
clples OF psychology and ethics as they are
taught In the new philosophy Of this TWEEN
tieth century. The church should lead the
people to eternal and varied nature, and by
the aid of the sciences, TO the fact, that
universal and eternal law everywhere pre-
walls. No one can. or will deny this uni
versal power, or energy in nature.
what Science Has shown.
,,aN., al
power or energy Is called The Great
!, Esprit" The oversoul," The Infinite" or
I God" 1t exists, and all recognize 1t. Sci
= ence has shown that matter has been ana
Z lyzed, not only into molecules, and atoms,
but also into ions. or elastic units Of en-
ergy. Matter Is latent energy, evolved out
Of cosmic ether. in which consciousness in
heres. and its ultimate analysis is the uni
versal mind OF the Infinite. Whatever ex-
lists is but the exponent OF this universal
Mind, the expression OF the Divine thought
Man, himself is but an individual spark
4 Of the Infinite subject to natures eterna
( laws, and ever In a state Of constant flux
or onflow. from lower to higher forms Of
development. Evolution is natures methot
OF work, or the plan of the Great Infinite
Mind, as all modern science and philosophy
reveals the truth to US.
Natures Forces.
Mind is a subtle form Of static energy
one Of natures forces, just as much as Is
light, heat. electricity, chemical action OIL
the force of gravity. and thought is dy
mamie phase of mind. Thoughts are menta
things and tend to become material things
Our desires are seed thoughts, which VIZ
SOW and reap action. We each constitute
thought magnet and we attract thos'
that are like us, and II we live right, anC
think right, can make our bodies fine
and our mentality greater. There Is NJ
such thing dead matter All matter 4
living matter and all so called forces arr
living forces Of eternal energy, the expires
sion OF tho Irfinite mind. Intelligence is no
product OF matter, sut all material sub
stance is the product OF mind and is regu
lated by infinite an1 eternal law, for tn
Infinite is eternal and unvarying law. Sci
ence demonstrates that all the forces o
nature are correlatlve and convertible
There is but one force In nature and that /
infinite energy Infinite mind Man is
part of that Infinite mind. No force en-
ergy is ever lost. Mans mind is correlate
Nih the Infinite mind, hence mans min
newer dies There Is no death In the uni
verse. There is only change, transition, de
velopment, evolution. Eternal law rules 4
the domain OF mind and soul, as everywher
else. Psychology is built on physiolog!
( Ethics is built on psychology Right an
wrong, good and evil, are relative terms
y and governed by natural law. All the force
of nature can be used just in proportion 9
they are understood and obeyed
Eternal Laws.
The universal cosmic ether contain
\ within itself the potenuaities OF all sui
stance. all energy and out of 1t, or from
has been evolved all that has ever beef
is now or ever will be. Thoughts are thing
and build character. Thoughts build tn
body and keep it, develop II or destroy
y food thoughts make the body. soul and III
pure, strong, serene and glad. Only o,
own deeds hinder u.s. only our ow
will fetter us. Forgiveness OF sin is
myth. Nature is inexorable Consequence
sure Nature, or God is absolute ju
tice. Wrongs must be righted. Recompen
must be made. The life must be dived. II
life lived is true exponent of a man
principles. We are living in eternity tods
as much as we ever win be. Life is
develL oment of soul, an eternal evolutio
The soul never dies. II Is Immortal. A
science is In harmony with this idea A
men are brothers
Development OF soul and service to h
manity is the chief requisite. Purificati,
OF the body by correct living, eating al
drinking Is absolutely essential TO a W,
developed mind and soul. To eat a bake
fried or boiled corpse. very common ever
where does not favor pure blood. pu
bodies pure thoughts. Law reigns s
~preme, Obedience to law is the condition
well being both in this world and the ne,
When the rudiments. principles and teac
ings OF modern science modern ethics al
modern philosophy are taught to the peoT
by the preachers then The Church In q
Town" and elsewhere will be filled to he
tho truth, while fossilized and clamn
ereeds will be brushed away forever a
the brotherhood OF man be a living reallt
FED MISTRESS INTO MACHIN