The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-03-08

falsehood; and into Theosophy and
Spiritism, the deceptions of the fallen
ngels-demOnism? How comes 1t
that all these unscriptural theories
now flourish whereas only century
ago Gods word was respected and its
doctrines were studied by Christian
people of various and conflicting
Crcods? The answer Is that with the
increasing light of our day the creeds
of the past are seen to be fallacious.
irrational. by all who use their think.
ing apparatus. Tie leaders In the va.
rious Churches discovered this in ad.
vance of their nocks. They promptly
and reverently set their creeds on a
high shelf where the people might net
so particularly notice their flaws. but
might continue their reverence for
them, until gradually their attention
would be drawn aside and their hope
and faith trunspanted to Evolutionary
soil or Theosophistic aud Spiritualistic
chllds play
with the decline of Christian doc
trines, including heart union with
Aylll inl ullh dh VI 10
terms and conditions, Churchianity
came in, to take the place of Christ
anity. Today the pride of all denomi-
nations centers, not in their doctrines.
but in their institutions. The people
are no longer eXhOrted to hold fast to
the doctrines Of NetEodism, Calvin
ism. etc. but 70 bcld FIST to the Sys-
knt ra1
to think of their system as being the
only one, outside OF which there would
be no salvation, bu% they are encour-
aged to cultivate partisan spirit.
which takes pride In their organlza-
tlon, Its we tn, the value OF its church
property. the largeness Of its collec-
tions the Grandeur OF its music, the
wisdom, learning and ability of its
preachers. and the fashion and wealth
of It's cons tuency.
1t Is not our wish to offer single
unkind or 1brotherly criticism. 1t l..
our duty and privilege, however, 10
point out that the creed doctrines Cf
the various denominations, now set cH
the shelf as too frail and imperfect to
stand handling and investigation. are
not and never were the doctrines of
Christ and the Apostles. II Is our duty
and pleasure to show forth to Chris
tlan people to the extent of our ability
that the teachings Of the Bible, the
doctrines of Christ, are grand, noble.
reasonable worthy of all accepta-
tion." TO the extent that we succeed
in doing this we are bringing bach
strnying Christians from the deceptive
bogs OF Evolution and Illgher-Cit
cism to the firm foundation. the solid
rock of Truth-God's Word.
"The Wounds of a Friend"
"Falthful are the wounds OF n
friend" is the Divine assurance. We
cannot, therefore, better show our
friendship and Christian love to our
brethren than by pulling down from
| the shelf their reverenced creeds and
repair. II every church could be thus
induced to- pull down its creed-idol
the present Laodicean stage of the
Church would speedily come to its
senses, as suggested by our Lord
Then, Instead of feeling themselves
rich and Increased In goods and hay.
Ing need of nothing, our dear Chris
tian brethren of all denominations
would realize the meaning of oui
Lords words.-that Churchanity as O
whole today IL poor and naked and
miserable and wretched and bllnt
Qtevelatlon iii, 1I-22). As Christian.
Of all denominations we have cause ol
rejoicing that we have outgrown the
trundle-bed creeds of the past and tina
we can no longer wrap ourselves com
rorlably In the narrow blgotvy Of er
ror, The Lord caused this to be writ
ten in the lOng-ago through the proph
cts, saying, For the bed Is shorte
than that man can stretch himsel
on Il; and the covering narrower thai
that lie can wrap himself In it, Qsaial
xviii 20l. II In connection with thi
growth which has come TO us and b.
which we have nobler conception
than had our forcfuthcrs OF the right
OF man under the Golden rule 1t is
cause FOR rejoicing. Even though tn
transition has been accompanied by
great falling away into Iligher-Crtl
ci3m, mllel'ty, Evolution, etc, never
theless even these errors are in man
respects preferable to the blindncs
ord hlgotry Happy are we, dca
, trcUdS it, the eyes of our understand
lpg being opened cur hearts are led {
a closer WINK with God, a more care
ful aud praycrfu study OF his Wore
and to subsequent growth In gac
and In the fruits OF the holy Spirit.
DO some Inquire for clearer specihcC
fion respecting The features Of th
1 cr1pls put upon the shelf, which W
, think should hc 10 longer cared for, bu
, allowed 10 fallj We answer That d
COURSE tlcra are good features In a
0t our rrs sds- truths which win neyC
g'l rGt With these truths are nike
the errors which are. IA the prover
says, Dead dies THAT cause the din
r neut 20 stink Ollcclcsiastes y, |
! There Is plenty more Of the olutuer
. IN GODS word II Is Indeed the "hali