The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-11

rs the Zeit-geist blind? Being inter-
preted, this question means. Are we
i lust happening to do things In this
new age, without definite control or pur-
pose? Is there no manifest destiny
working itself out, no hand Of God in
history in this modern-day; no unifying
force or principle by which one may In
terpret all the happenings, discover all
the currents and perceive how they sew
erally contribute a certain volume to the
Stream of Things making for righteous
ness? If there is such a single explain
atory principle, how may one find It?
find the answer, strangely and paradox
ically enough, in the very non-conformi-
ty of free minds, the virile individuality
Of our national conscience. The more
varietyq the more unity, since the variety
is only the Individual utterance and ex-
preston of human nature. Ultimately
mankind is one man, and his myriad
types of conscience conform to single
ethical intuition. That conscience today
is religiously practical. For instance
there is said to be great diminution
of candidates for the ministry In all
churches. To fill the void, men OF In
ferior education are being drafted into
the pulpits, say the dealers in ecclesiasti-
cal statistics But let us set side by side
with that fact this: Many secretaries
of the charity organization societies, or
associated charities, were formerly min
listers of the gospel in active service" Is
there now any relation between those
phenomena? Is there any connection be-
tween theological changes and ecclesias-
teal problems, on the one hand, and the
tremendously wide-awake philanthropy OF
American cities on the other hand? Can
II be that these who formerly were min
listers are only extending their church
activities and retaining for the gospel
its lost link with average mankind? Is
the old invasion of the world into the
church being answered by counter In
vasion of the church into the domains too
long surrendered to neglect and hap
hazard benevolence? Already instances
are multiplying Of municipal churches
"civic churches, labor temples" and
so forth, all of them attempts to make
business-lke as well as God-like the
service of the weak and needy by the
strong and resourceful. or better still.
the frank fellowship Of all citizens.
AS have had occasion to mention be-
fore in these essays. there is force in
English public life known far and wide
as the 'non-conformist conscience" 1t
is the conscience of the great middle class
of English, Scotch and Welsh people. Its
motive may be described as applied
Christianity" the doctrine that Christian
ideals must be wrought into the conduct
of public affairs, business. social relation
ships, newspapers and all Industries. The
non-conformists have always been sneered
at by society as impracticable idealists.
but they have subsequently, marched out
of the strife with drums beating and BAN
ners flying. Often they have had to wait
for the fruits Of their conquests. but IL
there is anything In modern English life
that gives men hope and confidence for
the future 1t is the intense humanitarian
passion which, since the alliance of Glad
krtone with the non-conformists, has char
} kTterzed the legislation OF the islanders.
| has wroght justice to Ireland. better