The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-09-28

position, as we would now say, that is given
by inspiration of God, is profitable in moral
and spiritual way. The statement referred
at the outset to the Hebrew writings, most OF
which are included in the Old Testament.
but it is no violation of the spirit of the
statement to make it include every writing
and every book that possess a real spiritual
value. We have come to recognize that all
truth is from God. The statement of Paul
applies OF course to the Bible, but it applies
with equal force to every other book that
possesses a real spiritual worth.
In dealing with the Bible, the author
subjects it to the same test that he
would any other book claiming author
ity, confident that that which ls true
cannot suffer from honest investigation.
He finds that
1t is unquestionably true that the Bible as
whole is profitable for teaching. for re-
proof, for correction. =. but 1t is not all equal
ly profitable, and there are some parts which
are not at all profitable as teaching or as
reading matter. The stories of barbaric
cruelty in the Old Testament, of murder, of
wicked bloodshed in war, Of sexual lewdness,
and other portions Of similar kind, can
scarcely be regarded as profitable in moral
and spiritual way :. There is. In fact real
and urgent need for an expurgated text that
Is put in good modern English. and that
contains only such parts as are profitable to
read.
Rev. Womer's religion is the sane
belief Of sound minded, reasoning
man, who does not believe that scien-
tific truth can be one thing and relig-
ious truth Numerically opposed. In
expounding the Bible to his congrega-
tion he has not hesitated to discard
those portions OF the text which will
not stand the scrutiny of modern re
search, and regards many parts as mere
ly fgurative. He has no time for
pious "twaddle" and allows no false
reverence to stand in the way Of crit
ical analysis Of all things, however
sanctified by ancient custom. He is
convinced that by such study alone may
the world advance closer to the King
dom Of Truth, which is God.
The religion he upholds is not neg.
alive, but positive force. He abhors
materislism and holds before his read
ers constantly the sacrificing love OF
the Great Example. The love Of God
and the love OF our brothers are closely
allied, In the last chapter OF the work,
1.-THE Fellowship of Sympathy and of
Upward Striving" the writer deals
with the Church as it is to-day
and seeks reason for the apparent lack
OF interest in it among the great body
OF men:
The church must be reorganzed upon
different basis from that which for
fifteen centuries it has recognized. Instead
Of a tight ecclesiastical fraternity erected
upon a dogmatic foundation, 1t must be con-
verted into "a brotherhood Of Il new life,',
into fellowship Of sympathy and Of upward
There are indications from many
quarters that the church will be forced
eventually to take this attitude and when
It is taken, the hard problem of Christian
Unity.s. that has been confronting the
churches for centuries, will have been
mastered. Sympathy is constructive and |
lnifying. 1t draws the souls Of men to- |
yether. Q Sectarian divisions cannot long con- |
tinue when,the churches have become re-
upon basis Of sympathy, when |
they, stand Npre-eminently for brotherhood |
Ind service rather than for dogma :. Let it |
Do rememberedst that the church began with |
)ut the creeds., and it has no more need for |