St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-10

mOu that Lu0 CuuICA Va
the present is the recipient of many
just criticisms from men of the world,
and it would do we'll 70 profit by
them,
1.-THE church in its ancient forms.
has passed." said Doctor McLaren.
"and its modern form is likewise pass
ing away. Notice, say form, and to
this would add custom. Time is the
test Of all things. To its tnfallible
decision must be subjected the things
of science, government, religion and
all else. Science proves and she
disproves. But custom, clings.
Witness the passing of old ma
chinery, likewise Of old theories no
longer able to retain their place In
any sound working philosophy Of life.
Witness also the passing of ancient
forms in religion and theology.
THAT Is not to say that some good
has not risen out of this strange mass
Of curious forms and now impossible
beliefs. Quite often we find a spirit
accompanying them utterly foreign to
the forms in which they are clothed
"a spirit which grappled with the
higher and the truer, which it at times
beheld with singular clearness and
beauty, but which in lieu of the times
and customs 1t could neither unfold
nor retain
"The profound student can catch
even between the lines of Calvinism
glimpses which future mind, equally
strong and more enlightened, will
formulate into great working the
ology which we do not now possess.
Infinitely truer and sweeter than his
theology was the soul of st. Augustine,
and there was never a theologian
whose heart was more thoroughly an
chored in the infinite. And this Ia
true OF many an ancient and modern
theologian and creed maker.
World 10 Progressing.
''Out of this age of absurdities the
world has passed into another age OF
less absurdities and less cruelty, and
yet an age whose religious effects
have panied and crippled the more en-
lightened and hindered the progress
of the kingdom of God.
II refer to the age of creed, class
and sect distinctions. The first has
passed. the second is passing and the
third is doomed to die. The age Of
Christ and Christianity Ia coming, but
ia not yet here. All we have yet re-
ceived is foregleam, prophecy Of
what is yet to be.
~ nS
meet the demands of the age Is too
painfully evident to need comment
Certainly, the church OF today is not
without its magnificent examples Of
life character and generosity; herein
is its salvation. But that 1t IA far
from meeting the demands of our ad-
vanced life and progress ia true to an
extent that most people do not real
ize.
"On one Of our chautauqua pro-
grams this season, in which the speak
er also had part, one Of the greatest
was delivered by brilliant young
lawyer Of the New York bar on 'The
Trial of Jesus From lawyers
Standpoint? From Renan to Chan
ming more beautiful tribute to Jesus
had not been paid. And yet this high
class lawyer and man, honoring and
.worshiping the Christ as he seems to-
has no use for the church and does
not attend it.
''Tne manager Of the platform, also
a leading lawyer Of long experience
and one of the finest citizens of Iowa,
assumes like position, while a lead
ing physician in the audience declared
himself member Of the same big
church Those are not the coarser
lskeptical class, but men Of the higher
type.
Criticism Of the Church Often Just.
These gentlemen gave quite freely
their reasons for the position which
they take, which, by the way, are not
new We have heard the all before
that the churches are still too narrow.
too sectarian, too intolerant, and that
churches-especially in the smaller
ing that they maintain only medi-
OGRE ministry which does not appeal
to the brains and heart of the COM
munity at all. That the gentlemen
referred to have misconception of
the church is plain to be seen, but
that there is ground for their asger.
lions and sometimes for their position
is likewise unfortunately true. IN
ITO set such criticism aside as TN
worthy our attention were utter folly
on our part. The true man is he who
will listen to his critics, II they are
lust, and strive to profit thereby. And
the church will do well to observe the
same rule.
las remedy for the defects cited.
the speaker developed the following
points: A more united, a more COM
prehensive and better working or.
ganization. Decentralization must
go. These things Of the past will suit
NO times to come. They have had
their day. Give US now q real Union
of Christendom In the name and spirit
of Jesus. Let the smaller churches
unite their scattered forces and main
tain a stronger ministry. Secondly:
Let the church become so strong,
80 sweet, so vigorous, SO self-sacrif-
cling in life and spirit and practise
that the ecclesiastical tyrant, the
church boss, the religious hypocrite.
with his cankered gold, or the ig-
norant creed victim, with his rule or
ruin policy, shall find NO welcome or
quarter In it,