The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-31
EDIT OR / AIS
eau Sc A
CRISIS

ApropoS OF the recent controversy
winch has arisen among the members
oi the First Congregational church
over the practice Of the pastor. Rev.
noble Strong Elderkin. discussing the
social evils OF ogden city from his pull
pit through the medium of pulpit cdi.
torlals. Rev Elderkin read an
iul editorial at the regular evening
service last night on The Crisis in
the Local Congregational Church in
which he defined his position,
and intimated that he would continue
TO talk along these lines despite the
fact that the church Is literally shot
to pieces
a meeting Of the members of the
church last Wednesday night at which
II Is said some members threatened
10 withdraw their membership unless
the pastor abandoned his pulpit talks
on the social evils of the city, called
forth last nights editorial"
Rev Elderkin cited the teachings OF
Christ, who walked through busy
streets of busy cities. peered into
shops. tarried In the happy homes OF
tolling men, crept into the temple and
swept through the fields" TO Justify
his course in discussing questions
which touch upon the vital actions OF
men and women He deplored the
| passlyity of the churches of today in
the presence of the burning problems
| of public ethics, which he declared Is
overwhelmingly discouraging
His editorial follows.
1t may not be diplomatic to show
| h.a aztec 10
veal the secret of weakness to the op-
posing side. To all intents and pur-
poses blum at times serves It's pur-
pose.
The men who lower our moral stand
ards fancy that all the churches of
Christendom are aligned against their
degrading ideals; believe that Chris
tianity is essentially antagonistlc TO
the presence of destructive forces in
modern civilization
That is the way 1t ought to be. But
in this latter day when Il church here
and there. blazing the way for the
now path. undertakes to begin to save
MAN instead OF men II Is sure To
encounter the strength of conserva.
tism Conservatism, TO be sure. Is al
ways timid 1t rejoces In having gone
thus far. 1t would rather not take
the next step. Conservatism has no
hope that any new movement will sue
coed. II says, tuberculosis has al
ways beer and will always be- That
argument Is utterly hopeless. What
DerplexeS me Is that any one should
care TO discuss a theme with hopeless
men.
The radical says. tuberculosis has
always been but Its day is fast pass
ing He is hopeful He blunderS
but he dreams and hopes and prays. |
Conservatism sits with Its mouth |
open and It's eyes CLASSY. Radicalsm
has its jaw set and i fire raging in |
its eyes.
Here in Utah the passiyity of the |
churches In the presence of the burn |
ing problems of public ethics Is over
whelmingly discouragng
| want to tell you who are lined up |
on the other side what my Christian
brother SAYS to me- He says, az am |
so busily engaged In weaving beauu- |
full garments 10 wear In the celestial |
regions that really 1t consumes all
my thought and time"
He saws TO me. IL am saved and |
he stresses the J. What does he mean? |
He means that after death the infinite
God. having noted the precise method
of his baptism or having heard the
empty mumbllng of ancient and out
worn formulas. or having witnessed |
his answering LOYALTY to man-made |
ecclesiastical regime-the infinite God
jumps at the chance to transform his
rare and radiant soul to the realms OF
eternal bliss.
He says. Let us get me ready for
heaven Let us set up the great light
before my eyes. | ask for nothing
more than the opportunity TO gaze In
rapture upon it,
II is just that kind OF selfshness
which makes much that goes by the
name Of religion a stencil In the nos
trils Of the earnest world.
II may be necessary for other
churches to tarry a little longer over
the problems of personal salvation
But for this church which opens It's
doors wide TO men and women who
will not take "a heaven haunted by
shriekS Of some une's far-ofi hell"
though God himself should seek to
thrust 1t on them, there can no longer
be a cry for that which Will minister
to it's petty comfort or Will grant IL
surcease of struggle and effort
The true church of Christ in the
modern world faces the future II
does not keep forever bowing obsequi-
ously to the glorious past II knows
that II that which has passed away
was full OF glory much more may
that which remains be suffused with
glory.
think 1t best to set before the pub
lie the real problem we arc fighting
out In this church. This church whose
pulpit has lifted a feeble voice against
the right OF vice to rule and dictate,
has literally been shot TO pieces Here
comes a letter demanding that the
names OF the man and his wife be
dropped from the books of church
which would rob the public Golfers
of so much revenue. These will seek
out church where they are sure of
what Is coming next These with.
draw because their business has no
ticcably suffered. These decide to
pull up stakes because Twenty.ffth
street threatens to cut off patronage.
The courage of the average Chris
tian here in ogden ought TO delight
the men who love slime and adore
scum.
But I have met the other kind. That
is the inspiring part OF this story. The
pressure has been tremendous. And
II must ho aWfully tedious IN hoar tba