Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-01
Outside Point of Views

! What 10 known a. democratic form
| of government receives a rude jolt
| when We notice the municipal and H.
| nanciai strength Of the Roman Catholic
| church q one man power and the Chris
tan Science religion . one woman pow
er TIL the xnomsat Of her death Here
/ in this country in matters of state We
proudly boast OF our ability TO govern
| ourselves. In church matters we claim
the same inherent right. Our Protest
ant churches are all governed by dele
gated power from the people member
ship. this excepting OF course the
Christian Science, II it is admitted that
religion il a protestant form. With
AIRS. Eddy. the founder. now with the
majority many think the Christian
Science movement will disintegrate.
and some OF the best members of that
organization regret she did not appoint
her successor.
Now add to these referred TO success
fu! religious organizations that OF the
Saivat ton Army. so great body for the
good Of mankind. and notice again an
autocratic one man power extending
even to the smallest details OF govern
1rent. and It must seem an tho this
statement can be proven i. e.. man is
so constituted that he needs in relig-
ious matters a living autocrat at the
head Of affairs, and from whose decis-
ion in all religious matters. there Is
no appeal. This argument is all the
stronger when one thinks of the faith
required. the un0uestionins belief. and
the blind obedience required in the Ro-
man Catholic cn,Hch. the Salvation
Army. and the Christian Science
church.
Il is interesting 10 notice that in all
classes Of society this same au;ocratic
form Of government, PRONUNCIATION OF
creed and church obeervanceA, 10 equal
~ recognised, and one might say cheer
fully invited. The Christian Scientists
are largely made up OF our more
wealthy class Of citizens. The Saliva
ton Army OF the poorer. and the Ro-
man Catholic Of both the fich and the
poor. This is exactly the same state Of
affairs. when one refers to the mental
qualities Of .he three mentioned
churches Pre-eminently the Scientists
are educated, Intellectual people. as q
rule the Saliva tionists the reverse. while
Catholics are equally divided with the
ignorant and the educated. Peasant
and king are both good Catholics.
Again it is curious to see how these
three successful religious organiza-
lions gain in strength and numbers by
appeals somewha; identical to the
Imagination. the love. for the ceremon-
al. and the fascination Tor the nom
understandable. which seems to exist in
and be mart of ALL human beinRs The
Salvationists' is the counterpart of the
swinging censers and the procession in
the Roman Catholic church.
The Latin of the latter church no
one word of which is understood by
half the audience in the regular service.
is only equailed by the jargon Of the
Christian Scientists. which not one in
a hundred is capable of putting into
logical sentences.
The reserve Of these religious or
CARNATIONS is seen, In the !nf1del and
atheistic associations the world over
in our Unitarian and Universalist
church organizations. All OF these leave
out one man power, all pomp and cere-
mony, require little or no faith care
nothing for creed boast OF plain COM
man sense in their teachings. omit the
super natural and do good for the sake
Of doing good not for future reward or
punishment On practical proof. re-
curing members OF society, this is
matters o. faith and belief. and yet to-
day. the world over. the Roman Catllo-
lies. the Christian Scientists. and SAL
vationists are making three converts to
one, of say the Cnitarian1 Verify, man
| is q curious religious animal.