The Greeley tribune., 1911-10-19
EHI COLORADO EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
NAN AND HIS GOD

At frequent intervals the cry goes
forth that the influence Of the
church Is waning; that the world Is
becoming Goddess and that the old
time religion Of our fathers Is slow
ly losing its grip on humanity. This
critic and that Of the church comes
forth with explanation and trfte ex-
position. And Last but not least the
eo-called muck.raker has had his
fling.
Meanwhile temples OF worship
continue to grow steadily. Build
ines rise where none stood. young
ministers are called to pastorates
and the gatherings Of the church
folk grow larger and more enthus-
iastic each year.
The contributing cause to the
wild cries of alarm that are sent
out intermittently doubtless may be
found in the waning influence OF
dogmas. People are thinking more
for themselves and leaning less on
what they are told. The fact that
mans grandfather was Of certain
belief carries but little weight in
these days. Standing forth in the
light Of modern life many Of the
time honored sophistries fail to i'm
press. The church. with other in
stitutions is undergoing the changes
wrought by time.
1t Is not that people are less re-
ligious today than they were half
. century ago, but merely that they
are less tolerant OF dogma. There
is more Of the teachings OF Christ
followed in the world today than
hof T1Na ~
sion OF religious feeling has chang
ed. and this is what has led to the
now oft repeated cry that the power
Of the church is gradually but surely
diminishing.
There is more freedom in the wOr-
ship Of God than ever before. Peo-
pie do not have to profess belief In
certain established cateChisms to
avoid being put to death or tortured
or Ostracized. One man may be
brought nearer to divinity by the
unfolding OF favOrite flower upon
which he has Iavished his care than
by a dozen Billy Sunday sermons.
A sick child may evolve an almost
Christlike character from fight
ing. swearing infidel. A patient,
loving mother may he the means Of
bringing her rouhg sons to appre-
ciate the teachings OF the Master.
And these all uncOnsciOusly be-
come wOrshipers because they are
bringing themselves into the image
Of God.
Not many months ago a well
known minister OF Greeley ofYiciated
at the funeral OF man he had
known in life. The man had been q
theoretical nOn-churchman but a
practical Christian. In the last
words said before the body was con.
fined to the grave the minister, fol-
lowing an exquisite eulogy. said that
. man need not be q church goer to
be good Christian. Such an ex-
precision few years ago from an
orthodox minister would have meant
his undOing. but at the time it was
received without criticism.
Religion in the human race is
innate. Where the intellect Is not
sufficiently developed to appreciate
. Creator there is the vague seek
ing after the infinite. Symbols, rites,
d0Gmas have served as vehicles.
There is little In the teachings OF
practice Of Christ to prescribe Ger.
tain forms Of worship. He did not
say "be Of this sect or be damned VI
no 19O&ht HOVC anu tOA6n8NCC 0nO
pity and charity. He did not prescribe
. certain robe In which to pray OIL
preach or mediate on the infinite
He lived his teachings as simply and
30 beautifully that tho lovers and
believers Of pomp and circumstance
Of his day could not believe him the
son of God.
The teachings Of Christ are com.
ing into more general understand.
ing. There Is evidence Of this on
all sides. World peace is not fal
distant. War Is no longer the glori.
our end Of nations. The cOnquests
q peace are in the ascendancy
Lather Burbank is being recognized
- . greater man for the world than
Napoleon. The chiefest slayer OF
his fellow man is no longer regard
ed as the greatest Of his kind. What