The Detroit times., 1911-04-15

historic Christianity upon necessity
s Of corporate relations with Christ.
and with one another I'm the church
the body OF Christ, a living organism
1.-The kingdom OF God I'm which soul
f, culture Is effected by the grace of
God through the sacraments, as
means or channels OF that grace.
81 Our space Is too limited for us to
z enter upon the discussion Of the Ques-
ton we have raised. We leave such
discussion TO those who may be led
10 consider the subject by our pass
Ing reference to 1t.
Lent Generally Observed.
3. The fact remains that certain
phase OF this historic institution has
y been observed in Detroit this year as
never before. The public services and
4 evangelistic meetings that have been
& held In the Detroit opera house, and
3 IN the churches OF almost every de-
nomination of Christians throughout
/. the city, have been confessedly Len
ten services.
.f Ii has been found profitable TO i'm
prove this period Of 40 days, during
\ which the gayety OF society 10 some
what restrained, and when a large
proportion OF the people are more or
less aware OF certain unusual re-
ligiensness pervading the community,
FOR the furtherance and stimulation
OF the religious life.
II Il be true that the real spirit OF
Lent has not been reached, and its
& true significance has not been learned
BY many bodies OF Christians that are
Jus now perceiving its advantageous
opportunities. We must rejoice that
20 much has been attained. The
historic idea of Lent is. that this
period of 40 days coming In the spring
and concluding with the Great Sac.
rifice on Calvary, and closing on the
eve Of Easter. is one during which
those who observe II are to take &C
count or their personal attainments
and, requirements, and to search out
their sins and Shortcomings with n
view to amendment of life. To this
end the church has appointed fire.
uuent services, penitential In char
acter. The church calls for absti-
hence and prayerfulness. She pro-
yides means of soul.reassurance and
draws her children into close com.
munion and fellowship with their
Saviour. as they go into the wilder
ness with Him for 40 DAYS, as they
follow Him through the sad events OF
Holy Week, and go with Him 10 Geth.
semane and Calvary--being cruclfied
with Him. and again. having had fel.
lowship with His suffering, on Easter
morning partake OF the power OF His
glorious resurrection.
This IL the transcendent signifi.
canoe OF the season OF Lent, its di
vine and historic ideal. The sanity
George Herbert called this season
OF fast and penitence, the sacred
feast of Lent"
To this lofty ideal, no one would be
rash enough 10 declare that this Lent
has brought all the churches OF our
city
Prejudlees Broken Down.
We have done much. however. We
have broken down prejudices, We
have. at least. partially. blotted ont
denominational boundary lines, we
have united In prayer and praise, and
we have shown to the world that al
divisions OF the Christian church
preach one gospel. proclaim one
Christ through Whom. alone. Is sal
vation. Certainly this is no small
gain. Another Lent and we shall flnc
our brethren OF every name refrainins
from social pleasures--the theater
dancing parties and all those pleas
i,res which draw the mind and heart
away from thoughts OF God and oi
The souls highest good.
NO one can be ignorant Of the fact
That with the growing desire for the
reuniting OF all the fragments OF the
TTnfch or r10d. tfigru mas come sr-ep+
dent movement back ton an agree
uerf IN faith. An acceptance OF that
which each fragment can contribute