Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20
Tbe Keligious @tanopatter.
Up the Cburfbnan.

ATEADFASTNESS is Of the most commendable
- and desirable Of the Christian virtues but the stand
pater not always person to be admired # his i'm
novablly the product OF careful and conscientious
thought it may be bulwar III the midst OF the storm and
Of modern life but if he has attained this nmov
ability the of Theoretically sealing his mind the
truth, if be the OF selfish pursuit of his
interest represents unwingness hear the other
side or to improve upon existing methods then the stand
pater fairly be called oplnlonated and obstinate.
If the standpat attitude in business and politics is
dcredited surely ought not to current
coin in the affairs Of religion for that continually
banding interest OF the human mind Here IS the great
field OF religious truth Have reached the point Of
absolute certainty and xy in regard to doctrine
Better to confess with ST. Paul I'VE know in part You
may have satisfactory concerning few funda
mental things but Paul with his visions and dreams
conscious that only fraction OF Gods great truth had
been revealed him. everyday mortals ought avoid
dogmatizng matters concerning which it is possible for
conscientious men to take precisely opposite views with
all pairing the devotion of either to the truth
which they hold in
God has yet light break forth from His holy
word, said Pastor John Robinson Of eyden, he babe
the pilgrims farewell when they sailed from Holland
America. | know prominent church member who is just
sorey grieved because his daughter college has i'm
bbed certain views which he deems herecal and destruc
tive Of faith but which she declares have made the Bible
and interesting book her and quckened her spirit
ual life No parent ought expect that his children
going form denticay the intellectual conclusions
which he formed thirty years ago Better trust the
generation to work out its own faith in its own wav and
believe that it will come to the truth by which it will live
and by means OF which it will serve the world
But the religious standpatter, who balks meth
labor with than the who sticks to his old theology
Machinery that served good the mills twenty
ago is the junk heap. The kind Of methods like
some for example, which former years served worthy
ends does appeal to the modern mind and heart
Just shift around the location Of the chairs in PRAYER
meeting, put young in ushers in place of the
deaconS to bring the sereOptCOn the pulpit of
Sunday evening, the boys cleaning up the
and lawns of the towns the benevoences
really businesske basis, be the things needed
vitalze the church afresh and make it for
thing in the life of the community. What DR.. Samuel Nc
Comb of Boston says his book is emnenty true
The institution which claims represent the Christian
gon incarnae the spirit OF its founder and realize
His ideals, the church. There widespread feeling
that the church substanating these claims When
achievements alongside the life and work
of Man. they appear be seriously deficient
both in quantity and in quality.
But the personal life that stands pat is simply halt
said Wendell Phillips, 1--WE be better" And it is
equally true that to be good tomorrow yes
terday, be better 1t has pleased me lately to
notice the transformation elderly man. church mem
Der for who up short time ago tart
grouchy complaining easily irritaed but who has recent
y developed altogether unprecedented sweetness
serenity Of temper He has been any revival meet
ngs, so far as know and have think that
he has had any vision by night that any particular sin
gle influence has effected this change All know that
whereas he would have been called standpat personal
religion up to within year he has high ranking
among those who daily growing in grace Come to
think should not this be the usual and the extraor
binary thing for all disciples OF the Master?
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