The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-02-23

this element back and gather them
into the fold" And so this master
piece was at last formulated, and the
new organization comes upon the
scene fully equipped, with men of re-
markable executive ability to manage
it, and plenty of money to back the en-
terprise. In other words we have now
combined commercialism with religion,
and why should not the scheme sue
ceed in gathering into denomination
alism vast host of soults? The ac-
tual question of their salvation need
not introdue itself An easy way of
going to heaven without the necessity
of repentance and the new birth has
been discovered. Men need not worry
over the matter of Atonement any
longer. The doctrine of the Blood has
become an obsolete thing, and all they
have to do in order to be saved is to
seek to build up character in harmony
with "The Man of Galilee," and come
as near as they can to measuring up
to mans standard of righteousness,
and they will reach heaven at last. In
deed there is no other place to go to.
He'll has been eliminated by modern
theology, and all the hell there is is
to be found in this life This soul-de-
stroying form of Christianity is sweep
ling over the land like a tidal wave.
and is proving pre-eminently success
full; for have they not super-eminent
nonied men back of the plan SO that
| it may prove successful? What need
of the Holy Ghost in such a move
ment? What need of preaching the old
time doctrines of the Bible; of declar-
| ing to poor lost sinners the fact that
there is an everlasting hell reserved
for the finally impenitent; that except
man be born again he cannot even
see the kingdom of heaven; that With
out shedding of blood there is no remis-
sion?' Such doctrines are now shock
ing to refined minds. They will not
endure it, and they need not, for an
easier method has been found, where
by men may escape "The damnation
of hell"-if there should be such a
place
The saddest thing connected with
the whole matter is that among the re-
! ligious leaders are to be found the
names of many who at one time were
numbered among the most evangelical
of our popular evangelists and teach
ers. 1t is amazing how many honored
names have been drawn away or in
duced to fellowship this "Cunningly
devised fable" Those whom we es-
teemed at one time as pillars in the
Church of God, are now but broken
reeds. 1t is a fact that many who
once stood firmly for the whole
truth of God have surrendered their
standing, compromised with the enemy
left the field of separation, and are
now to be found with those who have
gone down into the "Plain or Oso"
Iwhere there is more room offered for
the energy of nature; the place where
the World, the flesh and the devil"
will make no serious protest, but even
applaud the efforts put forth to "Ele-
vate humanity" In fact this is the
climax of the whole matter, the exalta-
Ia;o - -, al hoV ho
ceding of the Man in the Glory by es-
tablishing and exalting mere earthly
man above Him.
This is the trend of the times, and
this is what characterizes all-or near
lily all--these modern movements. The
Holy Spirit is not considered at all in
the true Scriptural sense; His aid is
not counted on, when the matter is
carefully sifted; but ungodly men,
men of the world, some of whom have
built up their enormous wealth by
questionable methods, these are the
power behind this Men and Religion
Movement" whose very name con-
demns it. It is true also that the
evangelist or teacher who takes his
stand for the truth, loses caste, and
denominationalism has no further use
for such a one. "He that departeth
from evil maketh himself prey" Isa.
59:15, has indeed become part of
life's experience to more than one.
Still what doth it matter if we go up
or down in the opinions of men? There
| is the truth of God, and it is before
Him we walk. 1t is still the fact that
that service which is rendered purely
with reference to pleasing Him will
be least understood and least appre-
ciated; but it also remains that His
approval is of infinitely more account
than the applause of men.
One has we'll said: do not sue
cumb to the devilish delusion that a
narrow path is incompatible with a
large heart" The Holy Ghost declares
I'm ond Corinthians BE We also en-