The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-12

tioIH q general ana universal eduCa-
ton. The more light. the greater ex-
of n remedies for the evils of the
day. for iniquity dwclls only where
there Is darkness n misunderstood.
ing. The enlightenment of a race
not only as to its rights under a po-
iitical constitution but also as to its
responsibilities under the social law
when once perfected means a ire
mendous advance in morals and
ethics. The educated man then of to-
day and tomorrow must lie imbued
with n must carry out the Spirit of
unselfsh service to his fellowmen.
The most notable aspect. however,
of the new liberalism is the gradual
awakening OF the oreanizezd churches
to Il realization of their Responsible
ties to humanity. The church has all
ways been an important factor in the
development and progress of man
kind. christianity WAS introduced in
to- the world at d lin when the eff
forts of the ancient civilizations had
crystallised into an absolute tixity of
and the established institution of
slavery had created AN impassable
line of cleavage between parician and
plebean. 1t has been the miracle of
the ages that this religion of slaves
for such it w~as-should have even
gained a foothold in that ancient <
OF might But in spite of oppression.
IN the face of persecution the chris
tan religion with its doctrines of hu-
man justice and brotherhood and with
Its faith in the power of moral, ethical
and spiritual ideals, grasped, permeat-
ed and enlightened every stratum of
society until at the fall of Rome 1t
has entered palaces and won the re-
spect and devotion of royalty. What a
l frpN q n nr1c nf -; l%..
then in the history of the world! And
then, the church too. as the human
agency for the furthcring of the chris
tan religion has been an element in
every forward move of mankind. The
line OF progress has run some-
tunes above. sometime below, the or
ganized religion of every age but
never far from it.
Practically Christianity.
n church as never before in its
history, is seriously taking up the
greater problems of the human race.
II realizes today that it has confined
itself too much to the saving of the
Individual. his individual and personal
salvation, and applied itself too little
~ inc regeneration of society, n its
general betterment. 1t is only toe
true that while the churches have
been graphing with the orthodox
problems of abstract theology they
nave in a great degree forgotten the
responsibilities resting upon them to
ACTIVELY put in force practical christi
AMY. Christianity demands right
eoushesS and love. the righteousness
mat calls for moral and ethical con-
duct. the love that calls for considera-
ton for ones fellowmen. Its great
est query is not. What can 1 dO that
| may be saved??" by rather: who is
my brother-am not [ his Keeper"
us greatest message to humanity is
Ihe brotherhood of man. The hui
iitanitaTian movements of later history
nave illustrated the message. See the
uhseifish services of Florence Night
ensale, the angle of peace. in the
tragic war camps of the Crimian con-
flict. See Leo Tolstoi. church ont
cast preaching the doctrine of the
love OF man for mankind and the love
Oh mankind for man. a gospel that
1ias Undermined the bureaucracy of
ttussla and struck the letters from its
Save u ~peasantry, enslaved in
noth body and soul. See General
Booth building the Salvation Army
whose power for good knows no boun-
diaries in that it Is world wide in its
scope. See Jane Adams laying the
foundation for a national social set
cement movement. See the leaders of
the Young Mems Christian associa-
tons of the country under the han
ners OF the Men IL Religion Forward
movement leading Il national crusade
on vice and seeking to up
nulld the moral standard of our DO
lltlcai. social and industrial affairs.
1t is to the %nractieal work of such
humanitarian movements that the
church is now turning. Churchmen
are departing from II quiescent reli-
Sion-a standing apart from the peo-
pie. Church men are realizing as
never before that the church must I've
active and vital. that it must touch
the people. enter into their work and
PLAY. their deepest hopes and joys and
fears. The church can become the
most powerful factor i'm the world for
the uplifting of mankind. 1t may have
lar t0. go. but freed from merely ira
dltlonal beliefs and imhued with a
spirit of liberalism it will in time come
into its own: Its faith must center in
la belief in the brotherhood of man;
IN the assurance that he will advance.
progress, succeed-that he will attain
MS nohlest aspirations and dreams.
Spirit OF N"w Tomorrow,
The spirit of liberalism then is the
spirit of the new tomorrow. 1t means
a peaceful break from the traditions
or yesterday, Yesterdays orthodox be-
llefs, yesterdays p%aralyzing conservat-
ism. The political liberalism that was
oou6Ll Ut tne Cost OF pl0O0 on Bunkeri
Hill, in the Valley Forge. above the
clouds on Lookout mountain and at
Gettysburg has been builded into one
of the worlds most perfect political
governments. By it. indeed, popular
government has Well night reached
the pinnacle of success-every import
ant right has been placed in the hands.
Of the people. We are now on the |
Threshold of a new tomorrow. The |
second and the greater step forward is |
the realization of social Responsible
ties-the interest that the Individual
from now on must take in the con-
tinual betterment nf the community.
The protection of the community was
important in the day of the pioneer:
it is much more important today in
this age of industrialism. To the
schools and to the churches of our
country must be given the all-import-
ant duty of broadening the vision of
the American people so that as they
have accepted their rights so will they
assume their responsibilities to the
end that the brotherhood Of men will
become a reality and the true grand
eur of humanity attained.