The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-23


phony. but in many cases one
chord is lacking-the peniten-
tial note. The Christianity Of
many people IL q complacent contem-
plation-not . sorrow for sin and an
agony Of moral aspiration. The creed
of the multitude is: God IL in his
heaven: alls right with the world and
u.s. This mood Of superficial con-
tentment is not that with which god
Illness" is Joined in the beatitude and
declared to be great gain" but 10
really . state of indifference with re-
spect to such ideas as atonement and
regeneration. Hence We find that.
while crowds jostle one another on
the sunny way to the halls OF Gaia
phas, or even the Temple courts. the
pathway to dark Gethsemane tempts
but few-here and there a Magdalene
or a contrite publican whose vital
powers have burned almost to the
socket--and yet Jesus Christ spent
more time, at least more congenial
hours. with publicans than he did
with Pharisees. and hardly ever re-
ferred to the Sadducees except to ex-
pose their shallow philosophy and
their still shallower hearts. Somehow
the Bible does strike the penitential
note-somehow its promises are most
ly to humble and contrite souls.
1t is worthy to note that two re-
nowned preachers, both Englishmen
1t happens. have lately sounded
warning against tho spirit Of SNUG
Pharisaism which seems to possess
large sections of the modern church.
Thus Dr. J. H. Jowett says: Every
thing is not right among US. We are
busy. but we are not impressive. We
may interest. but we do not con-
strain. We may tickle mems palates.
but we do not make them feel the
bitterness of sim" So Rev. Charles
Brown rebukes the modern church for
its self-righteausness and 'unctuous
rectitude." for it has no out-goings OF
self-denying and self-giving service to
the people without who need help.
There are churches absolutely desti-
tute Of any passion in this direction"
he declares. There are multitudes
of our church members who do not
care. They never give a thought to
the subject. They belong to a church
as they belong to a club. They pay
their seat subscriptions. they expect
their reserved place, they go to hear
their favorite preacher: and it ends
there"
Warning Worth Needing.
These warnings are needed. though
the indictment may easily be made
more severe than the facts warrant.
It behooves US not to 'berate others
in respect Of self-righteousness and
"elder brother" unconcern for the
prodigals, whether returning or unr'
turned, but to look into our own
chres Of pride instead of sanctuaries
of penitence. Yet We must not be I'M
mindful of certain drifts Of the times.
in which the leaders Of the church
are in danger Of being caught. It
may be, as the Christian World (Lon-
don) thinks, that preachers have al
lowed their personal ana professional
interest in the fascinating Intellectual
problems OF theology and criticism to
Of preaching directly to the heart and
mind Of average modern congrega-
TONS" 1t is not fair to blame only
the preachers for such loss of the unc-
tion Of a prophetic message, for the
churches in the long run. and for the
most part. have just such preachers
as they want and as they make, and
none others. 1t is a time. not for
mutual Misunderstanding, much less
for mutual recrimination. between
clergy and laity, but for a general
searching Of heart. for proAtratdon be-
for the cross of Christ. for confession
Of sin as we'll az confession of faith,
and for the taking Of such a docile
and teachable attitude before the
Master Of us all as will preserve the
church from either Pharisaic heresy
or Sadducean NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. .
Herald, Boston, Mass.