The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-06
A PASTOR REVIEWS
INTERESTING BOOK
The Rev. McNarry Calls At
tention to Some Facts
that Are Interesting.
REV. T. C. McNARY.

Under the above title Dr. d. H. Car
roll has prepared volume, published
by Charles Scribner's Sons, which has
lately been secured by the manage
ment Of our Public Library, which
keeping in touch with the best pro-
ducts of the press, notonly in the lines
of fiction, but in the more reliable
books Of current interest. The high
standing of both the editor and pub
fishers insure us a book of more than
usual interest and value in the volume
which is the subject fthis review.
Tho book contains forty-three chap
tiers which accounts for as many diff
ferent sects. These chapters are fol-
lowed by one hundred statistical ia
bles which records the results of the
last census and from which the reader
can verify for himself the conclusions
of the author in the body of the book
The 1910 census show that the popu-
lation Of the U. s. was 90 million in
round numbers, the religious popula-
ton was 80 million, leaving 10 million
without religious affiliations.
A study of the book shows that we
have all kinds of fads and fancies in
religion aside from the staid and stur-
dy denominations that have stood the
test of history and experience. If none
81 the 143 denomination divisions suit
his taste, there remains $50 varieties
of merely congregations SO small as
to have no denominational name, creed
or collective organization. We have
not only christianity represented but
nearly all the religions of the Orient
Surely we are sufficiently guarded
against religious monotony, if not stu
pidity and incidence
II variety is the spice of life our re-
,ligious life ought to be the most spicy
But the danger is that we have reach
ed the limit and there is very little
ways represent variety of healthy
order. There may be manw suckers
grow up around the main stock Of corn
which only sap the strength of the
main stock, and have no variety but
that of numbers. There is a diversity
in unity that is healthful, but diver
sity without unity is a rope of sand
with which to tie society together.
The author states, however, that the
varieties within denominational> lines
could be united in one organization
without the sacrifice of a single essen
tial principle Instead of six kinds Of
Adventists, seven kinds Of Catholics,
twelve kinds of Presbyterians, thir-
teen kinds of Baptists Especially
when water is water the world over
sixteen kinds of Lutherans and seven
teen kinds of Methodists we could
have one Of each, and all that is true
and best in the mall. Certainly the
children of the world are wiser than
the children Of the light or they would
not suffer this confusion worse con-
founded"
When the masses will take the time
to read and think for themselves in
stead of following the blind leaders
of the blind. who have their own ak to
grind, and their own bread to get and
to spread, they would rise up in mass
and assert their God given right for a
peoples church without denominations
al distinction. But my people love
to have it SO" and the rank and file
of church members are not even keep
ing step with the leaders of their res
pective denominations in respect to
church unity. When it is attempted a
little coterie of the standpatters will
still stand out for the old name and
organization and thus in our attempt
at outward uniformity without inward
unity we only minister to a greater va
lriety. ct upon the whole says DR.. Car
roll the church is the mightiest, most
pervasive, most persistent and most
beneffcent force in our civilization"