The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-04

tering activities and the dissipation Of
energies is one OF the great faults Of
the Church today; and the reason for
the failure OF her methods, Maurice
states in a few words the whole gist
OF the idea when he says, 'compe-
tition is death; cooperation is life"
II the Church does not cooperate,
how can she expect TO give to men
and women the spirit of the Christ II
she has not got 1t herself? As soon
as the Church means business, and
works as though she expected to ac-
complish her purpose then we will be-
gin to see the desired results. The
Church must first be converted to
the standard OF her great ideal, be-
fore she can expect to convert the
men and women about her.
A working man, speaking before a
committee on labor. said. the work
ing men do not attend church. not
because they are irreligious or OPP
posed to Christianity. but because the
churches have ceased to represent to
us the real teachings of Christianity"
And Kingsley puts II entirely too
strong. when, IF theChr.stian Church
were what she ought to be, and could
be for a single day. the world would
be converted before nightfail." That
Is as wide OF the mark as saying that
the Church has been perfect failure.
The real truth seems to be that she
has not yet done her best; and that
when she does then the social order
will improve. But the men and wo-
, men of the world will not be changed
by her teaching SO long as she Is
/ judged by the narrow hearted souls,
pious frauds and holy hypocrites,
within her ranks who give tone and
color to the Church's work. Nor can
she succeed so long as she maintains
the attitude toward the world, Illus
trated so forcefully and clearly in the
treatment OF Dr. Queed. the studen,
/ OF the humanities, whose Cosmos
i was Ego" gave to little Fiji. one OF
/ the various humanities. In other
words 1t must be shown that her
creed can be changed into life. Alb
stract truth into concrete deeds-this
can best be done by carrying her ideal
right into the heart of the conditions
and creating centers. from which &c
forth the influences of the living
Christ. living and acting and work
ing in the lives Of men and women.
N To what extent has the Church au
thority to act? When brought in con
tiict with the State, with established
laws and ordinances; with that which
belongs to the province of the legis
lative bodies. what is the bes
methods for the Church to pursue?
Has the Church anything to do will
executives, legislative bodies. corpora
tons. trades unions. the school sys
tenn. the social order az whole Sh.
most certainly has: whatever con
Germs the individual. his veal or woe
concerns the Church: but what shall
be her method of work? Here Il
II Just where she Oft makes fata
mistake and loses out; just here Il
where she needs to act with ths
i greatest amount of conservatism; with
the most delicate tact:
The State says, You must" The
Church says, "You ought" The one
Ecannot intrude upon the rights Of
the other. Only In the matter Of
ldiscipline, doctrine and worship car
the Church say, You must" and tina
only in the administration OF hel
internal affairs. For the Church t
act without the cooperation of tht
state 10 madness. In the bettermen
OF school systems what can thu
Church do; what can the minister do
without the cooperation OF tbs
State? In the matter OF child labor
what can we do without the co-opera
ton OF the State?
In the matter OF moving pictures
low theaters. public vices, the sam
Is true.
To take one concrete example. Mar
riage Ia recognised a. q legafize,
civil contract, for which license
granted by the state. and the churcl
steps in and gfves her blessing an,
sanctifieS the union Now suppose tn