Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-12-07

ing of the incarnation of Christ, and
the Churnhs ready ana effective
coutcraction Tor those dcadcniug in
fluenCes that follow the spread of
Ideas of an impersonal Deity
In Florence Barclays latest and
most remarkable book, "Out Of the
Abyss" we have a psychological study
which Is not only touching in the cN-
treme but OF pathetic Importance, es-
pecially TO those who are in any way
Interested in the deliverauce Of cap
tive souls struggling in the snare Of
an ovcrmastering physical desire. An
incident I'm which one Christian Wo-
man, a spirit-filled worker, brought
an apparently hopeless victim Of the
drink habit into personal touch with
the Divine spirit, and 10, Where the
spirit OF the Lord is, there is lib
erty"
There may be, undoubtedly are,
people who cannot understand how
any question relating to religion could
have such an effect They fail to
realize a mighty factor in the case
a power understood not expressed,
that's all ! have talked with men,
the tumult Of whose minds made me
think Of the north coast waves-as
Robert Louis Stevenson described
them-in all their terror and power,
to wreck the frail barks IN which men
voyage. And I believe most firmly
that when pledges and promises have
all been broken, when punishments.
have utterly failed the power Of the
indwelling Spirit Of God-in response
10 the hearts cry Of the human soul
can break the fettcrs in a moment
and set the captive free.
A young laboring man who thinks.
and who knew how to think, said to
me at one Of my meetings held I'm
the Peoples Temple in Boston some
years ago. "Dr. Sturgis, | have been,
and am now. a regular attendant at
church services. but how long | shall
continue to be counted among the
faithful is a problem, for | am sick
and tired of listening Sunday after
Sunday to platitudes, evasions, and
glltterlng Reneralities in sermons
which are only the shaking Of the
rags witch the mental ministerial
dusting has been done. What right"
continued this young man" have
Christian ministers to shirk away
from or retreat before those questions
which concern my sours welfare here
and now. and refuse to contribute
whatever moral discornment God has
given them along these lines | want
TO hear. not tho creed doctrinal views
Of truth but the truth itself reduced
10 its simplest expression; not as to
a l,ttlr child, but as to grown man
who mast reason as well as feel. a
man Who has sinnod and suffered.
and Who--iu the midst Of this sea OF
douht and uncertainty would find
safe anchorage for his Soul"
Now It would be an easy matter.
but 10y no means Just. to cornerstone
ourselves upon the assumption that
this young mau-who had become
so hoWilderod 10y this continual side
stepping of the ministry upon the un-
DERIVING principles Of Chrlstianitv-
has simply got himself into state
Of mind that it would do no good 10
reason with him and thus dismiss the
whole matter. But wait a minute
what would be casy Is not always
sure to hc what is fair and right by
"thc other fellow 90
once heard Juaer Lindsey of the
Denver juvenile court. say: when q
lad hoy is brought before me for
trial ! lcok at the trembling little
figure. III nourished. under-loved.
frightened yet defiant. fearful and
dirty, and lnvoluntarily I say to my
self. Ben Lindsay. what have you
been doing all these years that this
thing is possible And in the laugii-
age OF Judge Lindsey. would like
to ask. If | may be permitted. what
has the church been doing all these
years that the rank and file Of the
proletariat are opposed. not to the
gospel. but TO the chruch as an or