Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-30
Church at the Cross.


the religious congress at Toronto, and
In the marked evidence of profound
change in church emphasis. and the
strong reaction toward constructive
beliefs and methods. 1t was great
congress and its deliberations and pro-
mulgated sentiments are bound to be
felt the world over. 1t was an en-
tightening demonstration of the ten
uency of the times. 1t is with interest
that we await the possible influence
upon Canada and. indirectly and more
remotely, upon this and other coun-
tries.
In this body 1t was made plain that
modern theologians are seeking to get
away from the complicated methods
OF theological controversies and AHA
in the greatest measure possible TO
remove the pain and poverty that re-
main to trouble humanity. One
writer for the Toronto Telegraph said:
The Church is at the cross-roa Is
The forces which were confidently ex-
pected to abolish the evils of life are
proving less powerful than was ex-
peeted. The golden age has been
relegated to a remoter future. Ac-
eerding to Hon. H. S. Blake. In the
godly city of Toronto alone there arc
100000 people who are being "dehu-
manized' through poverty and I'M
toward conditions. The enthusiasms
aroused by the scientific advances Of
the past have become less stridenr.
The world has grown rich and church
es large, but the process has left man
still prey to shams and sephistries,
and the ape and tiger continue to live.
Self1shness and greed are flourshing,
and it is not strange that the thought
full are troubled by evidences in many
quarters of deterioration in both man
ners and morals. Christianity is be-
Heved to be specific against selfish
ness and greed, and it seems reason
able that the rising nations of the East
should ask that it cure these evils i'll
the West before accepting the gift of
its greater light at our hands. 1t
was to the test of fruit that the Mas
ter was always eager to subject the
living truths which He taught. Science
has enabled us, with the fatal touch Of
Midas, to transmute all things into
gold. but the nobler alchemy by which
gold shall be Transmitted into all good
things for humanity is not SO opera
tive. The old struggle TO live pro-
duced strong characters hewn from
rock. but the newer struggle forwealth
strengthens covetousness and often
produces money madness with its long
train of evils. The struggle to live is
one thing. but the struggle to amass
wealth is very different thing. The
influence of wealth, like the pressure
of the atmosphere, is being felt in all
directions, and its fruit is one with
which the celestial reaper. filleth not
his arms nor he that gathereth the
sheayes his bosom.
The task which lies before the
Church today is one of the utmost
difficulty and is likely to command all
the reserve forces Of wisdom and de-
votion we possess-anti more. 1t is d
question if ever in its long history
Christianity has had greater task
ioiN uPOl IL tIidl tooog a AutStlol IL
even in the days of the great Reform1-
ton and the frightful conflicts which
followed, it has had to face so testing
a struggle as that which is now adj
vapcing upon it. Under the convic
ton that God and the soul were the
only two enduring realities, the mys-
tics of the middle ages and the pietists
of modern days have found their chief
good in the culture of their private and
devotional life, and have practically
let the great world go it's own road and
disclaiined responsibility for its wan
behring's. This individualistic religion,
taken alone, is not sufficient today in
the stress and agony of our social
problems. What is needed for the
task is a religion which wins its sol-
tary hours of devotion the power to
realize itself in the market. the street
and in politics: a religion which will
invest the common secular duties of
life with saeredness and one which will
bring the mighty sanctions of eternity
to bear upon industry, compelling men
to feel that human society is itself a
sacred thing, that 1t is not the scat
folding but the living rock out Of
which God is himself building his city.
A religion of this type will come more
quickly when we realize that the
Church and family and State are but
means to it's realization. SO long as
the individual is dominated by per-
sonal interests it is impossible for this
ideal to be realized. No people has
ever become great without sacrifice.
The ifuportaut dlltieS are all poSitiXp.