The Washington times., 1913-10-25

/ coming irrelig!ous? what Is the matter
with the churches that they cannot at
tract people? How fares IL with the
faith Of mankind In this year of Our
Lord 1913?
1t would be interesting il the readers
Of The Washington Times would send
In an account Of their own religious ex-
periences anonymously IL preferred), so
that some data might be directly at
hand and the present symposium might
proceed on some basis other than theory
At the present moment II would appear
that the tendency to absent oneself frum
church arises in large number OF cases
from wider conception Of the meaning
of life and the true nature Of worship
an altered view which Is out Of har-
mony with doctrinarian theological
schools-rejects the old system of re-
wards and punishments In heaven and
hell. holding an inalienable right to in
terpret the Gospel according to individ-
ual opinions and faith, boldly claiming
the right to follow an independent per-,
sonal cult. Il worship God in my own
way. one man says. Il do not go to
church because the clergy preach what
do not believe. and I find that, when
do go to church. / am forced into q
combative state Of mind not at all
favorable to worship" This attitude 10
by no means uncommon, and IL is
noticeable that the modern sermon has
begun to take IL into account. We hear
IHc CuuECucS IO0dy less anu less OD
theology and more of religion; !. E.. the
ways and means of finding ones way
back to God. This very noticeable
change in the tenor of modern preach
ing Is a note of hope heard In the
midst of the death cries of Faith In
certain churches there are promulgated
today broad truths that every one ad-
mits. great principles which no one
denies, noble ideals which all admire.
In to these churches many religions
derelicts drift from time to time. es-
pecially after the zenith of life has been
reached and perhaps three decades Of
free thinking have brought about q
final reversal of many once vaunteo
opinions. so that the old faith stirs In
its sleep and the heart longs to see u
reawaken. The convictions of most
''virtuous" men and women today havs
outgrown hell-fire, eternal damnation.
and a God who demands incense.
But certainly there Is a broader hu-
manitariah spirit animating the world
today than ever before, and IL this 10
not the outcome of faith. 1t is at least
the inspiration OF works. In the lapse
of centuries faith has been overtaxed
for men and women were asked to be-
lieve in ideas bora of superstition and
the self-interested dicted of ecclesias
ticism-in the hair-splitting notions OF
or the inspired revelations Of this OF
that authority A revolt has fol-
lowed; a religion of works has super.
seeded a religion Of faith. At some
future day 1t may be. We shall have
both united in some great illuminated
Gospel in which our Christian teach
ing shall find its resurrection The
church-going habit can never be wei
established among the stay-awayc Until
men and women find In the churches
such food as as their sor1s crave-unti
chuTch-goe-s become more uniformly
worthy Of the professions they make
until "Christains'' grow less narrow
and the true spirit Of Christ becomes
real presence known and felt by every
weary world traveller who finds through
the church door q true heaven of peace
and comfort