Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-24
RELIGION IN RELATION TO
SOCIAL PROGRESS AND LIFE
mpeng That Calls for Deeper Convictions New
Spiritual Qualities.

What has religion to do with social
progress? Has IL anything to do with
the social factors and Institutions OF
human life? No one can read widely
today without getting the idea that in
some way religion has something to
do with society, it's various and COM
pick institutions, it's tone and tenn
per, its destiny and character. These
new conceptions of the relation of re-,
ligion to life are just dawning in the'
consciousness of some people; in the
thought of others they are as yet
rather vaguely held; still others are
conjuring with the phrase Social
service"
In the thought OF all there is the
idea that religion has more to do with
social progress and problems than
heretofore had been supposed. In
deed religion has too long and too far
been regarded as concerned with the
abstract realm. The practical appli-
cation of the spirit and fcrvor, and
the insight and experiential truths of
the religious mind and life, is yet to
be made directly to the need of social
life, so that religion may become In a
way it has not been yet, the directive
and constructive force Of human life.
1t is this belief in the reality of re-
ligion and in its power to transform
life that has taken such a renewed
hold on many people that churches
have shown disposition to consider
social questions as well as to provide
individual religious culture.
Calls for New Qualities.
But work OF the kind calls for the
spiritual qualities of provision, in
sight, and moral and social passion,
on the part of Christian churches or
other religious bodies. These are
qualities that call for cultivation.
Where strictly indivldualistic tenn
per and view of religion are main
tanned these qualities are utilized Of
the minimum, il at all. The necessity
for their development Is not seen and
felt. The new social demands that
come from the more closely organ
lied human life of today and the
more highly sensitized consciousness
of man, are irnpelllng such course
of thought and action as will aid in
the cultivation and development of
these desirable spiritual qualities
The consciousness and employment
CT moral and social passion are es-
sential for o new Christian social or
der.
The preacher today has p burden
heavier than any borne by those pre-
ceding him. The complexities OF sci
entific teaching, the newer philosophy
of history, and the changing indus
trial order not only perplex him, but
make exactions that are to be met
If the moral and spiritual welfare OF
community is to be maintained su-
premely amid the distractions Incl
dent to a changing society. Both the
sins that undermine the structure OF
society and the sins that limit the
capacity of the individual in society
to grow normally in the essentials
that make for a spiritual manhood
and the sins that tend to crush The
individual are concurrently included
in the labor of the preacher or lead
ers of men in the spiritual realm
This involves the awakening of the
mind, heart and conscience OF the in
dividual. and for him the creation oil
more favorable environment.
There has taken place in COM
paratively recent years q revival OF
study in regard to the social charac-
| ter and life of the ancient Hebrew
people and in the social teachings
| of the prophets of that people. This
study is of a careful and discriminate
ing kind and is productive of fresh
and stimulating body of truth that
| has been overlooked. Furthermore
this spirit of social inquiry has gone
! to the New Testament to learn al
! first hand the social and ethical
! teachings of Jesus Christ and of the
early Christian church. The out
| look for the results Of this extended
| inquiry Is that in time the Christian
! church may become the organized
social conscience. This each church