Evening journal., 1914-05-13

world is at one in wishing no more
of that
There is little or no possibility Of
i'll temper in those who realize the
Divine Presence. In those who know
before Whom they stand there must
inevitably be some reflection of the
Divine justice and the Divine
patience, some consciousness of the
sanctity of truth. And il is possible
for us 10 cultivate in ourselves, and
TO foster in others, that spirit of
personal devotion to our Lord, which
will make all conference between
His various servants mutually help
full. There have always been jealous
discussions of religious questions, but
not always devout. One of the in
spring challenges of our time Is the
call for consideration of religious
subjects in religious way for
spiritual discernment of spiritual
things. To obtain this we need con-
stant recollection of what IL means
to be ambassadors OF Christ" as we
wish men to account of us BY
deeper realization of what il means
to speak and act in His Name shall
we gain deeper measures of His
Spirit.
2. Loyalty to our Lord involves
loyalty to the. truth for which He
stands Recollection of this will lift
religious discussion from the plane of
selfish assertion of individual opinion
to the higher plane of impartial con-
sideration of the interests Of
humanity. We shall never think If
ourselves, as controversialists are
prone to do, as possessOrs of a mono
poly of truth, but of ourselvess, and of
others as we'll, as trustees of parts
and aspects of the truth. We shall
account others, as we wish them to
account us, as stewards of the mys-
teries of God" Our attitude of
mind will be determined not so much
by reference TO immediate associ-
ations as to the wider interests Of
religion and a future expression of
these which will exceed. as well as
include, all the imperfect expressions
with which we are familiar
Let me illustrate by concrete ap-
plication to our own position.
value most highly the principles and
influence in this country of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. The
older / grow. the more confident I
feel that it has useful functions TO
discharge in the upbuilding Of Ameri-
can Christianity Yet not for one
moment do / believe 1t to be final or
| infallible: nor do / for one moment
conceive that by itself it could pro-
tect American Christianity's best in
terests. For ideal American Chris
| tianity. the American species of
Catholicism, our Church as it now is
can give no exclusive guarantee; il
| can at best make toward this an inn
portant contribution. Need l say
that my work in life shows that
consider the contribution it can make
second in importance to no other
But ! hold no brief for the exclusive
OF superior, excellence of my own
/ religious body. recognize that
| American Christians of other names
can make different, and often better
contributions of different sorts from
ours. Roman Catholics, Presby-
terians, Methodists, for example, can
do many things to prepare for the
coming of that American Catholic
Christianity of the future, which we
cannot do; and we can only rejoice
and thank God that 1t is so. So far
am l from thinking that loyal main
tenance of ones own position in
wolves disparagement of others, that
/ consider IL a virtual admission OF
inferiority to shrink from seeing anC
acknowledging others excellence
Christian charity "beleveth al
things and hopeth all things; anC
the only one worthy attitude of mine
and heart toward any fellow-servan'
of the One Lord is desire to like anC
approve, generous delight in any sor
of superiority The age of habitua
suspicion and internecine conflict be
tween Christians of different com
munions seems fortunately to b.
passing Already are there signs o
the dawn of an age of sympatheti'
cooperation. May we have som'
share in promoting the spirit whicl
alone can make this possible.
If the time be upon us, when therl
is to be fuller discussion of Christian
Questions, this will mean clearer con
sciousness of our own principles
clearer defining of differences. w
need not shrink from the latter.
represents a necessary stage in tn
process of re-estabHshing harmony
a necessary preliminary TO agree
ments leading to unity. Franl
> statement and discussion of differ
ences, both in matters of detail an
in fundamental presupposition. ther
must be, the fuller, the better; bu
this is possible without bitterness 0
feeling or without obscuring tn
basis of common loyalty. / hav
frequent correspondence with mer
whose ecclesiastical associations ar
different from mine; but | often fin
= that fundamental sympathy is stron
: gest with some whose opinions d
many matters. some even of import
ance, are opposed to my own. Com
mon feeling, more than commo
thought, tends to prepare for tn
bond of peace which only the unit
| which the Holy Spirit gives can CON
? Dletely form. The possibility G
2 really Christian relations betwee
I men who ought to exhibit them re
I ceives more and more frequent illus
! tration. -
. The more we understand the bass
! principles upon which the life of on
! own Church is, or ought to be, base'
E the more enthusiastically We sha
5 hold them, and believe that we hay
y a trusteeship of much that is valuabl
2 for the religious future of Americi
q But the better we understand then
!. the more clearly we shall see tn;
= our own distinctive principles ar
j but partial, and that many or all {
e them are held i'm partnership
I Strength of conviction is the bel
basis for intellectual tolerance. q
e strength Of feeling is the only POI