New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
DOES THE CHURCH SATISFY?
A Critic Says mo-" and Explains
Why.

Why.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR While the recent letters to The
Tribune dealing with Christianity have
been without exception interesting, few
if any of them appear TO the writer to
have struck at the root of matters.
Above all questions concerning heaven
and hell and disputes over Biblical con-
tradictions the one question which
should rise supreme is, Has Christian
ity fulfilled or is it fulfilling its mis-
sion to the world?
We 90 for an answer TO representa-
tive men of the day, such as DR.. Elios
for example, and find that the Church
has thus far been more of negative
than positive factor in human prog
ress. With our own eyes we see that
there are still millions whose lives are
raised only slightly above those of the
beasts; millions for whom there is no
place for an inspiring thought, let alone
an opportunity TO attend church ser
vices. Is it not a terrible indictment
of the Church that such conditions
should remain after some 1900 years
it has had in which to exert its inhu-
ence?
There will doubtless be some to say
that these things are not part Of
Christianity-that its duty is fulfilled
in dispensing charity. But in adopting
this view such persons are merely eX-
pressing the attitude of the Church for
the last nineteen centuries, an attitude
which has made the Christian religion
sterile of truly great results.
After all is said and done, it is not
Christianity itself which is at fault,
but those who have interpreted it to
suit their wishes. Christ's teachings
concerning "the least of these" His
admonition to Love thy neighbor"
and to be servant of all" have been
ignored; nay, worse than ignored.
They have been changed from the
virile things He meant them to be
be notwithstanding dOgmatism. How
many Christians of to-day are religious
in the full sense of the term? How
many under our present social system
can even begin TO apply their religion
in big way to their daily lives?
If the Church does not satisfy, il is
for the reason that it has slurred
over or passed by the spirit of human
brotherhood, the very essence Of all
religion. And the only remedy is for t
to make this spirit living part or the
Christian creed by applying it without
restraint 10 our social ills. Such
course implies a change in our
economic system and therefore affects
cur. very lives. But of what value is
religion unless il affects our lives and
those of others for betterment?
That is what will happen when the
Church really awakens TO its Opportu-
nifty. There will result an incalculable
and unprecedented betterment of all
mankind. II seems that our common
sense alone should dictate that the
spirit of human brotherhood be crystal
lized by constructive change. il should
be evident to savage that a world IN
which all men could live beautiful lives
would be better for all concerned than
a world in which large portion must
be deprived of all aspirations, moral,
ethical and spiritual. We are going
ahead, with or without the Church.
Whether it shall have a part in the re-
generating process, whether Christian
ity shall continue a mere recitation OF
dogma or shall become vital factor
for progress, rests with the Church
members themselves.
f. w. VAN VALKENBURGH.
East Orange, n. j., June 25, 1914.