The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-25


Into this obdurate mass of inherited opinion
and tradition has burst democracy, and par
ticularly American democracy, with its COM
plete separation between Church and State.
Democracy regards It's rulers as selected SER
wants. 1t respects them because they repre-
sent for the time being the mind and power
of the nation. 1t loves them only il they turn
out on trial to be worthy OF love; that is,
serviceable honorable, humane and inspiring.
1t thinks Of them leaders rather than rulers
and is heartily glad when they turn out to be
capable Of leadership.
Democracy thinks of government as an
agency it has itself created for directing and
performing various kinds OF work for the peo-
pies benefit and not for the special benefit
of any ruling class fraction of the COM
munty. Government is, ought to be, Il
pervasive incessant, Industrious promoter of
the common welfare. The real power behind
government in these days is what is called
public opinion, and that government is best
which is so constructed that it give effect
TO the genuine, well-considercd opinion OF TIE
mass OF the thinking people. Hence the su-
prenle Importance of universal education in Il
democracy. This conception of government
and of public opinion the spring OF govern.
mental action Is inconsistent with the ancient
thought OF God. but perfectly consistent with
the modern thought of Him.
The best observers of the social revolution
Which has been going in Europe and Amer
lea during the past hundred years agree that
democracy has been the most powerful force
in the great moyement-a force disintegrat-
ing, dissoving, and in some sense destructive
yet in high degree constructive fore-reaching
and vitalizing. 1t was against ancient author
tiles and traditions, but sets I'D a new and
better authority OF it's own creation Its at.
titude towards religion has been generally I'M
friendly, because the official Christian Church
has been for many centuries an ally OF the
governing classes and has been organized in
the largest Christian bodies on lines of arstoc-
racy or privilege, or in ranks orders which
exercise sacred domination.
Church Must Give Up Dogmas
Ever since the Protestant Reformation the
Christian Church. considered as an institution
possessing legal privileges and special an
thority over the minds and lives of its mem
oers, has been in declining state as regards
power or influence; but the rate of this de-
cline has been greatly quickened during the
past century of democracy-and the end is
not yet
With any established church democracy is
inevitably at war but under democratic insti.
unions churches supported by voluntary con.
tributions and endowments may flourish en-
ceedingly i'll great variety, as they do in the
United States. 1t is not, therefore, religion
against which democracy contends, but the an
clent establishments of religion which have
long been in possession Of special privileges
and peculiar authorities The most demo.
cratic nation may be profoundly influenced by
Il church which, possessing no PRIVILEGES
knows how to stir the hearts of the common
people
The American democracy, which is to a
large extent unchurchcd, manfests a remark
able indifference to many dogmas, formulas,
observances and rites which have had great
historic signicance in the development OF
Christianity. The democracy feels no interest
whatever in the old dogmas about transub-
sanitation. predestination. vcarious atone
ment, or apostolic succession 1t cakes 10 side
IN these discussions, and is incapable OF being
int. asted in them
In mis- respect the mass of young democrats
III ;ny Christian country closely resemble the
thinking Chinese and Japanese, who find it
quite impossible to understand or take any in
terest N the theological discussions which
still seem important to many Christian mis-
SlOna.loS those or
which have been matters of life and death in
Christian lands for centuries seem to the