The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22

THE people are hungry FOR the old
time religion that has warmed
L this cold worlds heart for two
thousand years, and New York
! !s no exception. Folks are folks whct her
they live on Manhattan Island or in a
dugout on the Western plains, and they
will respond when the bleeding form
of Jesus Christ is held up "a Gods
ultimatum for sin and mans only hope
! of salvation.
The people are not Disguised with re-
I ligon, but they are Disguised with
! rituals, non-esscntials and fornalsms
! and caricatures In which many have lost
/ religion.
Whenever the church makes It's oh
scrvances and forms tIc end the world
will turn its oack--man has not lost
/ interest in the bible truths Of religion.
! hut he has lost interest IN the type Of
religion that spcnus it's energies In
: theories. TOO much of the church work
is like "A squirrel in IA cagc--lotS Of ac-
! tivlty but no progress. Too much OF
the preaching is too nice. too dainty, il
doesn't kill, it's given Tor literary excel
lcncc OF tie production. Some prcach-
crs are all skylghts and no windows,
old New York will respond - - re-
. v!val of genuine religion with aS much
! enthusiasm "a she did to the World 5
! Series. Some are afraid 10 preach the
! truth, some have no truth 10 preach.
{ some preach the truth. Jesus never
dealt IN gltterinG gcnerallt!cs. lie
never went around Robin Hoods barn
| to get al point; wAcn he got there
: nobody had any doubt "a 20 what he
meant. We read His invectves with
even voice and duh eye and miss the
white heat OF His anger. The hot
metaphors race upon the heels Of one
another surging out Of an ocean Of
wrath, speeded by masters command
OF cpithet.
When some one says. "Bill, We don't
like your preaching, you are sensa-
tional," I take il as a compliment.
Nothing would he more sensational than
, II some men would preach tho truth.
choose Christian sensation in prefer
cncc 10 putrid pulpit stagnation. |
would rather he a sgnpoSt than n
tombstone.
one reason why sin iriumphs is he
/ cause II Is treated az though II was a
cream pun instead of IA rattlcsnalc.
Some one has said. "Frulory IL no more
n sign Of virtue than Wig il - hair
both used to cover "A bald spot
The Church seems t. have lost III"
passion for vital religion; she Is lol'ine
In her wcll fed content, satisfied Win
her magnificent buildings, Organs, vest
mcnts, rituals. spiritual death awaits
the church unless she harris hcrsclr
from her coucncs Of case aAd draws
the sword or the spirit and leaps INTO the
arena Of the worlds conflict and drives
Il Ia the very hilt Into the putrctying
assesses that bore their way toward
our moral and religious vitals,
'raougat.ui business and professional
men all over this land arc awakening q
the perils that threUten our cities and
civilization IN the widespread disregard
for the old time principles of Integrity
and honesty II civic Righteousness
prevails, II graft In high places is
ovcrthrown. ii the avalanche Of vice Is
stopped and the great tide of lntemper-
anco that threatens the young manhood
Of our land and lmperlls our destiny
AS naiion--if these evil forces are
ovcrthrown II must come through a re-
lvival OF the old time religion-th'