Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-03
x THE CHURCH AT PRAYER AND AT WORK
CHRISTIANITY IS IN NO DANGER
OF WANING IN ITS INFLUENCE
It's History Essential Character and Vital Truths Give Reas
surance of Continuing Human Interest and Power

IL Christianity. in danger? From
many sources come expressions of
apprehension, II not positive fear,
that Christianity and Western civili-
zation are threatened and may pass
away. Clergynen are finding topics
OF this character exceedingly attrac-
tive and are preaching on phases of
this supposed danger and are speak,
ing words of warning and indulginE
In thoughts of pessimistic character
In some instances. Even the note OF
fear is strongly sounded. A few
weeks ago the general subject was,
HAS Christianity failed?"
Now actual progress is Indicated
when the subject taken is. us Chris
tianity In Danger?" Hope has taken
possession of writer's and preachers
and new courage possessed when
they have got so far along that they
conclude that Christianity may be
simply in danger and has not failed,
as at first intimated. Tho next step
IN sermon serials will be the ques-
ton. rs Christianity Practicable?"
or HAS Christianity Made Pro-
gress?" or Us Christianity Trium-
phant?" The suddenness with which
the war came produced such a de-
pressed state of mind and sense of
impending calamity that abiding
faith and eternal hope were held in
abeyance. 1t seemed as though the
Christianity of centuries of develop
ment had been shattered, and there
was much mental cropping for light.
Function of Preacher.
Now the period of inquiry has be-
gun. Confusion and despair of mind
are overcome and men have under-
taken to ask anew, what is Chris.
tianty2' 1t is the function of the
preacher to sound the note of hone
and of strong confidence In the
neatly and power of Christianity
Ihere is no place for the word fear
IN such a ones vocabulary. Whether
or not Christianity Is in danger de-
Christianity. "
That Christianity Is in no danger
may be assumed from the KNOWLEDGE
the world possesses of Cbristja nitv, .
past history. The truths of the lew.
ish prophet OF Nazareth and the
spiritual teacher and leader of the
christian church have passed through
many crises and have survived. The
present period is not the first testing
urne Christianity has met. It passed
successfully the gauntlet of a whole
series of prosecutions directed nv
pagan Roman emperors who sought
to throttle it.
Through the social chaos of the
middle ages Christianity was the
power that held society together and
constructively brought out a new So
cidl order. 1t was the power that
preserved for the good of humanity
the best of the literature and arr.
philosophy and political ideals and Of
religious hought-belonging to the
civilization of old Rome and before
Christianity provided for the churches
the spiritually organizing principles
OF life. religion that has thus far
passed through so many vicissitudes
and has emerged triumphant may be
expected to continue its course.
Nature OF Christianity.
That Christianity Is in no danger
OF dissolution may be inferred by the
essential nature of Christianity. II
is easy for some minds to confuse n
with ecclesiastical institutions. It Is
possible for such institutions 10
change in form or to readopt their
methods of work or the character OF
their messages to meet the demands