The Washington herald., 1915-04-11

merely have in trust some property for
God. But the churches and their prop
critics are Gods, not ours.
III We continue to look at the prob
lem OF union from a human standpoint.
We will have seventy years moro OF con-
troversy, and progress no further than
In the past seventy years. We must get
the divine viewpoint. Is union or disun-
ion best for the advancement Of the
kingdom Of God? Can there be any hon
est question as to the answer? Was the
apostolic church divided and wasting its
energies in fighting itself? Are We not
one in Christ? Do We not believe In the
same God, recite the same creed. sing
the same hymns, baptize with the same
baptism, accept preachers without ques-
tion from the other church-and glad to
get then-bear the same name and work
for the same great cause?
Il say union Is q duty. and We must
start from where We are now. We must
hold inviolate all the things upon which
We are now agreed. and the first step
now is to put away strife. Tho bane OF
denomina tionalism Is self-aggrandi1e.
ment. and our Northern church has In
vaded the South and the Southern church
has replied in kind.
We have been and arc fighting over
territory. Are We any better than the
warning nations of Europe. who are also
fighting for territory? Are those nations
any freer from the sins of murder and
greed than individuals would be? Is
there ono law for nations and another
for Individuals And is Christian
church free to do things which would be
sin In an individual Christian?
I'VE have established a Federal Coun-
ell Of Methodism. Can We blame Tho
Hague Tribunal for falling?
I'm Japan and Mexico and the utter
most parts Of the earth We Methodists
have been practically unitel and at
peace. We have made treaties as to ter
ritories and observed them. And yet We
fear to practice at home what We are
doing among the heather. Why. We are
even still holding our bisectional nose
over the ifty-year-dead corpse Of slavery
and refusing 1t decent burial!
Woo IL me If I preach not the Cos
pei Of reconciliation and q united Meth
odism, with the spirit Of John Wesley
at its head and working as ono body for
Christ We confess ourselves equal in
all things and under one authority Then
why are we not OF one communion?
The bishops Of the two Episcopal
believe they have the power. But II they
do not. let the laymen rise in their might
and demand it,
The Methodist war relief fund has
passed the 800. 900 mark. by the report of
the treasurer Of the board Of foreign
John r. Mott. Young Mems Christian
Association missionary leader. is making
addresses in different sections Of the
in which he interprets the reli-
yious significance Of the present war.
His note is not pessimistic. though he
the evil of the present rever-
sion to lower standards of life. He says:
1t has demonstrated the unity Of tho
Christian religion; it has revealed a ca
oacity for vicarious suffering and serv-
ce. and the cry seems to be: Let US use
in service for others The war
$ not only purifying. but simplifying
,aith. The students don't believe as
many things as they did, but they know
low in whom they have believed. Sick.
suffering in the trenches, they
,ather together to read and pray and
ing. Said one young fellow who lay
and without help for four days
md nights, owing to the inability Of the
Red Cross to reach him through the in
essant shell fire, We had q bit Of can
lie and used to drag ourselves together
or a bit Of Scripture and a song each
light. We tried to sing Lead, Kindly
light" and We got along all right until
We got to the verse where it says. Tho
light Is dark and am far from home"
nd then We had to stop"
Tho old saying that it is an Ill wind that
lows no ono any good is exemplified |
ha fS ind
alton that the peoples Of Europe are be- |
ng brought face to face with religious |
eality as never before in a generation. |
'rof. DIR. Adolph Deissman. Of the Uni |
ensity of Berlin, writes that the war |
as been the cause Of a distinct, and in |
many places, marked revival Of the |
life. In Germany competent |
bservers are unanimous In tho declara-
lon that for the past few months the |
'rotestant churches and denominations |
ave undergone q period Of intensified
eligious feeling. Perhaps the most re-
larkable feature is the holding Of prayer
leetings. The people usually gather on
'eekday evenings either in the churches
r in halls. The service Is short but in
,nsivc. Song and prayer occupy first
lace. An address is not always given.
ut II so, is brief and to the point In
he country these hours Of prayer and
uiet devotion are sometimes held at
oonday and the men and women come
church directly from their labor in
eckday clothes.
1t is the purpose of the General Assem-
y of the Presbyterian Church to raise
Q. 900, 900 toward q fund for the relief Of
ged and infirm ministers of the Gospel.
he canvass is being carried on In all the
-eat cities Of the United States. and al
lady large amounts Of money have been
edged. The team which represents
lie General Assembly on the field con-
SITS Of the Rev. Drs. William Hiram
oulkes, William Sylvester Holt, Will
n J.. Johnson. William ]. Darby, and
,hn r. Sutherland
It is the desire of the assembly to give
,e pastor who has served the church
lirty years and who has reached the
ye Of seventy years q pension Of $500 .
Ear as long as he lives.
"Multitudes of these minister's" said
well-known Presbyterian pastor yester-
~, "are doing community work. for
hich they receive no compensation
hatever. They are constantly visiting
70 sick, burying the dead and engaging
various forms Of philanthropic and re-
# work. They are appealed to for
lancial assistance by hundreds Of men
no are in distress. 1t Is the aim of the
Church to look after such
ithful servants Of God in the decrepti-
de of old age"
Rev. Robert E. Speer. secretary Of the
resbytcrian Board Of Foreign Missions,
III conduct a party Of Presbyterians In
eight-months' trip to visit missionary
atoms in the Orient, leaving this coun-