Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-02-13

Professionalism maintain to a consid-
cradle degree their difference
Church union is a long while coming.
but all are In a better position than
ever they have been for cooperative
enort when special emergencies arise.
IN IKE manner there are grave ques-
lions that arise occasionally fn
morals and religion in which Catholic
and non.Cathoiic churches can work
together.
Most movements, though in some
instances inchoate. are intuitive ef-
forts OF masses Of people to reach
out to larger life OF spiritual free
dom. On the one hand organized
and vested evils are to be attacked
In order that this freedom may be
made possible. On the other hand
the moral and spiritual inner char
acter OF many movements that ap-
pear outside the church ls to be de-
tected, aided and assimilated and
interpreted, In order to show what
are the longings in the consciousness
Of humanity and to learn the ways
Of God for this age. II is a curious
fact that religious contests In the
past have been largely over intel
lectual differences In the making OF
theolog1es AS Christian thought
and conscience look back Il Is start
hing to think OF good men engenderine
strife and bitterness Of feeling in at
ternpts 10 define God and His attitude
toward human life. In the coming
day the effort will be to show the
world generally how good men can
love God and their fellowmen. It is
gradually dawning on the mind II
man that the way to God is not over
the rough route of intellectual strife
Lu.A 4 -aea
Christian affection and tniera tiof.
Yet the intellectual conflict had To
be fought out In order to clear the
way and to lay logical foundation
in thought concerning God.
Asserting Its Power.
However, now In the social plane
Christian truth is asserting Its power.
The relation of Christian men to other
men and to the institutions OF life is
becoming the dominant influence IN
Christian thinking. Christian men
formerly sought to know all possible
about God in order the better to dis
cern their duties to all men. An eB-
senLial point of view of familiar
truths has come TO light through the
recognition OF the social conscIo asneSs
and conscience. Christianity brought
something quite In opposition to con
ditions already fixed in social life
when II insisted that the strong
should bear the infirmities OF the
weak; that those without helpers in
their loneliness and need should be
cared for; that the fallen should be
lifted; that the oppressed shall have
justice and that the apparently un-
profitable In society shall be saved,
made At and developed In moral and
spiritual qualities of worth and good
ness. This teaching cuts right across
the path OF biological evolution of the
survival of the tittest with its corol-
larry OF TIE elimination OF the weaker
Christianity teaches not the destruc-
ton of the weakest and the undesir
able, but Of the weakness. the evils
he unlovab.e traits and disintegrat-
| ing elements of character In all men.
The contest OF the Christian church
today IL not for some predominant In
tellectual conquest. but Is q struggle
or moral and spiritual power. 1t Is es-
sential that the church shall manifest
her supremacy in this realm. It may
| be necessary TO uproot and cast out
that which is false In the social struc-
ture and functioning. but at the same
time to assimilate the good and ex-
tend It. There win be occasions for
the vtrile virtues of militancy OF
spirit. But the construction work Is
TO be along the line OF power to SYM
pathize, the power to love, In the
broadest meaning of the word. and
| IN the interest of truer and Juster
relationship among men.