The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-25
no CHURCH HAS RIGHT
TO MAKE DOCTRINES
Rev. DIR. W. A. Cooper Preacnes m
tcresting Sermon In Central
Methodist Church, Southsiflc.


Rev. DIR. w. A. Cooper, pastor OF
| Central Methodist Church. preached
yesterday on the subject "Fundamen-
tails In Religion" He took for his text
the closing paragraph of the Sermon
on the Mount"
In part he said:
There have many things been pro-
nounced fundamental In religion that
are In no way fundamental. A fun
damental principle is the bedrock on
which we build the superstructure OF
civilization and which the storms OF
war and floods Of famine and peste-
principles 1t Ia impossible to build a
permanent civilization--one that will
stand through the ages.
The church in the past made the
acceptance of her theological doctrines
and ecclesiastical dogmas fundamen-
tai and any man that denied them
was a hereto and an infidel. but
these are seen today to be not fun0a-
mental in religion The principles
that are really fundamental lie be-
meath these things They are funda-
GENTLE. to the Catholic and to the
Protestant
Jesus declared that we mast recog-
nize that AZ fundamental which he
recognized and build on these same
principles on which he builded. He
called them 1heae sayings of mine,'
but he referred US back to the law
as given on Sinai: i came not to de-
stroy the law but 10 fulfill. that is to
establish.
First Religious Principle.
Following Jesus, the first funda-
mental principle in religion is 'Rever-
for God 1t Is impossible to build a
religious character or a religious state
or a religious civilization. To incul-
cate reverence Is the first duty of all
parents toward their children. and the
lack of reverence in children for God
and for His house argues religious
negligence in the parents.
The second fundamental principle
In religion Is maintaining the sancity
of the Sabbath Day. The Sabbath
was made for man because man need
ed day to rest from his usual labors
and to cultivate the spiritual in his
nature through the social worship of
the church. Without the Sabbath day
OF rest and worship and innocent rec
reation We cannot build religious race
or a religious state and civilization.
The third fundamental principle
in religion Is honor for parents.
Honor for parents. which expresses
itself in obedience, respect and love,
is essential to religious welfare of
the world and the development of a
high religious civilization OF course,
said Mr. Cooper, the parents who de-
mands honor of his children should
SO conduct himself as to be worthy
to be honored. They must set an ex-
ample that is worthy of emulation.
The fourth fundamental principle
in religion is respect for the rights OF
others. The rights of man are four
az set forth in the second table of
the law. They are the right TO life,
the right to family the right to prop
erty, and the right to reputation. I'm
less a man respects the rights or
others in these inalienable rights he
cannot develop a religious character,
nor can we build an age defying state
and civilization. To these fundamen-
tai laws Moses added another high
moral precept, Thou shalt not covet
and Jesus said that covetousness Is
idolatry and made a man a heather
nan idoiater.
Principles OF Christianity.
THE fundamental principles of
Christianity is that a man shall deny
the Messiah, the promised one of
Israel, and take up his cross. his part
of the common burden and follow
Him. No man can build a strong
Christian character without denying
himself his selfish desires. selfish am
bitions his selfish accommodations. and
live according TO the altruistic prin-
ciple. Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thysef
"Of course. said Mr.. Cooper. every
church has the right to demand OF all
persons who seek admittance TO its
communion that they believe in its
doctrines and obey its rules and regu-
lations, but no church. either Catho-
lie or Protestant. has any right to
make their doctrines. or their rules
and regulations fundamental in reii-
ltgion or in Christianity