South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-11
FIRST OF SERMONS ON
SUGGESTIONS OF PUBLIC
Rev. Edwards Opens Series of
Addresses for January on
what is ReiigiOn"-Audi-
tOrium Filled to Capacity.

AS announced by Rev. Loren N.
Edwards. pastor OF the Methodist
Memorial church several weeks ago,
the series of sermons on What is
Religion" began on sunday evening
twas the plan of the pastor 10 put
question TO his congregation and
the public as well OF which they were
10 express their opinion and mail 10
a. To him. out of the replies he was
10 select subjects for Sunday even
ing sermons during the month of Jan
uary. From out OF the large num-
beers OF answers which he received he
has classified the four following
themes: Religion and Faith-Or the
Quest for the Infinite Religion and
Feeling-Or the Certainty of Spirit
u&I Experience" Religion and Fact
Or d Practical Ethical Program for
Life. and Religion and Future
Or a Message and Hope of I'm
mortality"
The subject for Sunday evening
was the first Of the series. The pastor
SAID in part, The interest in religion
is deathless. Moreover. so far as dis
covery and investigation can furnish
scientific testimony it appears to be
universal If these two statements
are accepted as facts then a third fact
Is seen TO be obvious and consequent
tal, viz:-that religion is not "a mat
ter of form but of life. not a cloak
FOR certain occasions and ceremonies,
but the very breath of existence.
When one asks concerning religion,
therefore, ne opens a discussion of a
subject central to the life Of all men
OF times and everywhere. Manifest
~ the explorer in such regions may
expect TO ind marked variations. both
as to compass and content, finding
some conceptions spacious, others
limited, some rich with meaning 9TH
ers barren and poor. Therefore,
when one makes inquiry of just a
single community as to the cOnstitu-
ent elements of religion he need be
prepared for diverse and even con-
Trajectory answers covering "A wide
range OF mentality as well as great
variety and originality of suggestion.
such has been the question in the
questionable Of which these sermons
on religion are the outcome.
In our discussion of religion as
faith we are thrown back on the
primal and elemental forces of life;
we begin with faith for here is the
place to begin where ever humanity
exists. a man writing on religion
many centuries ago and yet while
Christianity was young declared even
then that faith abides. The refer
ence is even more significant and con-
yincing when We remember that the
writing was really not about faith but
about that other Christian verify,
love; but i'm that climax in which
love was made TO shine forth in a
lustre that Is almost binding. Paul
would not take is pen from paper un-
I'll ne had grouped with love. two
other brillants, only less dazzling
than ii and one of these was faith.
Nov abideth Faith, yea verify, now
and always and eYermore." That
faith and its attendants are regarded
as essential to religion is evidenced
10y the fact that p people made some
reference TO il in their replies
Religion, then, is faith; an out
reach for divinity, a yearning for
comradeship with the Almighty, a
quest for the Infinite Then let our
faith be true TO mental soundness and
moral cleanness, let il be strong and
clear and positive let il be vital and
not formal and let it grow with the
expOunding experiences of life and
finally let 1t be "a Christian faith; a
Faith that shines more Bright and
Clear, when Tempests rage without,
that when in danger knows no fear,
in darkness feels no doubt, Lord,
gives us such a faith as this. and hten.
what e'er may come. TN taste cen
now the halloWed bliss, of an eternal
nome"