Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-30
CONVERSION
The Tendency to Doubt the Reality of
COnversiOn-Both Liberal and Ortiz
OdOx are Christianity De-
fined-The Negative and Positive
Sides of Conversion Repentance
Cannot Be of the Same Degree in
All People.
W. T. Williams

niio"iCOSCu ny DOIu SCleIlC0 dnQ pIllll-
sophy, liberal theology and othodoxy
On all hands the two ways are rec
ognlzed as real experiences in the
lives of men. They are the downward
course and the beginning of the course
that leads to the center of the life
which we all hope to possess-the life
that grows more and more unto per
fectlon. This is so self-evident to
those who think, that denying it is
absolutely out of the question. But,
while we know that this is true to
history, nevertheless, we have every
reason to believe that conversion is
sighted entirely too much by one
class. and wrongly emphasized by the
other. This is worth while knowing
because the significance of it cannot
be disputed. This is proved by the fact
that the leaders of thought in every
avenue raise their voices against such
tendencies. DIR. James Freeman
Clarks, who was when he lived one of
the most eminent of the Unitarian
ministers, says: "It is quite COM
mon, among Liberal Christians, to
doubt the reality or deny the import
ance of such changes. With them the
Christian life consists, no tin change
but in progress. In the Christian
course, Orthodoxy lays the chief stress
on the commencement; Liberal Chris
tianity on the progress. The one
wishes you to begin the journey with
out seeming to care whether you go
forward; the other urges you to go
forward, without inquiring whether
you have begun to CO. These ans
wers of the two bodies, liberal and
orthodox, are very deficient. and it
ought to be understood that DR.. Clarke
thought so. This is very satisfying
indeed, especially when we know that
such are the circumstances.
To say that such skepticism has
arisen from the tendency to doubt the
reality of conversion is to say only
what we all know too well. This is SO
clear that we need not debate it. For
sometimes it is so prominent that we
can see it with our eyes, and at
other times we feel it in the air. This
is well-founded on facts. These con,
ditions are born and bred by the fact
that it is always difficult for US to keeE
ourselves well-balanced when we
handle the great principles of the
| sciences. 1t seems so easy for US tt
over-emphasize one aspect and neglect
the other. We become too fond o.
one phase and not fond enough of the
other. Very seldom are we withou
our hobbies. The emotional element
are pushed unduly to the front now
and that this practice is disastrous
and if we have mind fair enough t,
take such matter seriously, we vii
be actually shocked by the results
They are appalling. and every on
who has any regard for his welfar
as an everlasting being should with
out delay ponder them until he feel
them in his blood. The number tina
wither away from the Christian folds
having no deepness of earth to roo
in, is calling aloud for our best an
closest attention. Listen to the word
of man who has devoted long, in
dustrious life to this subject: "Of tn
adult Protestants in America, who ar
now wholly outside of all church ir
fiuences. / dare say that it would b
found, if the facts were known, tha
very large majority have bee
through such an experience as this, /
connection with some revival. Man
of them are now incorrigible skeptie
concerning this change which men ca
conversion. They will tell you ths
they have been through it themselve
and that they know that there is notl
ing in it." How well this correspond
| with the experiences of those WI
have had to do with men-who hay
been trying to convince them of tt
error of their paths-and when "
halt to think of it, how sad it i
Verify, verify, such waste ought
be stopped; and it will be stoppe
when we become wise and considera
enough to understand and realize TIL
man is a complex being. The who
of man must be considered in conve
sion, and the tokens which one co
| verted man will show will differ
necessity to the tokens of another co
verted man. Peter was not suppos
to be like Paul even in nor after CO
version. They were approached
the Master with this idea in view. TIL
were no other than themselves at a.
time during their earthly careers, a
we know this is supported by the
records.
III Christianity is the best type
common sense that has ever been ma
manifest in the world 1t excells
everything else, insomuch that it
power to permeate the souls of m
Il with the designs and love of the Etc
| nal Father, taking into considerati
and maintaining without an exec
| ton the characteristics of each pt
sonality. 1t can be applied to
things. No channel is too far adval
ed or too far behind to imbibe from
veins. the blood of life. 1t is ct
mopolitan in nature, and this is
majesty of its glory. 1t is equal
the demands of every phase of Ii
and every feature of experience
only one expression of it. No c
thing, no one man. or no organizati
of men, can express it in its totali
Remembering this will relieve ma
trying situations. 1t is too wide
scope for any individual thing to e,
dream of being sufficiently large
express it in entirety. 1t takes unc
the shadow of it's wings the whole u
verse of God, no need overlooked, W
the purpose that all and everythi
together grasp the significance of
Perfect Man. Any other view
Christianity is indefensible, and if
should think of it from this angle,
calamities which we have alres
mentioned would undoubtedly dimin
league on league. Suppose we try
because unless all indications hs
been ordained to deceive, and the t
timonies of the most thoughtful p
pie no better than the prattle of
lingsgate, we are conscious that CHI
tianity is the paramount expression
the Merciful Father. In it we find
heart of God, and in it we can be MI
than conquerors. The love of
Most High it reveals the love Il
breaks down the barriers that keep
apart-the love that makes us {
vast brotherhood; because, with
vealing the nature of our God. it
veals also the nature of our huma
ty.
We have said in a former arti
=! Continued on page 10)