Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-18
PRESBYTERIANS HEAR PLEA
FOR UNITY OF CHURCH

cens'nrd from rare one
that It cen learn more from head whc
retlres from Office than from ,one who az
sumes the relns
Doctor stevenson took coenizance OF tho
fact that the Presbyterian Church IL not
the only church that works for q bigger
/ nner Christianity, and like the broad man
he W. he advised hls listeners TO think IN
! terms Of the widest meaning OF their faith,
and not only within the limits OF their
sect. He said in part:
LACK OF FAITH pEPLoRBD
III looks at times il Christian men had
n9 faith IN the principles OF the Gospel
MS being either applicable or equal to the
cNigencies OF modern life. with an incoming
tide OF commercial prosperity the minds Of
men are turning TO the comfortable haven
OF abundance, ease, luxury and worldly sat
lsfaction Although we sing Faith OF our
Fathers Living Stll.' there Is no note Of
sacrifice or herolsm, We are told that con.
ventional beliefs are not equal to the social
needs Of the hour to the national crises
that imperil us and TO the international re-
sponslbilities laid upon us. and that those
beliefs cannot survive. May this not, how
ever. characterize the darkest hour before
the dawning. When the Judgments of the
Lord are in the earth the Inhabitants Of
the world viii learn righteousness.
There never was a time when great ques-
tions Of righteousness received such serious
consideration as is now being given to them.
False and misplaced confidence is being
everywhere shaken. In sheer desperation of
heart when all else has failed war, diplon-
acy culture formal and unreal religion
men in hunger of soul turn to the living
God. and are eager to believe the truth as
II Is in Jesus, This is what men are doing
the world over. In mission lands the
church with her present equipment cannot
adequately meet the multiplyingand enlarg-
ing opportunities to make Christ known.
In countries at war prayer has been REIN
stated as an Indispensable experience. and
the pre-eminent claims OF the Lord are
reasserting themselves with real and un-
wontsd power. In our own land IL is not
so much an age of doubt as of desire.
RESPONSIBILITY or CHURCH
DO we realize what responsibility this
throws upon the church God has made
ample provision for the worlds faith and
the world is waiting for the message OF
Christs mission Christian students of all
lands have adopted as a watchwod ex-
pressive of their missionary obligation, "The
evangelisation of the world in this genera
ton" If the people now livirg without God
and without hope In the world are to know
that Christ has been sent Of God for their
redemption. it must be through the witness
of the present church. The souls for whom
we are responsible belong to the present
generation"
What is the great need of the world to-
day? Is II not for some unifying bond |
that will hold together men of all classes
and nations in one close and lasting broth. |
erhood? We had thought that our twen-
tieth century civilization was converting the |
earth into one great genial neghborhood, |
but suddenly are shocked to find that |
what was being prepared through the years |
of supposed progress was an armed camp
I'VE have been plunged into an era OF |
suspicion and strife and separation and |
general disintegration that would seem to !