Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-29
Church Is Hindered By
Faddists Whose Patron
Saint Is St. VltuS
By Bishop
Warren A.
&c O. 10 Ter

dancing excItement. without such ex-
citement they feel that nothing is being
accomplished. and that with such excite
ment the whole world is being brought
TO conservation by a CONFUSION.
The time and money effort expended
upon these movements is worse ahan
wasted The same energy. if bestowed
upon the work of the churches, would
yield far greater and better results, and
no unwholesome hysteri would arise.
Above all things our times need more
quietness. The demands of business
are very great. the requirements OF
social life are eXacting, and many other
things serve to distract human nature
to a dngerous degree. Why then
should the distractions of the multitude
of unnecessary movements" be added
to make conditions still worse? Why
should not the people go quietly TO their
churches and in these holy places wor-
ship reverently and fervently the God
of their father? Why should not time
be given for profound meditation and
hours of protracted communion with
God? Why should not people hear again
the Master inviting them to go apart
with Him and rest awhile?
On one occasion in the earthly min
istry of Jesus. his Twelve Apostles De-
came too excited by their success in
committed to them by Him. They re-
turned from the mission upon which
He had sent them nervously exclalm-
ing The very devils are subject 70 US.
His penetrating eye discerned that thelr
hearts were unduly excited, and he' SAID
to them, Come We apart into the desert
place and rest awhile. He saw that
even in a thoroughly good work 1t was
easy to become overheated, ana that
.s1NWr TeYhf
These words of the Master turnsh
good text from which many preachers
might draw wholesome discourses for
their people Just now. The war Is ex-
citing the people and along with H.
great many humane schemes nave peeh
projected with more enthusiasm tnan
Judgment The people need to be called
TO calmness and to close communion
with God.
The real calamities of the war have
not yet fallen upon US. Not many
months hence there will be many sna-
dowed homes in the land and grief
stricken hearts. Broken hearts can not
be healed or helped except by close and
calm communion with God. To this
the people need now be called. rms
is a part of our real preparedness TOT
war which must not be overlooked
Nothing can sustain suffering souls
but the soothing grace OF our Loru
Jesus Christ. and our people must De-
come more used to spending quiet hours
in communion with Christ If they are
to bear with faith and fortitude the
trials which are approaching.
revival of real religion is neces-
sarv above all things else. We can dis
pense with a great deal Of hurrying and
scurrying over the land and the prose-
cution of various movements" if the
people can be brought back to God ana
made 10 feel anew their absolute depend
ence upon Him. The nations who forget
oGd perish. and well-meaning men and
women not unfrequently forget God in
their too absorbed attention to pro-
grammes and movements" -
1t is time to return to God. This IS
the movement which is supremacy and
imperatiVely necessary.