South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-25
A FRANK CRITICISM
OF CHURCH OF TODAY
Local Pastor Says 1t Has De-
parted From Spirit of
the Master.

At the last meeting Of the Minis
terial association in South Bend.
Rev G. ". Titus, pastor of the First
Christian church or Mishawaka.
spoke on The Optimism of Christ.
and his remarks were fruitful Of
considerable discussion among the
members of that body. In the course
of his paper the speaker told his
hearers that in the maelstrOm they
had forgotten God as the Father.
To many he was an ally aiding in
the wreaking out of vengeance
upon their fellow men. We had
never drifted so far from human
brotherhood as now. Those TO whom
had been sent the good news Of
Christ across the seas had seeming
~ laid down the Bible to take up
the sword of warfare. These were
the days when in the thick of all
the confusion, chaos and turbulence,
one must stop and ask: Is il really
worth while? The purpose OF his
paper, the speaker said was, if pos
sible 10 find the place where a new
~
could be better enabled to go on in
the work of the kingdom.
Faith Was Transcendent.
He next considered the optimism
of Jesus, pointing out that through
all His troubles His faith was trans
cendent, His soul optimistic. and be-
hind IL all He discerned the new
day OF His God. The time was ripe,
said Mr.. Titus, when this same spir-
IL was needed Granted that the day
was dark, il was however true that
out Of the darkest days in human
ity's experience have come the clear
est revelations Of our God Out Of
this chaos God will not fail 10 re-
veal Himself The monster drink
was being overthrown all over the
world and out of the turmoil. with
its untold suffering and darkness,
would come the utter downfall and
defeat of blood-thirsty militarism
and autocracy. In the mailed fist
OF the German kaiser. militarism
was making its last great stand. bat
surely was crumbling 70 its defeat
out Of the strife had come anoth-
or blessing. far-Teaching i'm its in
fiuence and power. Through her SUI
fering France had found her way
back 70 God. The last OF German
rationalism and destructive criticism
had been seen. and there was now
trench so wide and so deep around
these institutions that few, if any.
Of the future students would ever
care 20 pass over. The speaker here
remarked that he had little time or
patience with philosophy such as
was taught in the German institu-
tions.
Character ON Ton.
We were being taught as never
before that the glory of a nation
does not always consist in its arm
les. navies. its riches nor its titled
lords When these had failed to
meet the impending need Of a ma
tion. England called her Welsh coal
miner 90 the throne as II were.
Thus henceforth and forever aris-
tocracv must give way 20 character.
God is again teaching us the lesson
that the value OF man is not what
ne has. but what he IS With all
these mighty occurrences dare we
not say that our God is still ruline
and His hand is 10 be seem
I would not lift my voice in one
word OF criticism against the
church. but I cannot refrain from
saying that we have departed far
from the spirit OF the Master in our
attitude towards life. The average
man % the street thinks the church
above him. And whether we admit
10 or not we have given him cause
20 feel IT, Where is the church that
has not made its supreme EFFORT 10
enlist the rich. the cultured. the high