The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-12-27
THERE MUST BE A NEW
CHURCH FOR NEW TIMES

in the churches. We are here to bid
the public welcome in ChriSt's name.
We are determined to leave nothing
undone that will spread abroad our
attitude of fraternaiism and cordial
ity. The splendid side OF all this is
that it is not change dictated by
some leader, but a spontaneous ex-
preston Of what has for some time
been in the minds of our people.
Again, as one OF our laymen re-
Gently said. church that merely de-
trays its expenses from year to year
and provides for comfortable services
and nothing more, can not on the
face of it offer much OF challenge
; to men.
Many strong men have feeling
that the church does not Get any
where" Now perhaps this is too
sweeping statement on their part.
Perhaps they are looking at the
church from merely commercial
basis. We all know that the church
is daily accomplishing spiritual re-
suits which can not be estimated in
tangible way.
The layman whom have quoted
was not unmindful of this fact. He
spoke with reverence of the truths
and sacraments which are in posses
sion of the church. But he felt as
do, that the church is not alone for
these things. They are for the church.
They are means to lead us on to
deeper spiritual activity. They are
not ends in themselves. They are
thoroughfares not terminals. We re-
ceive their benefits and go our sew
erl ways, when in fact they should
be agents of reconciliation bringing
us finally into a sense of corporate
responsibility and corporate program.
ii think men are right in expecting
something more than personal reli-
gion. That has its place. But it does
not take the place of group conscious
ness. The church Is group. Men
judge us collectively. They look for
activity that results from collective
planning. The church body must
have religion that gets somewhere"
as well as the individual. There must
be an attempt at program.
1t is here that we realize the place
of the layman. No church program
can count on any measure of success
If 1t Is not balanced with the contri-
button the practical thought of its
tlaymen can make.
A large measure of the failure of
the church In the past and we are
not referring simply to st. Pauls,
can be traced to the fact that the
churlh has not trusted it's laymen.
They are for the most part construc-
tive. They have few religious preju.
dices. Their sane counsel is such no
church should fail to use. They may
have expressed themselves mostly in
personal ambitions, like James and
John but will respond to spiritual
matters If the challenge is large
one. They know how to say I'VE are
able" They often have said it in
other fields Of endeavor.
This church Is committed to that
plan. l have challenged our men in
Christ's name and for his cause
They hav organized the Churchman'S
club of ST. Pauls on unique basis.
! The church as l have said means
nothing to many people. 1t has not
established any point of contact with
them. 1t is for the laymen to aid in
determining where the weakness
lies. If it is the fault of the churches
as they have been constituted in the
past, we must find the weakness and
correct it. If 1t is for lack of local
I aggressive program we want to de-
termine what should be accomplished.
/ While the end we have in view
is spiritual, yet to be effective we
must have not only the thought of
men but means. 1t is proposed that
in addition to raising money for Our
budget a separate fund shall be col
lected known as working capital"
A fund that shall be used yearly in
definite and permanent ways which
will put the church on record as a
/ working organization, and a spiritual
/ force in the, community life.
! Again, one very patent weakness
of the churches has been that we
have made mere adjunct and given
minor place to that which should
have been from the start our chief
| interest and work.
! The business of the church is to
bring in the kingdom of God. Our
aim should be more than the slogan
to make the world safe for democ-
racy." Our commission is greater
than that. 1t is so to spread the
good news of Jesus to all men that
eventually he shall be the ideal of
every man and savior and his judg-
ments the standard Of their conduct
That was his purpose in coming For
/ that he gave his life, "That all men
might look unto him and be saved
! He must be the goal of every life.
| Ven d, not disbelieve i'll missions
Men disbelieve in church that for.
gets it's commission or makes second
airy and so dishonors it's founder and
head l know l am only saying what
you would have me say If you could
speak in my place. This is the great
challenge! He is counting on US
Will the churches respond: we are
able!"
| One has imagined conversation
between Christ and the angel Gabriel
soon after the ascension. Gabriel is