The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-04-11
THE PEOPLES FORUM.


The Church for the Times.
Continuing where we left off in our
last, let me say, that writer in one
of our leading magazines, some time
ago said 'The assault of scholarship has
developed into a crusade which is as
Stunning such gigantic proportions that
it is called the most remarkable intel
lectual and spiritual movement in
either ancient or modern times. 1t
sweeps aside nearly every thing cherish
ed by the Christian centuries" He is
right IN saying it is stupendous and
though it may have the marks of
secular scholarship upon it. it is GER
talnly anything but spiritual in its in.
fiuence and results. 1t is doubtless
time, as perhaps true, that in no
other age of the world, has there been
such a united movement of unbelief
against the citadel of Inspiration and
Christianity. Unbelief marshalling its
forces in close array and moving for
ward in battle line, does give one the
idea of mighty crusade which is en-
gagged in carrying on open warfare
against Christianity. This movement
has made such conquests in Germany
that over vast areas of thought and
life, Christianity is no longer entitled
to serious consideration.
Is it any wonder that its houses of
worship have been well nigh forsaken,
its centers of amusement crowded and
the Sabbath day made day of pleasure
and means OF gratifying mere selfish
ness.
The church faces the problem of
caring for her young men at the front.
She must furnish chaplains, her best
men too, and the Y. M. C. A. workers.
Then there is the readjustment of
financial conditions. No easy matter
this-in the face of the high cost of
living; the removal of so many of her
best young men; the call for erecting
church buildings, the Macedonian call
from Foreign fields; the care of widows
and orphans; of wounded and manned
to fit for life's work and training young
men to take the place of those who
have gone. This means more lay
preachers who will carry the message
to places where the constant motion of
men make both need and opportunity.
A nation wide Evangellstic campaign
to reach every, one in the nation, with
extra gifts for churches to meet new
these are imperative neces-
sites. The. church must go forward.
She has been dragging anchor. If the
church could get as much out of the
war for Christianity as she does for
patriotism and efficiency she would be
greatly helped.
The cry of hard times Is raised. Hard
times! Away with such cry from the
church, Why should economy begin
with the church? A writer in q
magazine of January last says, with
all: the calls for economy and food saw
ing and thrift, close study of the sum.
mer resorts on the Atlantic sea- board,
convinces me, that more people have
bought high priced autos in the last
twelve months than in like period OF
time in the history of the world. Tha;
more people are smoking high priced
cigars and cigaretts than in any pre-.
vIous time" He also gives it as bis
conviction that in the average summer
resort 500 are spent for amusements
/ for every dollar given to the church for
which Jesus gave his life, and most Of
this money comes from church members
and so called friends of Jesus and His
church.
Economy should begin where the
waste is greatest. The church should
enlist men at once to become part OF
the world movement for world peace
after the war. Pure and undefiled re.
ligion must be brought to the front, anC
the church must be entrenched finan.
cially for the lean Years after the wal
when many millions of men will have
to readjust themselves and start over.
She must be dihgent now in sowing
the good seed of the gospel in the fal.
low field of humanity, prepared for re.
ligious truth and thought and teaching.
She must preach the truth concerning
sin and judgment, repentance and faith,
| justification and good works, with re-
wards and punishments in heaven or
hell. We are saved to serve. But do