The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-25
dTHE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER
.By WILLIAM T. ELLIS

and formality, as a result Of the
present world crisis.
Prussia's Perversion of Piety
If the Russian church was com.
PLEASANT and self-seeking and de-
spiritualized, what shall we say OF
the Prussian state church, the de-
generate child which boasts Luther
as an ancestor? Arid scholasticism
which had seriously infected the en-
tire Christian world, and formal &C.
clesiasticism, have for decades char
acterized the church in Germany. All
the world has seen how servile il
has been to the impious claims OF the
kaiser.
OF all the pitiable and tragic as
poets OF German life, since Prussan-
ism unfurled its black flag and set
out boldly upon career OF world
buccaneering. none has been more
surprising and blameworthy than
the lack OF vitality in the church.
There have been no prophet voices
lifted to call the nations leaders to
account. We have listened in vain
for any pulpit arraignment of the
German atrocities. or the waste OF
German blood. There has been no
fearless self-examination by the ma
ton. Her spiritual experts have not
diagnosed the state OF her soul.
lntrospection and self-condemna-
ton have marked the course of the
British churchmen but this note has
not echoed from Germany. Instead,
the ecclesiastic- ridden state church
has found apologists for every Ger
man deed Of evil, from the violation
of Belgium to the sinking of the
Lusitania and the rape of Russia. No
ecclesiastical sensibiities have been
hurt by the kaiser's mad claims to
special partnership with God. Bias
phemy is an unknown sin to these
lick-spittle ecclesiastics, who out
rival their imperial master in their
distortion of the most elemental
teachings OF religion, for pan-Ger-
man purposes. The land of Luther
has gone far from the days when he
hurled defiance at kings and cleo
tors.
As 1t Is in America
Perhaps rough definition of &C.
clesiasticism is in order, as we come
to look upon the type in America.
The ecclesiastic is the professional
proponent of churchism, sectarian-
ism or denominationalism. He makes
his living and finds his career within
the real realms of church politics
and activities. Usually, he is a cler-
gyman; but all clergymen are not
ecclesiastics. Most who become such
are unconscious OF their own deteri-
oration. Indeed, very few are. The
tendency to become an ecclesiastic
is strongest among the higher offic-
erS Of the religious bodies. Men
whose own salaried positions and
personal power are made secure BY
their ecclesiastical activities are the
commonest recruiting ground for
the type. By no means all bishops
and board secretaries are ecclesiast-
les; those who escape this fate, how
ever, must possess a vital religion.
Eccleiasticism Intentionally or in
stinctively, puts personal or denom-
national advantage above the larger
interests Of Christianity. 1t makes
business of religion. Ceaselessly it is
bent upon building up an institu-
ton. Craft is a familiar tool to its
hand. 1t has the wisdom of the SER
pent, if not the harmlessness of the
dove. So it cultvates the rich and
powerful, since it desires to be rich
and powerful itself.
1t delights in closed doors and
conferences and it is so
practical that it prefers to settle
affairs by private consultation, rath.