Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-16
How It Seems to
The Man in the Pulpit

ASthoroughly jostled out of its lime worn
channels by this great war. II is not exactly
excitement nor is it uncertainty that pra-
walls, but rather the deeper stirring of con-
>ictions coupled with an eagerness to read
just religious life to the new and inevitable
conditions just ahead. The movement IL
stirring the very depths Of mems souls In
some ways it is seen more clearly in the pew Z
than in the pulpit. Great laymen movements
looking to the raising Of millions of doilars
for mission and church work are on, the
aotuatlng cry being, This is to put the
church and It's work on Il proper footing fof
tho great day of reconstruction that is to 4
follow this war"
MANI things stand out with new emphasis 4
1Nl in this hour of stupenduous planning
and giving. one is the scrutiny of religion
itself Men who took their religion before
very much as matter Of course are now
giving 1t the closest possible Scrutiny, to
determine, II possible, whether they have
anything worth calling religion or not A
deep ana growing dissatisfaction with the
colu foTmatieS Of religion Is everywhere
laying hold of mems hearts. They will never
again be satisfied TO go through the forms
without the fact. They must feel the thrill
OF power which springs from spiritual reality.
There is nothing OF better omen than this for /.
the future Christianity mas had many an
parent weaknesses, but in this moment OF
understanding men seeing that the b
weakness Is not in Christianity itself but
in their treatment of Il. They are beginning
TO see that they have not given themselves
to the fundamental truths of Christianity. (
but rather TO their superficial expression. The
sudden feeling of the great problems of life 8
anu death. brought home by the departure
OF the 'Doys Tor war. the pull Of sympathy
for stricken and suffering peoples and the 4
m'Series OF the helpless: the appeals for
countess millions for the struggle to meet
the demands or war and mercy. and all In a
the name Of humanity. have made men think
as they have never thought before. Il has
thrown them back on their professed faith u
/ III God for comfort and direction In couse-
auence faith itself has been subjected to a (
scrutiny quite exceptional have talked Y
| WIN many men OF business and professional
! life and find this examination eyerywhere z
IL Is not loud and noisy, put deep and deter I
| mined. hnding expression in "A new an definite
trend Of life rather than in the older forms OF
hEhn singing and revival meetings II to :
| 81 casual observer IL seems that some arc
losing their religion because of this II is NOT
| true They are losing some of its superficial :
expression but the current of thinking and I
uNihg Is running far deeper The 'bir1
lhlngs alone are sufficient to be considered Y
III this day Of mighty action. .
hNOTHES thing that is coming to the front
IAin the minds Of laynen is the necessary
cooperation of the churches In the great
work Just ahead, do not say unity. because
organic unity seems great way off to many
serious thinkers. and spiritual unity we now
have TO Il great degree. But co-operation
such as the Allies finally found absolutely
necessary on the western front IL thew ware
| to win tue war. Cooperation not only Of
| plan but Of action. The meaning OF this q. :
seen in the fact that only lust now wbsp IN.
war put u comnon cry into the mouth OF
every preacher ana into ,nc prayer of every i
| parent God Keep our boys from drunken-
| ness and shame" did the united power Of fhe s
| rhufches make itself felt for dry nation
| II is the voice of tile federated churches ~
| our CITY 10 which men in office and the
| Judge" on the bench are listening with re-
| Spect TO-DAY. II is the unity OF front pre-
sented by the churches Of this city against
| which the minions of the devil hesitat. ~
MAKE their drive. Laymen are seeing thi.
ana are beginning 10 understand that whiIs
the church and state are and must be sep
'r'te Yet Christian man is still a citixen B
tAat politics in religion is a bad n,ess 4
but religion must go into politics and save
| Tue mass Ihey are seeing with great clear
! ness the fact that It is this united front this
ieueTated church. that must save this world
| IL II IS ever saved. Thank God for such 4 /,
| day. 'NS" : A
A THIRD line Of thinking is coming to the
front winch is second 10 none in fte
meaning for the future of Christianity. IL X
mas not become quite widespread per-
maps, but its movement is irresstibIe n, ~,
| Judgment. II is the Kingdom" plan OF Chris
tlahlty. u is seen everywhere in books and
current literature. It's burden is the reden,n-s
| tioll OF society As well as the individual. The
carrying over 20 the life of the comtn,,n,sv T.
| Of the principles OF Jesus as we'll as M
| application of His saving power to the in
! alNlcuaI life through faith. II is a stupen-
uous TASK but neveruheless one that is chal.s
| longing the thinking man as few other thineS y
| ABOUT MS religion Iap otrar ~.
| Its key word is motive" The masses ~
| men in any given community may have
been or may be taught the principles Of
| christianity. Great numbers of men In MAT
| community may have accepted Christ as \ 4
personal saviour, and many more may still \
| do 30, but to great extent the comn,unit,,s
as a whole goes on in the same general line
| OF conduct, the total of which is mora cr =
| less sinful and sin producing. Indiyidua ~,
| have been redeemed but not society What
Is wanting? Motive" There is no coherinx
motive between the Christians of the come
munity OF life. They are not working a..
gether to make that community a part a.
the Kingdom OF God" but rather 10 49,
vance their several lines Of action and work \
The thought Is not that the churches shajf
do less in their lines, but that the indiyida1S&.
Christians shall do more under THE cent? NJ
idea as redeemed society 4 motive eno1f
enough and task comprehensive enon{ IS
to stir the blood Of every Christian ua1I1
living <{c
TT OUGHT to be said In this connection th4k
i In consequence OF this deeper thinking ~
| the part OF Christian men generally -
| of the fundamental truths OF our reliEiouI -
springing into new meaning. Sin is corn1@<
| TO be seen in its true light, sins OF past
and lust are thrown into the lin1ol1
and the Christian consciousness is beoonl
thoroughly aroused to the deadly offecf1
| sin This is because II Is now thrown anni&
the back ground of khaki and they are
boys behind the khaki. The power of "
Christ 70 save inen from their sins hae
wise been reasserted, because n1ofhor
father pray differently than they ~
because the Individual aoldier q ~