The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1918-10-03
FEDERATED CHURCH FOR
JCLESBURG

rea. earnest for realizing closer fel
/ lowship and cooperation among the
Protestant churches. All larger cit.
les had, even before We dreamed OF
the condition created by the woriC
war what was known as "A Fedora
tion of Protestant Churches created
for the purpose of giving unity of ex.
preston on fundamental civic and OF
moral questions. and cooperation in
all reforms or movements for the good
of humanity In 1914 the Church Fed
GRAFTON and Minister'S Alliance of St
Louis. Mo. compelled the Mayor OF
that city to enforce the law which had
been on the statute books for twenty.
( five years making it unlawful and a
crime to open saloons on Sunday The
Mayor of that city and the Governor
of the state refused to listen until they
made it quite clear that both of them
would be impeached if they refused to
act in face of the determined purpose
Of united Protestant church. Cleve-
land, Ohio and other cities have null
tiplied the exploits of the st. Louis
Federation hundred times.
This is by the way, the great ques-
ton for US to face is, What Shall be
the Destiny of the Churches in Jules
burg? Will the people of Julesburg
do more to help make history than
they are now doing, by investing in
Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps,
and giving to the Red Cross and the
Y. NJ. c. A. Will they help to make
history for the New World Order that
is just before us by getting together
in 4 real brotherhood of the churches !:
and by putting on program that will
make our church the center of our
civic, educational. moral and religious
life? Will she answer the prayer of
our Master and Leader, and fall in
line with the WILL OF GOD, or will
she continue her course in the "ruts"
of tradition. and narrowminded, self
ish sectarianism
Will she prefer the glory of the
approving spirit of the infinite Faith
er God, and launch out into the depths
of his purpose for humanity. or con-
tinue in the old ''rut" of brother
against brother. and denomnatinoal
competition with its resulting waste
Of money, material and energy, We be-
leve that our men and women of the
churches are too big in heart, intel
lect and purpose to continue the pro-
gram of the past.
Let's ask ourselves in all sincerity,
what would be the gain and loss to
our community if We carry our pro-
gram of Church Federation for Jules
burg?
First the gain: The gain would be
both in spiritual and material efficien-
cy. A Federated Church means the
elimination of waste in the duplica-
tion Of equipment. light. heat, energy,
and the pay of one minister would be
used to carry out an aggressive pro-
gram for ministering to the Who'll .
needs of the whole man, woman. boy
and girl. 1t means that we could use
one of our plants as Church lnsti-
tutional plant, We could have Y. NJ.
c. A. and Y. W. C. A. rooms; place
for our social gatherings. entertain
ments. etc. A room for the Boy Scouts
of our city Finally we could build a
decent Library with up-to-date read
ing rooms in which we will place all
the best literature Of our day. The
young people of our city would have
some other place to congregate be-
sides the street corners of our town.
And last. but not least, we could have
swimming pool. shower baths, bowl
ing alley and game rooms.
But some will say: Think of the
things we must give up in order to
federate for the service of humanity.
In order to put "over the top a
church program that will challenge the
interest of every person in our town.
Yes we will lose all of the following
/. Religious competition. which is
an abomination unto God.
=. We will lose the unbrotherly spir-
3. We will lose the "sneer" from
the face of the men and women out
side of the Church who ridicule our
hvprocritcal playing at and pretension
of Christian Brotherhood.
4. Last. but of the greatest i'm
portance, we will lose the approval of
the Devil and the kaiser. For to have
oeonle get together on program for
brotherhood and democracy is strik-
ing fatal blow at the devil and the
kaiser. his twin brother.
OF course. we know as well as YOU
do. that it would be impossible to get
together on my creed or your creed
Nnt we propose to let every man re.
/ tain his own creed. If he believes ir
God as the Creator and Ruler of the
worlds, and sincerely desires to follow
Jesus Christ in the service Of humani
ty. it is all that the Federated churcl
will ask. Aside from that you ma!
take the whole scriptures for you
creed, or just part of it. The approx
al of your conscience is your right.
t have no right to dictate in that man
5 ner to you. "Our Creed next week.
II