The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-03-15
The CHRISTIAN RCH-WHAT
OF ITS FUTURE?

MT Jonn ID. Rockefeller, Jr., is per.
haps the richest young. man in Amer
lea, and few if any are more pious.
Engrossed in financial affairs as
never before he has yet found time
to write little pamphlet entitled,
THE Christian Church-What of It's
Future?"
He says that not many months after
this world war began there was pre-
sented to our vision a picture so hor.
lribIe it hardly seemed that it could be
true 1t seemed that hell itself had
broken loose and millions Of evil spir-
its had become incarnate in human
form and were going about the earth
committing atrocities of cruelty sur.
passing belief
In the face Of this awful picture i'll
was heard on every hand "Christian-
ity has failed"
The war has brought about. Mr..
Rockefeller says, a picture that com
mands the admiration Of the world
This picture shows US millions OF
men and women VINO are exemplifying
in their daily lives, in the most com
mon place fashion characteristics anil
qualities which one would have
thought impossible had no. the war
quickened them into life
Mr. Rockefeller says
First of all. we see a spirit 81 8alfs
sacrifice and unseIhshness Whether
it be on the battlefield or behind the
lines. in the pestilenceridden district
Tor among the starving villagers. the
thought IS never Of self. but always o.
others"
He goes on further to say
We see charity exhibited, brother
ly love as it has never been manifest
ed before Whenever and wherever
human need appears, the last crust is
cheerfully shared the last garment
lis gladly given 10 a more needy one
And then ne dweIls upon the beau
ty and grandeur Of humility that the
war has made SO manifest almost ev.I
erywhere
This little brochure contains TWEEN
ty-four pages and we hope at some fu-.
ture time perhaps next Sunday. to use
il entire for our regular Sunday ser.
mon We do nor know that we could
rrinr anything that would serve 40.
bier purpose for all along il brings
our the very best that IS in rs ana us
suggestions. if il We're possible ~ fol
low them woud Be productive 81
world Of good
The young suthor ends his article.
which embraces the true spiritual
graces of Christianity as follows:
AS re face, then. the worlds nee5.
oi great spiritual leadership. Tint hu.'
mainly may be brought into vital d2i-
.y relationship with & living God ana
that all the forces os righteousness
may be unite6 III an eternal warfare
against the forces of evil, ask again
the question What Of the future of.
me Christian Church
This ) she answer which etss5
yoU:
II the various divisions Of the
church as it is organized today oarch
the vision have the breadth, the toIer
ance. the courage, and setting eside
all non-essentials, all barriers VIII.
stand upon the bedrock principle OF
Gods love and Christ's living spirit.
not satisfied until the church is the5
church OF all good men and women
until all good thought and deeds are
laid at the feet of the Lord OF all good
life, the Church of the Living God will
come into being, ushering in a new
era Of Christian unity.
What an opportunity! What a priv
iiegei What a duty! In Gods name 4
ask, does any one dare let it pass?"