The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-15


America after having studied at the
front in France, and amid the peo-
pie OF Great Britain and other war
ring nations, the effect of the war
upon religion, is an experience OF
surprise. With shock come the
early relization that the American
churches do not at all understand
what has happened The revolu-
tion simply has not reached them.
Even the A b c OF the lessons
leaTN by the churches OF Europe
ty Ia more years ago have not yet
beGf mastered by Christian workers
IN America. When the lesson is
put before them, doubtless they will
con it well, At present, despite a
magnificent patriotic ardor, and a
real readiness to learn and to do,
they simply have not caught up to
Khe war. Some of their so-called
&ar activities" are only pathetic
~, violations Of ignorance and weak
ness.
One outstanding phase of the re-
ligious transformations that is COM
ing over the world may be indicted
IN this article. BY way Of con-
trasting background let me cite a
recent experience in America.
had gone TO Mortified, Mass, for
the closing days OF the Christian
Workers Conference, in order to
appraiSe the present character and
potency Of this one of Dwight l..
Moody's creations. | found myself
in setting more remote from the
tides OF the times than Mt. Arrat
had been, when | there discussed
religion with the Armenian Cathol
icoS at Etzchmiadzin.
A Preachers Attack on Helpers OF
Soldiers.
On the closing evneing OF the
conference the preacher was 4 Rev.
DR.. John Gardner, who was said to /
be a Chicago clergyman. He is
manifestly a man of personal piety,
whose habitat is evidently a mus.y |
theological library. In the course |
oi his discourse lie severely attacked |
the Y. Nj. c. A. workers in France,
because they spend their time III
serving hot chocolate and candy and .
cigarets and phonograph music and
motion pictures to the soldiers, IN
stead OF preaching to them the
Gospel of Christ!
Naturally, having seen the Christ
like ministery OF these men and
women in France, who have got
closer to the genius OF the Gospel
,ctlan any complacent and cenSorlous
conference of church folk, there was
nothing for me to do but to take
my hat and leave the meeting at
this point. | was told, authorlta-
lively, that the preachers attitude
toward Y. M. c. \. work in France
is also that of William X. Moody,
who is responsible for the North
field program. There are signs
that ES,.s the viewpoint also OF many
otee5$ristians in America
Religions New Era.
Which reveals the entire ignor-
ance on the part of these persons
oi what has come to pass in the
world by way Of til war. They
have not perceived that the veil OF
religious traditionalism and prece-
dent and usage has been rent by
the earthquake shock OF war. The
very holy OF holes OF faith has been
made accessible. Chrst's own spirit
oi seryice-the loving idea OF God
which he embodied-haS emerged
in new sanctity. Every soldier who
writes from training camp or from
France can tell tales OF the beauty
Ol holiness as expressed in kindly,
humble helpfulness; but the eloqu-
ence OF mnistery has been learned.
Persons who are aware OF CON
ditions in the army think that this
form Of religion is something new.
'ihey speak OF it as an innovation.
hey praise the humality and toler-
zee and brotherhood that seem al
, avs to accompany it; and they
make contrasts with the spirit OF
zen seriousness and eXclusiveness
which they had formerly associated
with the church. Countless men
in the army sincerely believe that
this kind OF religion; which ex-
rcsses itself chiefly by doing help
Il deeds, is something that has
zen discovered during the war.
Back to First Principles. !
That this opinion should be
widely entertained is a grave reflec-
ion upon the churches. For really,
What we now see in the army and
lavy is the most typical and rep
xsentative form of the gospel OF
esus. The Savior Himself declar-
ID that he was come mot to be
ninistered unto, but minister" Il
m among you as one that serveth
vas His own summary OF His life's
ctivities. and his disciple said that
he went about doing good His
hree public years are instinctively
allied His "ministery.' why call
E me Lord, Lordn and do not
he things | command you" was
lis rebuke to lip-serving disciples.
Even the most cursory eXamlna-
on OF the Testament record OF the
fe OF Jesus shows how divlnely
ght are the chaplains and Young