El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-11

iii'iH
In the statement Of "Faith and
Convictions made by Fred ID. l..
squires ut service Of ordination into
the Congregational ministry at the
First Congregational church. a moth
er's letter, paragraph Of which was
quoted by Mr.. SquireS. furnished the
keynote Of his attitude and faith.
81 do not know" she writes, what
pledges OF promises the ordination
service may usk Of You, but trust
Whatever they Hre. they viii In no
sense lay upon you any Limitation
which shall affect your freedom
Hrhe liberty Wherewith Christ hath
mnde Ms free (GaI. 5-1l. That has
been, I think. the great mistake Of
the various 9sects'-heretOfOre-
they have not left the individual free
10 follow the leading OF the Spirit,
hut have presumed to map out n
marrow way indeed. hut not the mar
row way OF Christ. rather n hemmed
in one where all their thoughts and
prayers and acts muEt march on in
respectable, unquestiOnlnE line. II
we nre to grow in grace we must
be free, and we must think Gods
thoughts after Him wherever II may
lead us"
WE ARE on the threshold OF an
w era Of dynamic sincerity. in
which sham. hypocrisy. and masked
trickery and depravity Of every kind.
no matter how smooth or successful
or long standing they may have been.
viii be trailed to their uttermost
lurking place. by the flashlights Of
Gods truth. dragged from their
breeding spots. stripped Of their
stolen livery OF orthodoxy and re-
spectabiIity. and branded with the
scarlet letter OF the Intellectual and
spiritual prostitute.
The Travail Of Humanity's Soul.
Our world is the travail Of human
ity's soul the birth struggle Of the
new age.
There is only one clear call for each
OF US: Wherever. however, whatever
we can give OF achieve by the most
unreserved conservation Of all we are
or possess, for the sake of the tri-
umph Of the cause Of truth and
brotherhood, that is the least posi- /
bic for any self respecting human be-
ing today no matter who or where I
he IS
That is why I am here today. with |
your consent That is why. and spe-
that is exactly what I want I
TO do in presenting myself for your ]
examination
The Bible Most Precious Of Writings /
The Bible, TO me. is the most pre- I
ciOus and Indispensable collection of !
writings ever peuned by man. because ]
it tells US all we know Of the historic I
facts Of Christ's life. and affords them I
the unique setting OF the chronicle Of 4
a people, who, placing the emphasis /
-alth In God OF eternal justice. fol- ]
lowed the glowing and expanding /
vision until it lifted them out Of prim- /
tive savagery. into the spiritual /
leadership OF the race. and at length 1
gave the world, in the providence OF /
Sod. him who translated their mar
row but exalted concention Of divin- I
Ity into the imperishable gospel Of I
universal kinship with the Father. \
and illimitable spiritual evolution in 4
obedience 10 and conscious compan-
.Onship with Him.
Sin is alwayz and everywhere the I
inevitable result Of mans failure TO I
DO this in any regard-and repent
ince, forgiveness. gratitude and faith 4
tulness are simply the natural steps /
OF intercourse between father and I
son. lifted into the plane Of divine /
To win men 10 recognition Of AMI I
personal experience with that rela- /
.ionship. and so. through the kindling /
sympathy OF the Fathers friendship
10 life in sane and loving accord with 4
It's. I believe, the mission Of Chris
ianity
The life OF Jesus. his acceptance by /
he humble and sincere. whether in
locent Of or oppressed BY habitual /
md corroding sin. his persecution and /
leath and immediate resurrection in /
spirit and invincible power. IS the /
worlds most compelling Illustration
II the beauty and reasona bleuess and /
Immortality Of a sinless. God surren-
Tered life. and conversely Of the futile /
rhine and hatred and waste Of sin en-
ilaved men
By nature. education and experience
am not and I find IL impossible to
be dogmatist. in the sense that ]
would describe Christianity as Christ /
promulgated it. as a mere set Of doc
rines, a mosaic OF beautiful precious
stones Of petrified moral symbolism.
II menagerie Of monstrous and 9TH