The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-20
future OF THE Church
RELIGIOUS RECONSTRUCTION
AFTER THE WAR
Topic Discussed BY Social
Science Club At Meet
Last Evening

One of the big questions of the
present day, Religious Reconstruc
tion After the War" was the topic
for discussion at the meeting of the
Social Science club last evening. DR..
]. w. Andrews read paper on the
subject and Rev. A. B. Bell led the
discussion. The meeting last even
ing was ladies night" for the club
and large number of people were
in attendance. Refreshments were
served at the close of the discussion.
DR.. J. w. Andrews in his paper
dealt with the broadening religious
influence of the war. He was of the
opinion that the religious reconstruc
ton after this struggle would see
sects and churches wiped away to a
certain extent and all united in a
broad and universal Christian belief.
The influence of the war on the
young men of the country and the
feeling of brotherly love that was
created by all Sects working together
in the struggle for the welfare of the
men was shown to have started the
moulding of boarder and more toll
Grant Christian belief among all men.
Dr. Andrews spoke of the agita-
ton for a League of Nations and said
that the church should be the leader
in such move, the first to bring all
countries together in perfect har-
ont q
League of Nations was possible it
would also be equally possible to
have a League OF churches.
Rev. A. B. Bell in his discussion
stated that in the present day the
Christian church was facing the
greatest crisis in all history. He
pointed out that the war had brought
about a realization. as never before,
that the need of God was real.
Doctrine of Atonement.
"Another truth it seems to me is
being brought to the front as never
before, and that is the realitv of the
doctrine of the atonement," stated
Rev. Bell "The war has taken it ont
of the realm of doctrine and made
it one of the realistic experiences of
human life Does not every hov who
r-,.sy- lss,., lssiss-.slissssia FLANDERS
field because of the sin of the world
to save the future from that sin know
at last something of the feeling with
which Christ went to Calvarv?"
"And do not the fathers and moth
ers who have given their beautiful
boys by the millions to save the
world from the sin of the destrovers
know something of what it cost God
to give His lovely and well beloved
Bow for he was but youth when he
died for the sin Of the world"
Another old doctrine which is
given good deal of realitv and en-
phasis is that of Immortality"
Another Phase of Religion.
"Again the war has affected an
other phase of religion, namely
changing emphasis from restrain TO
action from negatives to positives.
That is to make people think less Of
the bad things he dies and more of
the good he does No longer is the
world going to be satisfied with the
man who simply keeps the Ton Com
mandments, but there must be some
service of some sort. One must give
all he has and is, for the good of
humanity"
"Anothnr thing is the widenino Of
Christianity to cover the relation
ships of nations AS well as individu-
rls If men must live toaetber as
Christian gentlemen then also must
nations live together AS Christian ma
ton There must be but one code of
honor, one standard of conduct. one
svstep1 Of ethics. for nations as well
as men. If war and fiehting is wrone
among men it is also wron@ among
nations There is no more iustifca-
tion for nations to fight among one
another than for men to fight with
their fellowmaD
viii Not Tolerate Tr;f;rn.
In closing Rev. Bell said: "Let me
saw that the coming ego is not 90
inc to he interested and viii not fol-
crate trif1ine. uuihhling and thnoriz-
inc There must be some roaIitv in
religion. Whom we do thir and II
snorcs to me that II is cornino. we
will have a 1arenr ard more effective
anneal and II will be based rnon the
cuthority and tho word Of Cod"
At the close of tho discussion roc
olrtions wore passe1 hv tho c1rh
making Professor 7 NJ Mcdonnell
newly arpointed state SUPERINTENDENT
IF schools, an honorary member Of
tho club
Several gentlemen and ladies took
mart in the discussion All wern omit
mistic regarding the future of the
church
One member however made the
declaration that "it was going tn he
nrottxr hot hntmnen the minis =