Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-31
Leaders Tell of Church's
Part in Reconstruction
Bishop Scores Greed of Modern Observation-Disclosures
Church's Dsagreements Disquaify 1t for Service
Sorey Needed Now.

source of those twin curses-ur-
earned wealth and unearned but in
evitable proverty.
IS. The 18th and 10Th centuries
democratized our politics, but this
war has awakened us to the fact
that the democracy of political
forms may but serve as camouhage
to conceal ruthless and oppressive
autocracy in industry, finance and
commerce. And until democracy is
established in all these realms. it
has no worthy significance or real
value. No civilization can stand half
free Tin political forms) and half
slave Gin industrial conditions.)
These are the sins, international
national and social, of which the war
has convinced those who think
Church Unity.
The deliverance in the convention
handbook on the question of church
unity is made by the distinguished
high churchman," the Rev. Will
liam T. Manning, D. D., the rector
of Old Trinity church, New York
City. Says DR.. Manning:
"The world war has brought out,
with tragic clearness, the weakness.
and the sin of the present divisions
among Christians. Never in history
has the need for Christian unity
been so evident. and so urgent as it
now is. The great tasks of recon-
struction are compelling us to see
this. We are living in new world.
We are confronted with UMPIRE
cedented opportunities and respon-
sibilities.
"As we go forward into the new
conditions, we realize afresh our
dependence upon religion. 1t is re-
ligion alone that can guide us. DEM
ocracy is safe for itself. and for the
world, only if it is developed in the
fellowship of Jesus Christ. Men
are feeling this as they have not
before felt it. Religion has an op-
portunity such as it has never had
on this earth. The barriers are
down. Mems hearts are open. They
feel the need for divine guidance.
They want the church to lead and
inspire. But when they turn to re-
ligion, they are beset with difficult
ties.
"Christianity stands before them
divided and disunited. When there
is great work to be done they are
debarred from calling upon the
church because of its own divisions,
and Of the jealousies which they fear
may be aroused. They feel COM
PEELED to create other organizations
in order to keep clear of sectarlan
differences. The church to which
their hearts turn is disqualified for
service by its own internal quar-
rels and disagreements. So long as
Christians find it impossible to meet
and kneel at Gods altar, Christ's
religion can not exercise its true
power in the life of men,"
What Youth Needs.
On the question of Christian edu-
cation, William E. Gardner, general
secretary of the board Of religious
education, has this to say:
"The problem of reconstruction is
dependent upon religious forces. 1t
is the Christian church in the large
that will determine whether there
shall be a democracy or whether
materialism shall have a temporary
triumph, and a kind of paganism
rule in the minds of men.
1T is the need of the nation for
spiritual ideals which gives to edu-
cational leaders in every Christian
communion new impetus. What
ever other reasons may exist for or
ganized Christian education, these
three are pertinent today:
81. A socialism devoid of Chris
tan principles is making its way
in the life of the world and the ma
ton.
-. The youth of the nation must
be helped to see those moral issues
Of the war which disclose clearly
the results of evil thoughts and
acts, and the rewards of loyalty to
righteousness and justice.
,. All schools ana colleges
should be influential in reconstruc-
ton. Students should be aroused
to understand Gods righteousness
and truth as the basis of a sue
cessful national life.
IF the church people of Michi-
gan can help the general conven-
ton to face these three conditions
and realize that what the church puts
into its children will determine its
future, the convention at Detroit
can become a memorable event"