Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-15
ny EDWARD MARSHALL.

LONDON, FEB. li.--Dr. Fort Newton.
the American pastor OF the famous
City Tempe, To which so many thou
sands OF Americans in London mah.
their piiGrinagcs. Uciicve that a league
oil chirches viii result from ;he war.
Much IL said about league OF
nations" he ,oid me recently. but
II there Is to be any such thing. aud
II II is 10 be any more than a paper
league, IL must begin WIKI .casuc
between Eng lish speaking nations. II
We VINO have 50 much in common. bo,h
politically ana spir.ta;SIiy, cannE; be
brouGh; together into such a league.
did not have as it's foundations trin
and unshanabc understanding between
britain Ind ,meiica. would be only an
affair OF diplomatic decker, pow.rless
against the promptings of Sclf-ntcrost
and 'ihc competitions OF Commerce. In
order to bring about league OF Eng
liSh speaking nations, we need
league OF churches TO promote friend
ship. sympathetic understanding Aut
mutual interpretations between those
two great peoples.
From thousands of puIpits in both
lands, week by week. year by year.
Christianity has been preached. In
muititudes OF books and papers, the
same gospel has been set forth. In
fui TO GU! gospel. but the lack OF a
uniting spirit, with a world wide Ct
fectivcness, has been our weakness
CIVILIZATIONS basis
Is CHRISTIANITY
What VIC need now is to weave these
snail give powerful expression TO the
beliefs OF Christians during the period
or AFTER the-war rcconstyuction. For
thoughtful men everywhere sec that
unless civilization IS rebuilt on Chris
tian principles, we shall have no civil
iZation on which We can rely Il is to
bring TO bear on the new world order
the best ana highest Christian vision
that we need league of churches.
The church needs TO realize it's in
ternationa character. / only wish the
churcn had done as much as labor has
IN the direction OF internationaiisn.
Unfortunately. labor is only section
Of socie;y. The church-the true
church--is not. The true church Is
races. al tongues. all times arc united.
|; is. as Josiah Royce said, beloved
community, union OF those who love
ia The service OF those who need.
neither the church is just now
ready to adopt this idea OF itself and
It's mission | an a little uncertain.
Thc time will soon come, however.
for are 20 see remarkable changes
in the near future. Many Of them are
unprcdicta5le. Some are even now on
the horizon. Many things Will be other
ana and better than they have been. for
the world cannot go through such u
whir. wind of blood and fire without
having its faith tested and purified
NEW CHAPTER FOR
WORLD HAS STARTED
"A chapter in the history of religion
which has lasted for many years has
come to an end. and new chapter,
with an accent Of it's own has begun
Already few lines are iesib!e AL
ready what is eternal in religion is
beginning 10 appear in new setting.
a new apples, zion
We We're talking in DR.. Newton's
study. !. vast room lined with tier upon
tier OF books and Uttered with the SER
mons OF one OF the most powerful
preachers OF the day.
DO YOU have in mind An end to
scc;ar!an:sm | asked
Yes, Scctarianism has had its day
and outlivcd its usefulness When big
issues come IN al the door-whcn they
break the door down and smash their
way in-li;tle qu!bb!cs mus, ny out
.he window. Confront by the ter
rifle problems which now stand be-
qua;ed and absurd. Iienceiorth We
must think in terms OF one humanity
and one chr!S,ilnity.''
What OF the federation OF churches
which has been proposed?
No doubt some form of Christian
unity viii come in time. perhaps more
quickly than we imagine. Bu: ii can
not be fastened Ii it is artificial. il
vii: be superficial. 1t must come spirit
ua!!y. spontaneously. in answer to the
eNpa rience of centuries Else il Will
the churchyard. Nor will it conc by
erasing all historical Royalties in one
iadistins uishablc blur. Its secret lies
deeper-tn the very spirit OF Chris
tian!ty."
There are those who tell us that
the church is dead" | remarked.
DENIES THAT CHURCH
OF TODAY Is DEAD
"of course. the various animals make
various kinds of noises he said. The
c!oaker We have always with US. No.
the church is not dead. ], is a new
day 70: the church, and for the
preacher. Or rather. should say that
/; is a day of resurrection for the
church ana its ministry Listen to
these words which have jus; came in
e message from America. and judge
:or yourself:
We see the menace of the hour
W" feel its tragedy i'll our hearts. I'm
ccas!ng waves of grey have beaten
upon our brothers of the spirit and
upon our sons of the flesh. The pas
sion for power failed TO drive them 10
death and the storm has ceased. hut
The long victory remains to be won.
This IS Il struggle for the soul of man.