Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-29
70 ne EDITOR d she EVeniao capital.

mons ever preached In AMMApOllAs LII
Wilson III. Burgan, speaking from the
text, John & SIS, declared In terms
breathing the eloQuence Of q true
Vision chat the Christian church was
the only hope 81 the world. He said
that the only adequate church WIS "a
church with q world program, . -
united church, "a sacrificing church.
"a church living the life Of Jesus
Christ. q church that makes no apol-
ogy for Jesus, but follows Him as He
rushes forward 10 empire Closing.
DR.. BuFgan put q question which
Chriatendom cannot afford 70 ignore
The days ahead present mighty
challenge Ia the Christian religion,
especially Id America Will the Chris
tian forces see Id the awful moments
an occasion for despair or challenge
glorious to its possibilities? The
issue rests upon the church,
Long before the first gun was fired
In 1914, / foresaw this world conflict
While making study Of compa rative
religious / held conferences with
clergymen and Iaymen Of different de-
nominations. Certain things said To-
me W an English Episcopal clergy
man and German Liusherman laymen
opened my eyes to the deadly forces
or war contained In separated and
secularixed Christendom.
The English church Re going TO be
the church Or the future, said Episco-
pal clergyman. because the English
race Is dominating the world more and
more. and as English culture increases
so will the power and influence OF the
Church Of England. etc. etc.
This Lutheran church Il going to be
the one great future church. said
I the Lutheran layman Luther is the
lmouthpiece Of God and the fruit of the
German spirit. God IL with Luther
and Germany The most dominant
force Id the world Ii German culture;
| II Is increasing everywhere, that Is why
lLutherism Ii going to be the greatest
world religion etc, etc.
These conversations occurred two
years before the European war. Both
men were fine examples of their nat
ionaiity and culture, both were citi-
fzena OF America. and both spoke earn
estly, enthusiastically. with the CON
lvictIon Of research. The ideas they
Expressed were not their private opin-
Ions, but the substance Of beliefs fn-
ocalated into their souls BY system of
ethics under which the world has sub
consciously grOaned ever since Luther
land Meiancthan and Calvin and John
Knox and ali the rest Of the schismatic
"reformers" tore the garments 81 unity
| from the Bride of Christ and scattered
them on the winds Of the conflicting
'evangels
AT thgt time | was going through
la very bitter period of agnosticism
and these friends. among. others Of
different denominations, were trying
10 help me. AS listened To their couEa-
sells, ! could smell the smoke 0f bat
tie, and hear the clash Of arms was
not surprised when the European var
broke out. | only wondered when 1t
was going to be, and from what quar-
ter II was going to begin, With the
first wave of the kafser's army through
Belgium. my German Lutheran friend
hurried back to Germany, tears ID his
Ieyes over his peFsecuted Fatherland
He was engaged Ii business here and
had taught music and languages in
several Of our colleges. He was q
good Lutheran, Just as sincere q
Christian as a member of any other
denomination. which only proves my
contention that separated and sec
iuiartxed system of Christianity Is an
Incubator OF war
Churches must get out or them
selves and plunge into the midst of d
hungering world and feed II, : said Or.
Burgan, The days OF petty creeds
separating LII all their tendencies, III
i past That church which sees nothing
but the interests og its own denomi-
nation, has no place Id the future
task
Religion Is the source Of every cur
rent sweeping the world, whether
socially. morally, economically;
/ whether for conflict or harmony. II
the day 81 petty creeds, separating
4 fin ali their tendencies. had never
dawned, ChrtEtendom would not Be the
! important thing II is now before world
/ puassions. depending FOR protection
upon customary ehfyalry which -
becoming less and less tolerant Il
the Reformation had been reforEna-
ton Ii the real sense and not schism.
christianity would have never been
sold into secular powers Instead Of
being part Of politics. and national
culture. inseparable with the forces
of conhict. christenaOm would hare
been higher law than the secular, Il
Supernatural court 70 capable 81 gov
erning the world as 10 make this
twentieth century civilization one a.
Righteousness Instead be the fury og
the beast
Reformation is always necessary III
4 body that Is human III well as air
vine: separation does MOI Insure
aaeinss corruption. II only destroys
the main essential unity. The true re-