Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-11-19

Cross propose to meet these existing
conditions" was asked.
III suboflinates At 6iiee all the
questions which nov divide ehuiches
such as questions Of doctrinal state
ment. forms Of membership and
worship and methods Of organization.
It then bases its appeal upon the
great common ideas and sentiments
which bind men together ana all men
10 God, namely: A belief in God. q
preparation for the future. and the
desire in all of US to live religious
life.
1T leaves to every individual the
choice Ut fof1hs-or the lack OF form.
Of entrance into membership in the
church. 1t prescribes as the sole
condition of membership that every
person shall seek to carry forward
the worship and work Of God in the
world by means Of his substance and
effort in a spirit Of real sacrifice,
which 10 the very heart OF the gospel.
1T freely welcomes people every
where on the broad ground that the
church does not exist simply for the
select few who are willing to make
pretensions of goodness. but that 1t
is a human institution that should
take the good that is in every one Of
us and strive to make 1t into the
best.
Moreover this church seeks not
only to unite all people but to unite
all agencies and all organizations
into an all-inclusiye fellowship Of
service. 1t believes that union along
the line Of creed or form or polity IL
utterly foolish and wholly unattain
able: but that union along the lines
OF united service in behalf of the
common and collective tasks which
lie before the world is entirely pfac-
tical and an immediate necessity.
1T clearly believes that the next
great religious movement Will not
originate in the churches. but in the
heart of the people which is even now
sensitive and hungry for the real gos-
pei Of Christ. The hour of the church
is at hand unless it speedily enfran
chises and proclaims the real gospel
and witnesses the power Of God fol
!iiiing hungry souls everywhere.
An this means the reformation
ard rebirth Of the church as well as
the awakening Of religion in the souls
cf all people. Out OF it will come q
seat. free. all-inclusive church like
that Of primitive Christianity, en-
h5dying our creedal statement. the
cne Holy Catholic Church OF the
Ages
The great outside world is de-
n:andiag TO know why it is that with
one God and Father OF all one
Christ. one family of God and one
future. there should be 1sS different
ana competing denominations, each
claiming the special religious prerog-
atives most in harmony with the
primitive gospel message Of Jesus
They know and we know at once tina,
Jesus could not and would not have
founded any more than one Of these
1sS varieties. Since each appears te
honestly claim special divine sane
| ton. he could not have ever pre-
scribed any of the things which have
( divided churches as necessary to rea
religion or to the existence OF ths
church itself.
We must learn again and every.
where that Jesus never conceived o1
form or ceremony or even of tht
existence of any outward institution
as necessary to salvation. but hi
came to reveal and impart a princi.
pie Of life. The world now know,
that the teachings Of Jesus. tn.
prayers of Jesus, the principles Of hi.
kingdom and the enlightened spirit
Of the modern world are utterly
against a divided Christianity"
Then, the Church Of the Holy
Cross Is not another denominations
church in addition to those that al.
ready exist"
mo, it is not in any sense a de.
nominational church. 1t il the res.
toration of the church Of apostolic
, days. for all the people now outside
! the denofhinational churches, and Il
. becomes the common agency fol
churches. fraternities and all othe1
organizations in undertaking and
carrying forward the common ant
collective tasks of Gods world to.
! day"