The Raymer enterprise., 1919-01-09
A LAYMAN ON
CHURCH PROBLEMS

as result of the Influenza | sug-
gested trough these columns that
Mr., Bruce's article 1.-The Disease
of the Age" would make a good ar
ticle for Sunday reading in lieu of
sermon. 1t has been suggested
that. since few people have access
to the article. a synopsis might be
published In the Enterprise. | am
glad to comply in preparing the syn
opsis, and thank the Editor for space
for presenting same. l still urge that
you read the complete article
+. G. Ingraham,
Pastor Raymer Community Church.
The Centenary
The year 1919 marks the one
hundredth anniyersars Of the begin
ming of missionary labors in the
Methodist Church rhe last General
Conference. realizing that the o.
casion would pass before that body
should meet IN session again. ap-
pointed a commrst1 to provide FOR
a fitting observance of the occasion.
Ihis commission in reviewing tho
splendid Accomplishments OF the past
hundred years. Was forced 20 ac-
knowledge the fact that along with
glorious list of successes was al,
appalling ARA, Of failures. What
mad been accomplished WAS not at all
In proportion to the great and pow
erful body ii is. The celebration OF
the Centenary then. instead of being
glorying in past ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Is facing of the great task of the
future, with an attempt 20 clearly
understand what the duty of the
church Is, and what il will cost i'm
consecration and substance. The
Centenary opens with the New
Year in an educational campaign
that 1t is hoped vill reach to the
smallest church AMI the loaliast
member.
A remarkable sorie, Of articles by
II. Addington Eruee has been -ap-
pearing in recent Issues Of r.he De-
lineator. In the January number h.
writes of Ego-centricism, Latin
word which translates into Sell :
eenteredness. or plain Anglo-Saxon
selfshness. which he characterizes
as "The Disease of the Age"--tho
title of the article
Mr.. Bruce writes with excellent
literary taste. and with an apparent
mastery of his subject that suggests
that doubtless he is well acquainted
with disease--probably a physician
and specialist. He takes up a
number of our physical. mental ard
social disorders. and shows that in
stead of themselves being diseases,
they are symptoms OF what he rec
ognizes as the fundamental cause of
steadily rising tide of vice, crime,
insanity. nervous disorders. race
suicide marriage failure. etc i.
which seriously threaten, not only
civilization, but the race itself.
The article opens with the declar-
alton that Worry. which has itself
been called the disease Of the age,
is but the natural consequence of a
centering Of the mind upon its own
states and conditions. Doubtless
most people have noticed that the
best way to help person who Is
worried. is to get him to think of
4omething besides himself
The question of marriage failnre
is illustrated by an instance where
he difficulty plainly grew out ot the
TACT that one Of the parties was ex-
oecting too much OF the other, and
giving no thought to what he had
right to expect OF her. Her parents
had gratified her every whiin, as
child. and when she entered the
marriage state, 1t was with thought
only of her own happiness and ad-
vantage. with no reciprocal idea.
What had seemed a very good match
developed within short time into
n exceedingly regrettabl. situa-
lion, for which the divorce court
aeemed the only solution. bat whish
@ friend frankly told her could be
iemedied "if only you will learn to
think less of self"
We are invited to scrutinize di-
yorce court records. and are told
that almost Invariably .sou Will
find that, as In the case lust cited,
undue ABSORPTION In self. on the part
0f one or both Of the contracting
parties. is at the bottom OF the mar
riage failure" And divorce, We are
assured. is threatening the very in
lsgrity OF the nation. In the last
iifty years IL has increased from so
To 200 per year for every 100 90
married population. . situation that
calls for thoughtful consideration
ana earnest effort o correct