Evening star., 1921-05-15
BY REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.

Mans thirst for power had divid-
ed the Ccrinthian Church. Their dis
cord, differences and disSenSions
threatened the prestige. position and
power of their Christian service and
success. Conflicts had weakened the
spiritual power of the church. IT
was seen in their overlooking gross
immortality in one of their members.
as well as in their permitting tn"
celebration of the Lords supper to
degenerate into "a baCchandllan
revcl" Their factionalism was seen
in suits between heather courts. tn"
spirit of pride exhibited by th"S"
who possessed certain spiritual gifts.
especially that of DrOphcSElnG ana
speaking in tongues. served to IN
crease their differences. dIScord ana
divisions Their disputes proved that
the spirit of arrogance and aSSump-
tiou which has divided the world
into factions and grades was work
ing in the church, where all Should
have been equal because they Wer g
ChriSt'S disciples. Pride. envy ana
jealousy destroyed their desire to be
of mutual ServiC" and increased the
spirit of conflict.
Society finds itself divided today
by competition between groups. Com
petition for the world trade. the con-
troll of cable communication or ,he
supply of oil or any other commodltY
has in it the germs OF DIVISION De
tween nations. Competition between
groups who are struggling Tor the
place of power in bartcrlnS for wages
and returns on invested canltaI
has resulted in serious differences
that have generated Il spirit OF
hatred and suspicion which at tunes
have threatened the very foundation
OF our social order. In tn" past II
has failed to solve thr problem or
tnt distribution of wealth. 1t has
encouraged the shameful waste "l
our natural resources. an dNh"n unre-
stricted has furthercd the develop
ment of monopolies. BY cmhtttcrlng
human relations it has destroyed
those forces which restrain the
strong and protect the weak.
John u. Rockefeller, Jr.. IN ms m
dustrial creed. says: Il believe that
never fails to effect right relations;
that the letter kiIIeth but the spirit
giveth life: that forms are wholly
secondary. while attitude and spirit
are all important. and that only as
the parties in industry are animated
by .She spirit of fair play. justice to
all and brotherhood will any plan
which they may mutually work out
succeed" In this position he was
following the ideals of Paul. who
sought to remove the controversy.
conflict and competition between
groups formed by members of the
Corinthian Church by recalling
Christ's principles of cooperation. He
sought to restore right relations by
pointing out the source of their spe-
ciaI gifts and the purpose of their
spiritual endowment.
PauiS contribution of the body.
as an illustration of the church. con-
tains social message by pointing
out how men can become workers
together for the common good. 1t
made them realize that they were
not mere group of folks who as
semble in a meeting house for the
purpose of advancing their own in
terests. ambitions and purposes. Thcy
Were vitally connected to living
organism, as. members OF the church.
Although each had Il different eN-
parience. they all had one part OF
t->t..~ experiences in common. for they
Holy Spirit. who had convinced them
q: their s.n and revealed unto them
Christ Jesus as their Lord and
Savior. Paul found in their posses
s.Cn of the spirit of the Master.
through their relation to Him, the
t"uai7tion OF their power to work
together. 1t is not for the lack of
program that there is differences
oday ii the industrial, commercial,
political and religious world. 1t is
due to a difference in spirit. II is
fh,5 WhicE has T1ar-ed not only the
lone life. but also the church life.
II makes impossible any permanent
international peace program at this