Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-09-22
THE MODEL COMMUNITY.
BY S.. John Bier.

TIoISStant SnrlStanlty nave long been
dep ored by those who are most
heartily interested in its influence and
success. Especially in the smaller
towns, the upkeeping Of = number Of
churches has become an economic
problem interfering with their ef-
fciency. All Christians see how much
greater power and influence would be
welded by them united in their en-
beavers no promote the fundamental
ideas of Christianity and the moral up
lift Of humanity. Although Mark
Twain has said that the rival churches
kept tab on each other to hold them in
the straight path, yet religion is not
competitive business, as he seems to
regard it, and the more il is COM
mercialized the less becomes its real
power and influence.
Ii may be distasteful to cite the ex-
ample Of Germany, on account Of its
bad repute in the late war, yet there
are many points where we may learn
from them in religious, social and
political management. Nearly a cent
ury ago, the Germans resolved that the
Lutheran and Calvanistic forms should
be merged together in one Evangelical
Church, that their difference of opinion
in subjects entirely unknown aad I'M
movable should not separate the
brethren Of the Church Of Christ. The
plan worked admirably and gave the
united Church a far greater national
ascendency than the Establishment in
England. 1t should be remembered
that the Prussian Court has been Cal
whistle since the days Of Frederick the
Great. His father, Frederick William,
met and took charge Of the Huguenots
exiled from France by the stupid bigo-
try Of the Bourbons, and supported
them until they established themselves
and their superior arts in Prussia, a
smart proceeding by which he gained
the best manufacturing industry Of
France. He even made a French-wo-
man the governess of Frederick, which
accounts for his French predictions
and his Calvinism. In in the great
Cathedral at Berlin the statue OF Mar
tin Luther stands on one side Of the
altar, and Of Calvin on the other. The
ministry OF this united church has been
celebrated as the most learned, and
scholarly in Europe, and on all biblical
research and history they have been
the court Of last appeal, only it has
been charged that they cultivated sci
ence more than religion. In a popular
book where the daughter OF an English
Bishop marries a German pastor she
decries the fact that he was not so
much interested in his sermons, as he
was in going about among his far
mer people, and being fine chemist,
analysing their soils and instructing
them how to raise better crops. Per-
adventure this was just as important
as the Saving Of souls"
Some years ago gentleman de-
scribed to me the church status OF his
native German town-a place four
times the size OF our own. They had
but one church, cathedral where the
service was In style to exalt and to
spiritualize religion, splendid choir,
organ and at times full orchestra,
making music equal to that in the metro
politan churches. Perchance our back
woods brethren, who imagine that the
letting loose burst OF vociferous but
unmelodious wind is the only proper
way Of "praising the Lord" may demur
at our preference, but religious wor-
ship should be uplifting and should
elicit the highest efforts OF art, es-
pecially in music. In this regard we
will merely quote the answer OF the
high churchman, to one who said that
the Lord Almighty had no need OF
mans learning. that "He assuredly had
less need OF their ignorance"
This desire for Protestant Church
unity seemed to be a universal move
ment, so a circle OF propagandists
in the city OF New York sought to take
advantage OF it, but for their own ag-
grandizement. They went at it In
wholesale style; hired extravagant
apartments, appointed themselves as
directors, secretaries, ETC., and launch
ed forth in wild expenditures which
soon choked the movement and
brought il to a standstill. 1t seems
that when there is any great moral