The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-11-24

meats 10 distribute. A religious or
ganization is liable to all the para
site evils that beset a government
or a business organization-all that
we call graft" Christ avoided or
ganization but in His little group one
stole from the bag and others quar-.
relied for the place at His right handl
You must not be surprised to find
human nature, even in good people.
cropping out. TO find in every denom-
nation, every church, every mission
board, many who think little Of the
work to be done, the object to be ac-
complished, and much Of the Offices
and honors to be given out. Belong
ing TO church or mission board
soothes the conscience, deceives the
man himself, takes the place Of cross
bearing and active work. Pity these
poor blind cushion seekers, but at the
same time never doubt that there Is
such a thing as pure. disinterested,
athletic altruism in the world.
As things are. however, too many
churches, colleges, mission boards do
not even pretend to give their chief
efforts TO converting souls, building
character and bringing in Christs
principles TO recast the world. They
cultivate church architecture, and
church music, and the amenities Of
social life. Esthetieism claims to be
religion. They devote themselves to
all that ministers TO the cultured hap
piness Of an exclusive few. and give
little money and less thought 70 those
in need Of bodily and spiritual help.
The needy are out Of their sight.
They go thru the routine Of public
worship year after year expecting
no results. All their growth. II they
have any, is by members coming from
other churches. They are wei 90
Oft by the case of a servant woman
who came with her mistress and sat
in the gallery. She took the sermon
in earnest, and when the minister
spoke the love Of Christ, she forgot
herself and murmered, "Bless the
Lord" Instantly the sexton APP
preached to demand silence. But
said the woman, I've got religion,
and it just carried me away" "wo-
man." said the sexton, This is no
place to get religion
This same graft, this same per.
verting of the organization for ones
own gain or qualification. may APP
pear in the smallest church. A dea.
con is to be elected. Few ask who
in that Office will do most for God.
Deacons are elected. for age, for good
looks, for large subscriptions. A
committee meets to consider church
matters. There is small thought Of
what win really advance Gods King
dom. Each is afraid Of the others,
and they figure how their action will
affect the feelings Of one or another
and who is going to run things. II
is graft to act or refrain from acting
thru jealousy. o. thru fear Of giving
offense. as much as to be influenced
by any other bribe.
And religious grafters are fierce
against anybody who does practice
real religion. Why does the New
Testament give so much space TO the
Pharisees Because the Lord fore
saw that church officers like the
Pharisees would be among the chief
obstacles to religion thru all time.
Here are some good subjects for
orations - Phariseeism, Religious
Graft, the Persecution of Evange-
lists). Lane Seminary was founded
TO promote religion, but when its stu
dents applied religion to slavery, the
Trustees turned them out. Yale Col
lege was founded 10 promote religion,
but when Whitefeld. who was con-
verting all New England, came to
New Haven, the students were for
hidden to attend his meetings