Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-19
Through the Hearts of Men.

At time marked particularly by unbelief in
men and institutions, when it seems as il ciyili-
cation itself must be born again, it is of the
highest Importance that people should feel able
to turn to the church and refresh their faith in
themselves and the goodness of God This last
refuge, if it can only keep itself unsullicd by the
conimercialism Of the age and hold aloft the
moral standards that apply not only to private
life, but to the conduct of government and bus-
ness as well, teaching men not how to be mas
ters of things but masters of themselves can be
depended upon to bring about better world.
Some are not willing that there should be a
sanctuary Of this kind The gospel, they will
say is all that should be preached, not the appli-
cation of its elements to practical life. An at
tempt to restrict the freedom OF the pulpit that
deserves careful consideration is reported from
Pittsburgh, Pa, where an organization styling it.
self the Employers association has been sending
out circular letters to wealthy and influential
people to dssuade them from making contribu-
tions to certain Christian organizations whose
ministers do not keep within the neutral zone"
The first result of this attack was to decrease
the annual gifts to the Young Women's Chris
tan association from 100000 to $4,000 on ac-
count OF the action of its national board in
adopting what is known as the social creed OF
the churches" This set of principles, which
was drawn up by the Federal Council of
Churches, is mild and thoughtful endorsement
OF certain views of progressive but far from
radical nature. 1t endorses the principle of COL
lectve bargaining among other things and it
was this which seems to have reused the fear or
ire OF those who opposing support of not
only the Y. w. c. A. but number of churches
as well.
The Pittsburgh Ministerial union, it is good
ITO .see. hes adopted a set of resolutions which
first state its conviction that the hostile organi-
cation toes not represent the employing group
and then deny ito any political, commercial, in
dustral or any other group the right to set any
restrictions on the freedom of the Christian
church or its agencies to apply the spirit and
standards of the Kingdom of God to the whole
Of life"
One cannot deny the right of any to
withhold his financial support from church in
which he does not believe. However, the tac-
tics adopted in Pittsburgh SAVIOR of bribery, by
which such concerns as the steel company
which was particularly wroth at the report made
on it by committee of the Interchurch World
ing in the future.
It is true that ministers ought. not to preach
class damnation of any kind. There no doubt
have been some reckless misstatements, lapses
Of judgment and misinformation on the part of
rlergymen, who make mistakes just as do all
pther humans. Sensational charges from the
pulpit ought to be avoided, but the church must
be left free Almost any good sermon hits 4
good many people in the pews, and as some hon.
est brother has said, "Parson, it would be poor
sermon that didn't hit me somewhere"
Many of the old formulas have failed, new
laws, quack remedies and humbug plans of many
sorts are proposed for the regeneration OF the
world but the surest, easiest path is that leading
into the hearts Of men, which can be reached by
the church, but only by church holding and
deserving the confidence of the people.