Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-20
WORLD ISSUES
SOLVED ONLY
BY RELIGION
Bishop Burns Tells Conference
That Materialism Brought
Problems.

Problems.
Religion is the only solution for
the worlds major problems-industria
and international relationships-Bish
Wesley Burns of Helena told the
conference Of the Methodist min
Thursday evening. Religion is the
only solvent" the speaker stated. teThe
antiseptic air of religion must blow
over fetid human affairs. If there is
not enough in Christianity to save
our present edifice of civilization, then
the outlook is far from bright. Other
means have been tried repeatedly in
past ages and there are only ruins to
show for the civilization they could
not save" Bishop Burns address was,
in part, as follows:
Describing our age of sex and
sheke1s,' II. G. Wells declares the
times to be "a race between education
and catastrophe'-yes, religious educa-
ton: Just 100 years ago: Mrs. Shelley
wrote "Frankenstein." In descriptive
hideousness, it has never been surpass-
ed. The significant motif is this: That
the man-machine became greater than
the man-creator. The monster was
greater than the genius that created
him.
Monster Of Hate and Fear
MANY think that in the present
world tragedy we are suffering from a
materialistic system that is greater
than the genius that has created it. It
is that very materialistic system which
has brought about a shattered, broken
and bruised world-heart and has let
loose in the world a monster of hate
and fear and conflict in industry, in
society, in international relationships
that strikes terror to the very heart
of the race.
1.-THE bow of promise, however, in
the world storm of ruin is the large
sense Of religion in the world increas-
ing every hour-the spirit that will con-
troll the machine and harness it to
spiritual constructive and reconstruct
i've tasks.
Materialism Has Failed
''The January issues of two great
monthly magazines stress this very
the two major problems of today are
industrial and international relation
ships Both are subject to the same
solution. Religion is the only solvent.
The antiseptic air of religion must blow
over fetid human affairs.
THE other comedies that material
ism has made q mess of the business
of managing this world and that we
need an infusion of spirituality in the
| management. If there is not enough
in Christianity to save our present edi-
flee of ivilization-enough wisdom,
enough illumination, enough power
then the outlook is far from bright.
For other means have been tried re-
peatedy in past ages and there are
only ruins to show for the civilizations
they could not save.
Program Proceeding
"Methodism today affirms its con-
viction in the spiritual significance of
all history and it's belief that in the
matter of world redemption the Mas
arene is able. The world program Of
Methodism is proceeding with no abate-
ment, with greatened conservation and
missionary mood as the world need is
gradually discovered Methodism is
equal to it's share of the new-age re-
sponsibility, as other ages in the chang
ing order of the centuries, because it
| is characterized by the freshness of
power which possessed earlier Chris
| tianity when it started out world
religion. A world program alone will
meet world conditions The prophet
engineer mind is the modern mind. Pro-
F, yincial thinking is not only anachron-
istic. but is treasonably trivial toward
these expanding times.
Mo Automatic Redemption
| Those unacceptable world relations of
| which Mr.. Harding speaks are true not
| only of the nation but of the church.
! Methodism, announcing no salvation
| by establishment and no automatic re-
demption, sets itself steadily and
squarely to it's task of contributing its
share in world rebuilding.
| What are those Kingdom forces
reproduced in Methodism's front to
the world today? They are evangelism
not mechanical but the Investment of
! life; and personal commitment to
| Christ; social ministry; a full orhed
gospel. individual and social; education
that is both scientific and spiritual;
/ and a cosmic conviction of spiritual
responsibility. These are some of the
reconstructive forces of the kingdom
| that Methodism emphasizes in world
rebuilding, saturated with missionary
mood, taking vital and sacrificial part
| in the common concerns of the world
| thinking internationally, planning in
ternationally. fellowshipping interna-
| tionally, serving internationally that q
world passion may be generated to
make Christ the invisible king
Pay Respects to Bishop
The morning included addresses by
the Rev. Herbert Parish of Wadena
MINI, on "A Minister'S Devotional
Life" by the Rev. c. NJ. Donaldson
on "A Minister'S Study Life" by Will
| liam Burlingame of Great Falls, or
Sermons Laymen Demand Today"
union met to pay fraternal tribute tt
Bishop Burns and the visiting Metho