Evening journal., 1923-01-15
RECTOR DENIES
CHRIST DIVINITY

CONTINUED From First Page.)
miraculous character Of the minis
try"
Shall we consecrate churches7"
DR.. Grant asked.
MOT
First, the idea is inherited from
the age Of witchcraft, magic and
taboo What we are after today is
mental emancipation. II our minds
are fusing with such directions as
those which call for the consecra-
ton OF a church. we lose tust so
much mental power for devotion to
the realities of today.
Second, consecration limits the
usefulness OF the church to the COM
munity 1t is a great economic
waste. According to reliable stalls
tics the waste in the United States is
S125, 100000 a year. To limit the
usefulness OF the churches is to add
to this incalculable waste.
This sermon is not an attack
upon any one or anything. It Is a
straightforward talk in the interest
OF economy and social walfare.
There are $4,000 churches.
synagoguos. &c, in the United
States. They represent three billion
dollars in tax-exempt property.
In return for such as remission
Of taxes on three billion dollars
worth of property the 2S4,0OO
churches are expected to be OF as
much use as possible to the COM
munity. In many villages the church
is the only public building or meet
ing place. In many places there is
no town han. no movie theatre, no
freman's hall.
Even in large towns or cities the
churches represent the best auditor
iums. What are the uses the coun-
try gets for the remission OF taxes
on this vast value In property
Suppose that each OF the 2S4,000
churches, by their restrictions. Jose
twenty-five people every sunday.
That means nearly 100000 people
every Sunday shut out Of the
churches. Suppose they lost fifty
people they might have had. That
means the loss of nearly $4,000, 900
people every sunday.
Don't you suppose that II some
bright man or woman were per-
mitted TO have the church for an
hour or two when no one else was
using Il. and this speaker were TO
make a useful address on n problem
Of political life, which means life
under Government. or economic con-
iitions, which means bread and but
ter. wages. or on social questions.
which means housing hygiene. edu-
,atlon. &c.-I say don't you suppose
that each Of these $4,000 churches
could secure an average OF fifty more
people than they now receive?
Especially would this be the case
II the audience were permitted to ask
questions and to make brief remarks
on the subject under discussion.
I'VE in this church had between
500 and 1000 every Sunday for two
the possible utility for millions Of
people which Is in these 234.OO0
churches, many of them. or more
of. them. are treated to a coating
Of words called conservation, that, |
II narrowly interpreted, prevents
them from being used in such
way.
THE Church Of the Ascension for
nearly 100 years had a formula
that said in effect that nothing
common or unhallowed could take
place in it. A little speech by a
man is considered by the I.
common and unhallow- F.
ID, so he cannot be allowed to
speak.
yet his speech on street cor !
her or as an election speelbinder
may have an important influence F.
n electing our rules and choosing
avs for the government OF over I.
100 100000 people.
Conservation is the perception OF |
ipecial services possible by or
through a thing and the care that I
Is environment should be kept .
lelpful 10 such ends.
THE form OF conservation Of a
hurch or chapel is given in the
'ook OF Common Prayer. The essen
ial part OF that service is as fol-
ows: This sets. apart the church !
rom unhallowed and worldly
hlngs. The common sense OF hu-
nanity approves OF such a separa-
ion Of churches from. let us say.
anlling business or the butcher
hop or the pawnbroking establish
nent or dance hall.
Unfortunately, the idea of con-
acration has come up from ancient
ieas associated with taboo-things
mong the lower races that priests
aid could not be done, and which
'ere associated in the mind of the
'orshipper with the magic and pow
RS supposed to reside in the
RESTS.
This idea OF a magic power has
zen Derpetuated in the consecra-
ion Of churches. so that consecra-
ion, strictly interpreted. has meant
hat-somethihg has happened to
he church that cannot be explained y
nder ordinary formulas of intelU-
'ence or action; that God dwells in
he church as nowhere else, except
n similar churches. and that any
hing outside acts of worship or sim
lar acts. which may take place in
ne church, are blasphemous ana a