Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-01


about leadership" visions" "challenges,'
the modern mind constructive programs -
etc, without having anything in their heads
corresponding to these well-worn words, and
without conveying to others any definite con-
ceptions. They make sound without sense.
A case in point was a sentence Incorporate
ed in a pompOus deliverance made recently
at one of these college meets" which ran
on this wise: THE student of today de.
mands God who is not formula, but a
horizon"
1t is a toerably ambitious thing for "the
student of today to be putting in his order
for God to suit his academic taste; but
who can fill the specification set down in
this lordly demand? What kind of a deity
is "a God who is not formula but hori-
zon?" Where is the theological tailor who
can fashion God by this "horizon'' pattern?
THE student of today if his demand" is
truly voiced by this phrase, must see some
thing in the heavens which is as vague as
the cloud concerning which occurs this col
loquy in the play of Hamlet:
Hamlet: do you see yonder cloud that's
almost in the shape of camel?"
Polonius: BY the mass, and it's like a
camel, indeed"
Hamlet: Methinks it is like weasel"
Polonius, ut is backed like a weasel
Hamlet: cor, like whale"
Polonius: very like whale
What sort of cloud did the crazy Hamlet
and the garruIous Polonius, old courtier of
Denmark see which changefully looked like
a camel a weasel or whale, with their
rapidly shifting moods of imagination? One
can no more tell than he can say what kind
of a deity is "a God who is not formula,
but horizon"
1t is not possible for an intelligent man to
derive from these high-sounding words any
definite notion of God at all; but interpret
ing them in the light of the well-known char
cof,c Of =
in "the college meet from which this deliv-
erance issued, it would not be unfair to infer
that the kind of God demanded is not such
is set forth in the historic creed of Chris
tendon, but vague deity of sentimentality.
Just the exact kind of God they demand is
not clear. They want him on the horizon, but
who can say whether they desire that h.
Cor it,, shall appear as camel or weasel
or whale?
This senseless pronunciamento is an ex,
preston of the creed of creedlessness which
is so popular among certain classes of men
in this agnOstic age. They are fond of say
ing that they want religion without theology,
which means nothing more than that they
wish an unintellgent faith, if faith it may
be called faith which is utterly devoid of
definite belief, and which has no power over
conscience or affection.
Religion that controls conduct and inspires
worship can not survive without a creed
of the famous hampton Lecturers has put
this whole subject in the clearest light. In
the fourth lecture of his able discussion OF
The Dogmatic Faith he says:
THE religious sentiment deprived of its
natural foundation in dogma, loses its def
mite shape, evaporates and dies. Love can
not exist without knowledge of the charac-
ter and quality of the Being to be loved
Fear can possess no intelligent character
without definite acquaintance with the OBJ
ject of fear, and the reasons why He should
be feared. Gratitude springs from the sense
of benefits received and from the contempla-
ton of the generous benev0lence of the Ben
efactor. Desire must be directed to a special
object, If it is to be real and operative. Wor-
ship is the expression of recognized rela-
ton of dependent inferiority between the
wors Upper and the Worshipped. Reverence
and alteration can only be kindled by the con-
seriousness of Being competent to claim
them by the glory of His attributes In every
case the affection is called out by some cor
responding truth. The hand which sweeps
away the truth necessarily strangles the af-
lection.
LAS the life Of the affection depends upon
the existence of truth, so also its inten-