The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-04-08


men Of diverse minds and some there
are who like a diversion from the ac-
cidents, sports, suicides, scandals and
the current events of the day. So an
editor lives to enlighten. to please all
and offend none. And one of the great
est pleasures Of life is the pleasure Of
pleasing othe1s.-F. T. c.
Though the writer's opinions differ
from others he is always tolerant of
the rights of others and deferential
to both the church and the clergy
He has been asked to state what he
would do if he was a minister.
Leaders of thought and many
prominent preachers tell US through
the public press that since the World
War millions Of hien and women have
lost the God of their childhood and
their faith in sectarian creeds; that
church attendance is suffering rapid
decline. With many, going to church
is just an old-time custom-a per-
functory performance. Others seek
amusement on Sunday-go motoring
or play golf. So what shall we do
about it?
The church has its sphere of use
fitness, like all of US. Will it rise to
the occasion of new demands for it's
energy?
Life is growth, mind is growth,
they affect US in all the affairs of
life-in our business methods, social
customs, manners, our creeds and our
conduct.
Life, mind and thought are ever
reaching upward-growing in a geo.
metrical progress. All is vibration
and that which tries to stand still
stagnates and dies.
The merchant who tries to do bust
ness to day like he did it fifty years
ago fails. The church is not exempt
from the law of life. 1t must progress
or recede.
A great teacher once said: "Unto
you it is given to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of God; but unto
others in parallels, that seeing they
might not see and hearing they might
not understand" The church is an
chored to a dead and forgotten past
that is historical of civilization in its
infancy.
1t is traditional and relates to man
in his crudity, when he was nomad
a tribesman and shepherd.
The congregations have been fed
on fables, taught sectarian theology
of which there are twelve hundred
varieties or more, talked to in para
bles while they looked but did not see
heard but did not understand.
The one religion of humanity, which
is for all men, of all nations, for al
time, has suffered neglect and we
have failed to put righteousness into
our conduct, into our daily doings, in
to work and wages, into our weights
and measures. These are the vita
things that matter-not our creeds.
Now my way of putting righteous
ness into the hearts of men is some
thing like the good wife's way of ele-
waiting the mind of her husband, by
ruling him so that he don't know it.
You can get lot of work out of 6
boy if you once convince him that it is
just a game and that if he ever wants
to be man he must learn to play il
like the grown-ups do. Men and WON.
en- are like children, only older grown
and they like to be amused and the!
viii! learn fast from object lessons
and example that which you can moi
drive into their craniums by precept
or preaching.
Ministers, who are supposed to leat
their less informed followers, are
bound hand and foot and told tina
dismissal awaits them if their preach
ing deviates from the circumscribeC
tenets of the church. So | would sa!
to my congregation that they woult
have to accept my resignation or give
me freedom of mind and action. l.
YOU wish to retain me | will be res
ponsible for results. ! will bring thu
church out of the darkness of anti
guilty into the illumination Of TWEEN
tieth century wisdom. | will MAKE
your church a power for good in ;
world that needs it for the making O.
better men and women instead O.
making them merely church members
My church will be called the Peep
les House of Learning and people O.
all UNCONVENTIONAL faiths will be wei
come. We shall have no revivals, M
Sam. Jones or Billy Sunday sensa
tions, no money making exhibit
which are travesty of religion.
No, we are not going to turn tn
church into theatre, but we are go
ing to make it fully as popular ant
far more profitable to those attending
We are going to apply modern bust
ness methods in our church work an,
bring the church up-to-date in eff
cheney for the service and bettermen
of men.