The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1926-12-01
Place OF Christian Church
In Modern World

Bishop James E. Freeman of Wash
ington)
An organizer of union labor was
asked why labor does not more unit
eddy support the Christian Church.
He led his questioner to a window
overlooking Madison Square, New
York, and pointed to a crowd, mani
testify composed largely of working
men, who were intently listening to
a soap box orator.
"That's why" he replied crisply.
HE is giving them what they want.
The Church doesn't"
Out of the incident came the ques-
ton which was put to Ri. Rev. Jas.
E. Freeman, D. D., Bishop of Wash
ington, because he is one Of the lead
ers of the Bishops Crusade nation
wide campaign which will be launch
ed early in January, 1927, by the Epis-
copal Church, to reawaken its men,
bers to their duties and responsible
ties as Church-goers and citizens in
the present state of world affairs.
Like the Presiding Bishop of the
Church, Bishop Freeman had a sue
cessful business career before enter
ing the priesthood.
rs the Christian Church meeting
the demands of the modern world 2
Bishop Freeman was asked.
There are abundant evidences" he
replied. ''all about US in the secular
world, that there is new and press
ing demand for an exposition OF the
life and teachings of Him whose mes
sage is eternally new. That Christ
has a message for the modern world,
adopted to modern needs, is one OF
the most demonstrable facts OF our
time. The persistence Of Jesus IN
human thought and affection excels
even the originality of Jesus"
Referring specifically to the Bish-
ops Crusade, Bishop Freeman was
asked if it might be construed as
recognition of the fact that the
churches haven't been giving the peo-
pie what they want. He replied:
"That there has been a deeper con-
Germ felt for a more definite preach
ing of the Gospel was made evident
in the action of the General Conven-
ton of the Episcopal Church at New
Orleans when it unanimously passed
a resolution that there should be
created a National Commission on
Evangelism to urge with all insist
ence the prosecution of crusade for
Christ and His Church. City clergy
and country clergy alike hawe recog-
nized the urgent need of placing a
fresh accent upon those mighty
teachings given to men by the Mas
ter Himself. Concern is very proper
" felt that the voice of the Christian
Church shall bear in this age, in full
ness and definiteness of utterance,
what it believes to be the vital mes
sage of the hour"
Quoting a recent Soviet utterance
that Religion is the opiate OF the peo-
pie" Bishop Freeman said: That is
the challenge sounded by one group
that has essayed the role of recast-
ing the habits and practices of a vast
empire. Reflected in other ways,
this challenge presents itself in the
life of prosperous America. The very
enviable situation, from material
standpoint, in which the nation finds
itself, renders more urgent the press
ing of the claims of Christ, upon
whose teachings we believe our form
of civilization is founded. 1 spake
unto thee in thy prosperity, but thou
saidst | will not hear was the SOL
emn declaration made to an ancient
people in the days of their seeming
self-security.
1--WE may well wonder whether a
like solemn warning may not be adj
dressed to this generation and peo-
pie. The Gospel for an age of sin,
the Gospel of hope for an age that
has been disillusioned, is Imperative
ly demanded. 1t is a Gospel boldly
proclaimed, that is no respecter OF
persons, that is urgently needed to-
day. We may we'll believe that the
imperilling of Christion institutions
may result in the imperilling of those
things that secure US life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness.
Bishop Freeman quoted two recent
uCCoranCeS OF GfSSlUoIlC SOOliuSS,
"The Government of the people never
get ahead of the religion of the peo-
ple." and "You cannot substitute the
authority of law for the virtue of
man." and continued:
"Stabilizing and strengthening men
through the preaching of Christian
virtues is the contribution which the
Christian Church has to make to a
period characterized by many and
strange doctrines. Our generation
has witnessed many and far-reach-
ing changes that have effected, for
good or ill, the Church itself. With
a lust for haste and a passion for
change, various methods and agen-
cies have been called into being, to De
tried and then superseded by others
that seemed more adaptable to Twen-
tieth Century needs.
"No one is disposed to dispute the
wisdom of some of these newer as
poets of the Church's life and its &C
tivities. On the other hand, there is
abundant evidence that a two great
insistence upon the value of these
agencies and instrumentalities has
had tendency to>withdraw the clergy
from the assiduous pursuits of study
ond frn,,, bo ,,,nr, cnocIfla dl1f1Qc of