Evening star., 1928-10-10

1t is expressed in the words of the
poet:
"'For I know that through the ages
one increasing purpose runs,
And the thoughts of men are
| widened with the process OF
the suns
| after all, it is summed up in the
classical phrase: In essentials, unity;
in non essentials, liberty; in all things,
charity"
There has been another notable
change during Bishop Freeman'S long
ministry When he began his profess
sional career modern science had
started its inroads on revelation, but
there was no widespread understanding
| of the new discoveries. The book of
the rocks and stars still was unintelli-
gible to the majority of the people.
The time was hardly ripe for far
reaching fundamentalist-mo con-
modernists. People read their Bibles,
but not very intelligently.
Science Not AntagOnistic.
Now science is not antagonistic to
Scripture. 1t simply requires a more
intelligent reading of Scripture. That
also the Bishop OF Washington has seen
developing. He has seen a more INTEL
| ligent understanding and application of
the Old and New Testaments. 50
while the fundamentalists and mod
ernists may wage their warfare" he
said sit is safe to say that the great
! body of the people read the Bible with
a finer understanding of its deeper
meaning. The evidence of this is mani
fold. The secular press has taken the
Bible as text book and the papers are
giving more consideration to religious
themes than ever before. Many of the
outstanding editorial writers are the
gifted exponents of the great truths of
Scripture. Among men in public life
there is abundant evidence of a pro-
founder knowledge of the Bible and a
deeper appreciation of its immortal
truths. 1t literally has become the Book
of the people and while varying inter-
| pretationS may be given to 1t, neverthe-
less the principles there enunciated are
permeating the life of our age and its
truths are finding more immediate
application to twentieth century prob
lens than at any other time in history"
Bishop Freeman speaks of the growth
of Bible study and understanding among
the leaders of current thought from
personal knowledge. Probably no
|
acquaintance with so many national
leaders in so many lines of thought.
Take for instance, the scientist. One
of his closest friends is Prof. Michael
Pupin of Columbia University, one of
the most notable of present-day physi-
ciStS and former president of the Amer
lean Association for the Advancement
of Science. Prof. Pupin tells him that
every step forward in physics leads SIM
ply to greater appreciation of the
infinite beyond-the glory and majesty
of God. He gets the same story from
the biologiSts-such men as Henry Fair
field Osborn of the New York Museum
of Natural History, who finds in the
increasing knowledge of life similar
condition to that found by the physicist
in his investigations of matter.
AS for the application of the Bible in
public life, Bishop Freeman feels that
no man long can hold public confidence
without personal religion. 1t has been
demonstrated over and over again.
Christ Persists. He Says.
This leads to the third observation of
his 35 years in the Christian ministry
the persistence of Jesus Christ in
human thought and the wider recogni-
tion of His supremacy and sovereignty
as Ine WOfldS Master ana savior. he
believes that Christ is more widely
revered and His teaching more deeply
considered today than ever before.
Where once men we're reluctant to
acknowledge openly their allegiance to
Him." Bishop Freeman said, "I find
them more and more giving articulate
expression to their avOWal OF His lead
ership and incompatible power Here
again this is due to finer under
standing of His teaching. Men have
come to realize that His message is
more modern than that of our most
advanced thinkers. Take society by
and large, as we see it today, and the
opportunity for the Christian church is
incomparably great. But may / say in
that connection that the demand of our
time is for a fresh presentation of the
gospel in all its winsomeness and i'm