Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-08
Churches in 1928

This being the time Of the year when forecasts are
being made concerning all the physical attributes OF
civilization based upon lessons of the past it seems
opporune to cast prophetic eye the metaphysical
field in the effort to diagnose the soul of the world as
# finds expression through the various church activities
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise the distinguished leader of
Jewish thought has written forecast of the year 1913
for religious activities which contains much logic and
exhibits keen perception. He says: 4
"A rightfnl understanding of that which is happen
inc in the religious life of America today may help one
to see with some cearness what is likely to be in the
year to
The church. happily for itself, is challenged never
before-by youth which doubts, by radcalism which
denes by mperilled liberties which appeal, by the
international weter which waits and hopes. I believe
that with increasing clarity of vision the truest spirits
within the churches coming to that the church
is not an institution like other institutions in the life Of
the world, but rather spirit which must inform and
fashion the inner and ultimately the outer life Of man.
I'm this world the church will always be. Less and
less in the coming year will it be Of this world, and,
least Of ALL for this world The world has been too
much the maker of the church, instead Of the church
being the renaker of the world The year 1923 will be
critical for the world and the church alike If the
church cannot Danish as the most noxious Of all
laWess things then the world may Danish innocuous
church."
While the learned rabbi might have been more def
mite in his discussion Of the church the reaker of
the world it reasonable to assume that he had
reference to the civic responsibilities of the church as
we'll its religious responsibilities
It appears certain that the MODERN not modernist
church has to the point where it feels it must
exercise it's share of influence in governmental matters
at least insofar they pertain to the moral growth or
experience of the people.
Righteousness must travel hand in hand with religion
and must be the controlling influence in government if
the church is to work out its proper destiny.
1t therefore comes back to the civic responsibility
OF the church to assist in the rebirth of government
founded on the solid rock of righteousness or equity
which IN effect are synonymous terms.
It is important that religious teachers should realize
that there two great fundamentals in the Christian
religion, viz the fatherhood Of God and the brother
hood of man. and that the greatest Of these for practical
application ON this earth is the latter
1t is much easier, but less practical for pulpiteers to
thunder forth the doctrines underlying the fatherhood
Of God rather than consider and labor for that rght
eousness dealing that should characterize the brother
hood of man.
As indicated by Rabbi Wise the world has too often
Deen the maker OF the church, and the doctrines therein
expounded have been too often born of the financial
needs OF the church, and of the opinions of the chrchs
chief supporters
The terrible juvenile crimes that have shocked the
country IN the past year should point the Way for the
church to reclaim its during youth and assist the
parents to follow the admonition of wise old King
solomon who said: Bring up a child in the way he
should go and when he is old he will NOT danart from #
IL IS apparent that the church has lost it's hold upon
te young people in the exact ratio that the modern azz
palaces have gained their clientele
II tnefeTore deVoves upon the church to accept it's
civic responsibilities and provide through community
effort that character Of entertainment and rocroaon
That Will promote Righteousness and discourage nrgft
eousness. 20 -" So
The church, with it's huge membership, can no longer
aICepC TO wash It's hands Of affairs of state hit mst
shoulder willingly unwilnglv it's share Of tha burden
IN providing the kind of a government under which
righteousness is encouraged and thrives
Fnae washed his hands of one affair." and the great
eot 1edcnef OF all Time was put to death Moral percep
ons ana righteous eanings of the youth of TODAY are
beng put to death because the good reop1e Of the
country are washing their hands Of affairs Of govern