Evening star., 1930-06-28
Religious Questions
Dr.. S. PGrkes CGdmdn.

@. Is there not a danger that In
building beautiful churches we shall
forget the beauty of holiness?
A. Yes, and there is also a danger
that in confusing ugliness with piety
we shall demoralize religion. It is
plain that long drawn aisles. fretted
vaults, storied windows and elaborate
symbols are not Gods bread for hum
CRY souls. But they furnish its ap-
propr1ate setting and can be quite as
easily filled with spiritual fervor as
barns labeled as sanctuaries.
The Bible exhorted Israel TO bring
to her ancient temple the most per-
feet craftsmanship and the choicest
sacrifices of which she was capable,
From the artistic standpoint this
adornment of the Lords house cul-
tivated the esthetic senses so pro-
nouncedly lacking in the monothe-
istic Hebrews who rightfully dreaded
idol worship. On the other hand, the
Moslem rulers lavished their best work
upon the architecture of their prin-
cipal mosques and fairly challenged the
Splendor of Medieval Gothic,
The effect OF unattractive churches
on the younger generation is important
in this connection. Too often they
sre dragged to churches which outrage
their imagination with depressing
sights of cheap or tawdry decoration.
| To live in marble halls and worship
in plain and barren meeting houses is
not a constructive policy. The Oft
quoted example of humble and perse-
cuted believers who communed with
heaven from the bare heath or in way
side places does not apply to our age.
What we need is the spirit of those
heroes, expressed in the best achitec-
ture we can devise, filling it's struc-
lures with whole-hearted praise to God
and vows of service for our fellow
men.
q. Why does the Church of Rome
try to claim the title Catholic? Are
not the other churches which claim and
use 1t as justified as the papacy?
A. Every church which is univer-
sal in its scope is entitled to use this
much disputed title. I have no inten-
ton OF bestowing titles on churches
which are not of their own choosing,
yet should the Methodist churches,
which are found in pretty much every
land unite and call themselves Catholic
Methodtsts, who could reasonably
object?
Exclusive claims to the name Cath
| olic, however, aggravate the issue you
present. Some members of the An
gelican communions of Great Britain
assert that they are justified In using
it So does the Eastern orthodox
church Indeed the patriarch of the
Armenian church is designated Cath
olicos," and I have not heard Of any
successful challenge to his right to use
that designation.
1t Is indisputable that the common
understanding of the term restricts the
title to our brethren who render
obedience to the Holy See. But be-
lief in lone holy Catholic and apos-
tolic church" is held by the vast ma
jority of all Christians, and they
avow it in their professional creedS.
The pity of it is that inherited and
still active doctripal and ecclesiastical
differences make the term Catholic an
ideal rather than a realized factor for
all the churches.
Q. Will you please explain the Par
able Of the Ten Virgins (Matthew,
XIV, 1-2)? Do the five foolish vir-
gins represent the saved or the un-
saved class?
A. The true meaning of this parable
as I interpret it, is its emphasis of the