Forces in Training by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1909

Forces in Training

By C. M. S.

The Christian Endeavor Convention at St. Paul, Minn.

The attendant at this convention is first impressed by the enthusiasm of the great host here gathered; secondly, by the great numbers which these delegates represent; and thirdly by the important factor which they constitute in bringing about the federation of the churches of the world.

That the bringing about of such a federation is within the purpose of the organization is shown by the following declaration of its president upon the day this convention opened:—

One of the most hopeful signs is the disappearance of sectarianism. The Methodists have their Epworth League, and the Baptists have their Young People's Union; but in this country there are five hundred Methodist churches that have Christian Endeavor societies, and there are three thousand five hundred societies among the Baptists.

One of the features of this convention consisted of three addresses delivered by Hon. W. J. Bryan, of Nebraska. At the noon hour he spoke at the Metropolitan Opera House to a large audience, his theme being a general defense of the Christian life as the best life, and an advocacy of the reasonableness of Christianity. Among some of the pithy epigrams that punctuated his address were these:—

It is not so important to know why God does certain things as to know that he does them.

It is easier for me to believe that God can create matter than to believe matter can create man.

We have to begin somewhere, and the Christian begins with God.

The nebular hypothesis assumes that certain things existed before the theory began, but the theory does not explain how or why.

Man didn't question water. He needed water long before he discovered that it was composed of two gases.

It is infinitely more important to know that water ceases to contract when it reaches the freezing-point than to know why.

He declared that the acceptance of physical facts by the unbeliever, and his use of them in spite of his inability to explain them, puts the unbeliever in a defenseless position when he questions the reason of sacred truths which he can not understand.

At the afternoon session in the Auditorium, Rev. Wm. M. Anderson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville, Tenn., spoke upon “The Influence of the Home in Bringing in the Kingdom.” It was an eloquent plea for that exemplification of Christ in the daily lives of the parents that would lead the children to accept him as their Saviour. The admonitions were good, but in this, as in practically every address delivered, there entered the idea of making the kingdom of Christ a reality on earth by political means.

This address was immediately followed by Mr. Bryan's second address, entitled “Religion and Life.” He paid a high tribute to personal religion. Three short paragraphs will give an idea of the tenor of his remarks:—

Religion is the dominant note in every human life if that life sounds true. It makes all the difference in the world whether a man conforms to the opinion of men about him, or to a high ideal. The man who does right only when people are looking at him is going to take a vacation some day when he thinks people are not watching him, and will fall. Man needs the sense of responsibility to a Creator.

Religion is a power which takes hold of a man from within. Efforts to correct from the outside are more or less a failure. When such work is done from the inside, it is more or less a success.

The acceptance of the Christian life requires only a moment, but the development of it requires the rest of a life.

He declared that the purpose of Christian endeavor was not the holding of meetings for prayer and praise, but was expressed in efforts to purify the life. There was much of this sentiment in

the addresses of others as well.

The 'old-fashioned' social meeting was made very conspicuous in this convention by the manner in which any reference to it was either studiously avoided, or, if mentioned at all, mentioned in such a way as to show that it has been outgrown and relegated to the rear. Its instrumentality in the work of purifying life and instilling high and strong Christian purpose has been forgotten. Such reformations as were wrought in such meetings were accomplished, as Mr. Bryan says, 'from the inside,' and were the only kind of reformation that could be a success. But the present method of reformation, and the method so largely advocated at this convention, is a reformation from the outside, by human means, through the fear of loss of position or office in the political world. That method never has been a success, and has always made hypocrites of its advocates and martyrs of its opponents. God's method of reforming men through the work of his Holy Spirit has never been improved upon; and the professed Christian who considers it a grander work to oust a political trickster from his position than it is to bring the converting and transforming power of Christ into the heart of an individual, has made a mistake whose magnitude only eternity can reveal.

While Mr. Bryan's address was being delivered in the Auditorium, a meeting for junior and intermediate workers was being held in the House of Hope Presbyterian Church near by. This meeting was presided over by the general secretary of the Christian Endeavor organization, Mr. William Shaw. Mrs. Charles Hutchinson, junior superintendent of the Ohio Christian Endeavor Union, was the chief speaker. She declared that—

Sunday-schools should not torture the minds of children with the old-fashioned idea and teaching that they were placed in this world for punishment because of Adam's sin. There is something better to teach the child than to dwarf his soul with a fear that destroys. Teach him how to live and enjoy this life, and make him useful for Christian citizenship, and his position in the future life need not be a thing of superstitious doubt.

Of course, such a statement of the 'old-fashioned idea' is an entire misrepresentation of the teaching of the fall of man, its consequences, and the plan of salvation, and yet the substitute which this speaker proposed is the popular substitute to-day, in this and many other organizations, for the plain principles and methods of the gospel of Christ. Teach the rising generation to enjoy this life and be good citizens of their country, and the future life will take care of itself. It is needless, perhaps, to say that such a program entirely rules out Christ and his atoning work as factors

in man's salvation, and makes man his own savior, in spite of the plain declaration of the Scripture that 'there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' A new generation is coming upon the stage of this world, filled with such ideas of the atonement and of their ability to climb into heaven on a tower of their own—even as did the Babel builders of old.

The two meetings above referred to adjourned simultaneously to take part in the 'patriotic procession' from the Auditorium to the State capitol, where Mr. Bryan was to speak again. The procession was headed by a platoon of police. Following these came an automobile with the officers of the organization and the speaker. Then came the rank and file of the great host by nations and by States, bearing their individual banners. The sight was an impressive one as this army of between eight and ten thousand marched upon the capitol. It took fully twenty minutes for this vast throng to adjust itself upon the wide steps, porches, and approaches of the capitol. Mr. Bryan was conducted to Governor Johnson's room, and after a few minutes they returned together and took seats among the officers of the association upon the improvised platform. The crowd broke into enthusiastic and long-continued cheering. The Endeavorers called for a speech from the governor again and again, but he modestly refused. The whole assembly, led by Prof. E. O. Excell, joined in singing 'The King's Business' and 'The International Hymn,' and the secretary read letters from a member of the British Parliament, Hon. George Nicholls, and the British ambassador, Hon. James Bryce, regretting their inability to participate in the program. Then followed 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee,' the entire audience rising and singing, with uncovered heads. Bishop Fallows, of Chicago, offered prayer.

Mr. Bryan was then introduced for the third time, his address being devoted to the application of the Christian spirit to the government of the city and the nation. He dwelt upon the size and influence of the Christian Endeavor organization and other similar organizations, and paid a passing tribute to the Catholic Church as the largest branch of the Christian church. He declared that the main thought and purpose of these organizations is the same—the application of Christian ideals to daily life, to social work, to politics, and to government. He thought he saw evidences of a great moral and ethical awakening which was destined to be worldwide and to revolutionize the world in the matter of better living, better citizenship, better governments, a kindlier feeling of brotherhood between man and

man, and the establishment of harmonious relationships between the nations, with the uprooting of international jealousies.

Upon the question of applying Christianity to politics Mr. Bryan said:—

There is an honest plane upon which politics can be conducted, and I am sure that when this Christian spirit dedicates itself to politics, as is the object of your Patriotic League, we shall find charity and respect for each other's opinions and greater honesty in politics. . . . I believe that one of the results of this movement will be the purification of American politics, and I see signs already. . . . I believe that the movement will continue to spread and grow stronger, and that more and more will it be recognized that in every political act we must reckon with the soul and with the conscience. This is all we need to make politics and government honest and pure in the United States.

The speaker closed his address with a declaration of his faith in the cause to which the Patriotic League of the Christian Endeavor organization was dedicated, and his belief that as a result of its operations 'a flood of blessings would overflow the Christian nations, and all the sons of men would see the good that had been done.'

It was apparent throughout that the address voiced the sentiments of the organization, and yet the student of God's Word knows that no such Utopian transformation of the political world is anywhere hinted at in the Inspired Book. In fact, that Word takes direct issue with all such idealistic or fantastic forecasts, and declares plainly the increase of iniquity until the time when Christ himself appears in the clouds of heaven to put an end to the reign of sin and bring in his own kingdom in his own way. The false hope fostered by such a movement and deeper stamped by the eloquence of great men, heralded to the ends of the earth and propagated there to becloud minds as to the real coming of the Redeemer's kingdom, must make angels weep.

The international and interdenominational character of the organization was strikingly shown on the second evening of the convention, when messages of good will, encouragement, and co-operation were read from many different lands and from numerous religious organizations within various denominations. For instance, on this evening a telegram was received from the Epworth Leaguers (Methodists) in international convention at Seattle, reading thus:—

Seattle International Epworth League Convention sends greeting. Christ enthroned throughout the world our united purpose.

There was also read a felicitous message from the Universalist Young People who were at that time holding their convention in Minneapolis. The reading of a message of greeting from the fifty-five

societies in Spain brought forth great applause, as did also the message from the Endeavorers of Hungary.

Mr. Clarke had but recently returned from a series of conventions in England, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, and Spain, and stated that in the latter country, the convention, which was held in Barcelona, numbered fifteen hundred delegates. This was considered a remarkable showing for a country so strongly Catholic—a country in which no Protestant chapel must face on a principal street or bear outward evidence of its religious purpose. Messages poured in also from Burma, South Africa, Germany, France, Iceland, Samoa, and Thessalonica.

Twenty-eight years ago the society started in the Williston Congregational Church, of Portland, Maine. The present pastor of that church was in attendance, with seven delegates from that body; and these, with Dr. and Mrs. Clarke, were called to the platform to receive the plaudits of the great gathering.

At this juncture Rev. S. G. Inman, a Protestant missionary from Mexico, presented President Clarke with a silk flag of the Mexican republic, a gift from the society at Monterey.

Edward Martsden, a native Indian of Alaska, president of the societies in that territory, was called to the stand, and spoke briefly of the purpose of Alaska Endeavorers.

Rev. Floyd J. Tompkins, rector of Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, Pa., was the principal speaker of the evening, his subject being, “The Kingdom Ideal Expressed in Social Life.” He urged that Christians be bold to express themselves in political affairs; and though the time had not yet come when a preacher might speak about politics in his pulpit without criticism, yet they were doing it, and would continue to do it whether criticized or not. He said: “We believe the power of Christianity must enter into the political life, or that life is doomed.” He deprecated the idea so long held by the church that the Christian is “a pilgrim and a stranger in this present world,” and declared that the church of to-day could never go back to such a conception of the Christian’s position in this world. “When any one stands up,” said he, “and declares that this is not a Christian land, let us defy him to his face, for it is a Christian land.” This declaration brought forth a storm of applause. In answer to his own question of what they could do to better the conditions in this world, he declared: “Every one of us who is of age must vote, and vote before God, getting down on our knees, and asking God to guide us aright—that is what we can do.” (Applause.) A very different an-

swer this from the answer given by our Saviour to the “young man” who came to him with a question as to what he should do; and a very different program from that laid out by the Master before his disciples when he sent them out into the world to advance the interests of his kingdom.

The speaker closed his address with an eloquent picturing of America’s greatness and the “magnificent work” she was to do as she should “go forth mightily to save the world for righteousness and truth.” Said he: “If we are going to bring in the kingdom of God through these high ideals of the social life, we must have a magnificent hopefulness, looking abroad upon this old earth as God’s earth, not the devil’s.”

This convention says little or nothing in its great meetings concerning the personal need of a personal Saviour, and nothing whatever of his return and the setting up of his kingdom in the manner that his followers were taught by his own lips to expect it.

C. M. S.

St. Paul, Minn.