HERE is a brief pen picture, drawn by that able Congregational preacher, Dr. R. S. Storrs, of Brooklyn, N. Y.:—
“Those days of plainer living and higher thinking are not as familiar to us now. The church feels the change as well as the world. ‘Culture’ is now the prevailing word, rather than the greater word ‘regeneration.’ Services tend to become more complex and more ornamental. Preaching is more ethical, literary, pictorial, or sometimes sensational. Institutional churches are more frequent, with their multiplying appliances for pleasant entertainment; and social questions occupy more largely the intent attention of pastors and people than do the deep things of spiritual experience. Enthusiasm for the distinctive truths of what is still recognized as the Divine Religion is less wide, energetic, inspiring, than it was. The conduct of Christ is more dwelt upon than his cross; and missions, both at home and abroad, are often honored and sustained rather for the secular benefits which they promise than with the single subordinating aim in which they started—‘to seek and to save that which was lost.’”
And says the Advance, in commenting upon it: “This picture will be vividly acknowledged as accurate, by both those who regard the change as an improvement, and by those who, like Dr. Storrs, deplore it.” But is it an improvement? Take the power of regeneration out of Christianity and there is nothing left but a moral system, empty and powerless as men. It is time to preach the Gospel of Christ. See Rev. 14: 6, 7.
Congress of Religions.—November 18 the Congress of Religions held a meeting at Indianapolis, Ind. The object is to work for greater union among all religious bodies. At the close of the meeting the Rev. Lloyd Jones remarked (we quote from the Denver Republican of the 19th ult.):—
“This afternoon witnessed a finer demonstration than the expression of the synthesis that we believe it. It has been an object lesson showing that we have wrought better than we have spoken. Here on this platform expression has been made by Buddhists, Brahmans, Methodists, Baptists, Unitarians, Universalists, Presbyterians, Jews and by representatives of the great unclassed. It is showing that every year there is more of a sympathy being expressed among those of different religious beliefs, and the fraternity of sects is growing closer.”
But this is not Christianity. Christ has no concord with Belial, nor has the temple of God with idols. Those who are looking for such a union as the above either do not understand Christianity or do not believe it. It has all the good of all religions with none of the evil. It is not a theory to be harmonized, but a life to be lived. And yet the above is an indication of a decidedly popular drift.
Why.—The reason why the proposed amendment for woman suffrage was defeated in California, the Pacific Ensign (organ of the W. C. T. U.) tells us, was that the liquor men defeated it by trading with the Republican Party. The Ensign says:—
“The liquor men claimed to have 65,000 votes at their control. With the blandishment of the serpent that tempted Eve, they went to the leaders of the Republican Party, and with this proposition, ‘We will carry the state for McKinley if you will use your influence against Amendment No. 6.’ McKinley and the Sixth Amendment were weighed in the balance; and the result was the women were sacrificed to the saloon.”
More still, it is said that the Catholics worked with the liquor men. And this is politics. If the women desire this sort of thing, it is about the sort of thing they will get.
FACTS FOR THE TIMES.—Containing historical extract, tracts, candid admissions from authors, ancient and modern. A Book for the Times. Revised 1893. A compilation of facts that are astounding, by students of biblical and historical research. 340 pages, wine-colored cloth binding. Price, 75 cts., postpaid. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, California.
