Part 24 (1/2)

One sect insists upon having a communion every Sunday because the Bible says, ”as often as you do this,” etc. To be literal in the matter of communion, the Lord's Supper should be served at night as the original was, and it should be supper and not a few pieces of broken crackers.

The sect that insists on following the Scriptures in the matter of baptism by immersion fails to follow the Scriptures in the matter of was.h.i.+ng the feet or anointing the head.

Many years ago the church considered it a sacrilege to use an organ.

Today they have orchestras and hire operatic singers.

So it seems that the church is broadening out. Thinking men believe that religion should not be an auto-intoxication of self-condemnation or worry, sobs and misery. Because so much of this sort of teaching is prevalent the church is not making the gains it should. The church is largely supported by nice little women, many of them maiden ladies who have little to do, and know little of the great problems of the busy world.

I am thoroughly convinced that the church must recognize that evolution is taking place, that we are to be more charitable, more broad in our views, less technical in our tenets and more practical in our work.

We will have to cut down the fences between the sects and all get together in the great field for a common cause rather than trying to maintain little independent vineyards.

Religion must teach smiles and joy, courage and brotherly love, instead of frowns, dejection, fear and envy.

It must teach how to be and how to get good out of our today on earth.

If we are good and do good here, we certainly will help our future prospects.

Certainly we are progressing from narrowness, bigotry, selfishness and envy, to broadness, reason, brotherly love and contentment, and we shall progress from the narrow confines of obstinate orthodoxy or bulldogmatics, by breaking down the sect, cult, ism, and doxy barriers until we all join in a universal church in which all can put their hearts and beliefs, in which all can find full range for their spiritual belief and expression.

That big, broad, right church will be in harmony with G.o.d's purpose.

The Creator made all men and He doesn't confine His love or His interest to any one little man-made narrow sect, or creed.

”G.o.d is love.” ”Love thy neighbor.” ”Help the weak, cheer the grief stricken.” Those are the commands and purposes we find everywhere in the Scriptures.

”He that believeth in me shall be saved.” That's a definite promise and it is not qualified with a lot of creed paragraphs and beliefs. That promise doesn't have any buts or ifs. It doesn't say we shall be saved whether we are Methodists or Catholics, or Baptists or Presbyterians.

Those names are man-made, and creeds of those churches are man-made, too.

At the congress of religions in the World's Fair at Chicago over three hundred religions and sects were represented by delegates from all over the world, and every one there with hearty accord sang, ”Praise G.o.d From Whom All Blessings Flow” and ”Rock of Ages.” Those hymns were universal; they fitted all creeds and sects.

Big men in the church are intensely interested in the get-together, universal church, and each year will mark a definite progress toward amalgamation of sects and divisions.

There should be no Methodist Church North and Methodist Church South.

There should not be churches like the Congregational and Presbyterian, whose creeds are identical, the difference being only in the officers.

The country village of 1,000 population has five churches; it should have only one. The country is full of half starved preachers and weak, struggling congregations.

The get-together movement will help religion, and it's going to happen surely.

INVENTORY

A Necessary Practice to Bring Efficiency