Show r 1 RELIGIOUS NEWS f 1 AND THOUGHT 1I 1 I 1i i Words of Wisdom and Thoughts Worth Pondering on Religions I And aiorai Subject i I Dcnol1lill tionnl Statistics I An interesting table printed in the Independent shows the net increase or i vJecrease in the membership of the various i vari-ous religious denominations in the United I States durintr ithe nasc four years Minst Church Com lAdventists 57 40 4612 Baptists 4064 IC7S 68953 Catholics 610 2055 12435GS l ChTisUans 48 33 6699 i Church of God 72 81 10495 r Church New Jeru ielcm 23 S2 1020 Consregationallsts 176 532 67229 f Disciples of Christ 1167 1522 2299SG i5 f 15M Dunkards 27 27 691 Evangelical Associa Friends 12 7 593 German Evangelical Protestant 1 3 Si4 r German Evangelical Synod 86 IDS 11733 Hebrews 75 9 S044 Latterday Saints 17 25 5875 Lutherans S29 576 75032 I lennonites 45 50 1659 Methodists 2319 7319 352245 Jlloravlans 1 2 754 Presbyterians 433 S74 137G72 Protes a3lt Episcopal 253 795 60255 17 Reformed 62 153 22225 Salvatkm Army 2016 313 1325s Theosophists 61 LOSS T5nHed Brethren U2 371 19437 Unitarians 4 1G S Il I I Universalsts 72 64 SOOS Waldenstronians 140 150 20000 Total net increase17331 121SO 2357206 I Decrease r c Religious lticniioix Imperative The foliowins is taken from the New York Christian Advocate ireffiu An educated mother recently said 1 do not want my children to study physiology or to know anything about what are called laws of health If they study these tilings they Trill be In constant terror of Violating the laws of health and contracting disease but if they are ignorant of them they can trust in God > to care for them and he itfho is able Will keep them safely itany otherwise I intelligent persons are adopting this notion no-tion of faith Carried to its legitimate conclusions 4t would overthrow all morality mor-ality and religion It malses ignorance the basis C1 faith But true faith rests on knowledge If it is best to remain Sgnorant Of the constitution of the body and the laws of health it ds best to continue con-tinue an ignorance of the constitution and laws of mind It is best also to keep children ignorant of moral laws and the foundation of moral character If they should kmow the laws of their moral constitution they would be in constant terror of violating them and becoming moral wrecks but if they are ignorant Of these tihings they can trust in God to keep them from sin and ruin and he trill conduct them safely through This Is the absurd conclusion to which this logic leads Then why teach children the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount If this theory of faith is correct the mission and teaching of Christ are absurd The Truest and Highest Let us have the courage to live by Q the truest and highest revealed to us The life of our best hours and experiences experi-ences Is cur true life Xot to strive to make these best hours the standard by which we daily live to be disloyal to that whh we sep and Tvcrshlp and love in the mast exalted and most radiant moments of our existence to make no effort to preserve and perpetuate the glory of this occasional spiritual life is to resist and quench the spirit Churcli snare c Itntionnli in Scotland The staunch adherents or the ancient Standards of Presbyterian orthodoxy in the EsNiblishexi Kirk of Scotland are rapidly becoming a minority remarks the Living Ohurcli P E of Chicago but that they are still valorous 8s shown 3y the remarks of the Rev John Robertson Rob-ertson who demands a new covenant for f Scotland He says Rationalism is in her colleges unbelief in her pulpits and t a withering blight of Indifference on her covenant and bring Sn again the seed i people God send us a revival of the covenanters This lisonsr mol ornism of DodsBruceandDrummond Isnr with its artificial flowers of wax I and lavender sprinkle God hiss at it and blast it forever There is1 no sense of sin against God In it and therefore the Savior is despised and rejected of it These expressions may be somewhat extravagant but the drift ol Protestantism Protestant-ism towards rationalism is as evident In Scotland as elsewhere It is not a revival of the Solemn League and Covenant Cov-enant however that will effectually check ft Truth the Entl sxml Aim or Life I I I To attain truth should be the real end of all study In such researches the jiiind kindles with a rational enthusiasm I enthusi-asm at every step The effect of truths truth-s universally salutary and every instance I in-stance in wbidh our feeble intellect disC dis-C V lS some gleams elevates ithe spirit I I and fills it with a high degree of happiness happi-ness One who feels pleasure in cultivating culti-vating his understanding has the magic t key which unlocks the exhaustless treasury I I I treas-ury of knowledge He holds communion through his books with the wise and good of all ages and all countries and rs conversations with them may cease I or change at his pleasure Illicit tile Messiah ComOK I Great diversity of opinion prevails r among Hebrew doctors respecting the i time of the Messiahs anticipated ccming I I lany believe the event to be delayed on account of the sins of the people of Israel A most unique idea was that put forth by Rabbi IIachir who lived at the end of the fourteenth century He predicted that numerous strange sgns and prodigies are to precede the great event Then he declared that when Israel shall be gathered from all nations and brought to the land of their forefathers and the Messiah Shall have rebuilt the city he will celebrate rut a gracious reception c > t which every one ffball be seated at a golden table He will entertain himself and company at Ihs feast with a great battle between Behemoth and Leviathan himself stepping step-ping forward with a great sword and slaying them both Many still look forward for-ward to some such occurrence The Kirst Oppressor The first oppressor of life that I thrusts itself with seemingly resistless Its victim is circumstances i power upon It Yictir i crumtncs I How many of us are oppressed by this monster tyrant of life who seems to 2iold us with a vicelike grasp from which it te imps ble to extricate ourselves our-selves Who Is there that does not feel that he would be a better spirited man that the house of Israel in his soul t would be strengthened and perfected If only the circumstances of his earthly I j condition could be 0 changed a to enable its s5ritual life to unfold itself unhindered HoW blessed is this prom I t Jse e which tells us that this oppressor oppres-sor of our hearts may be made t serve nay shall certainly b made to serve It 3s not the promise that our circumstances circum-stances shall b changed but that they shall be made a servant and n handmaid hand-maid to our spiritual flfefley C H Mann i the Helper SCl NlIICIS In a transitional period burdenbearing Js the older of the day It is a sin against the holy spirit of progress to shirk ones obligation to do something for the race and in these days of get fortunes this is especially true of the rich In the ratio of a mans power and capacity ought to 10 his sympathy with the less fortunate Ve can forgive the dull sensualist who possesses neither the mind to 5 nor the heart to feel but enlightened selfishness never Jatnes C Hodgins True Education < ucton The object of education Is the higher purpose of culture which fit a man for his most perfect work in life by elevating the mind and developing the intellect A completely cultured man i well balanced and trained co use and command a his faculties at will factes w Living Sermon Itst eschsasa says of a successful preacher that he lived his sermons and I preached his life Most successful preachers preach-ers do the same They teach by example as well as prt < Cpt and their very lives are consumed in their work The Christian Observer Louisville |