Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

CHRISTIAN NATION.Volume 18.T h e Ghristian JiatioDWEDNESDAY. MAY 24, 1898.P. O. Box 2633, N»w Yobk.John W. Pritchard, - Editob and Manaoeb.Associate Editors :Rev. W. J. Coleman,Rev. 0. D. TrumbuU, D. D.,Prof. J. M. Ooleman.Department Editors :DepartmentofMi*sions,'ReY. F. M. Foster.Sabbaih Sohool Leason, Rev. T. P. Robb.Primary S. S. Lesaon, Grace Hamilton George.Prayermeeting Topic, Rev. T. H. Aoheson.Christian Endeavor, Rev. T. Holmes Walker.The Week in Beview, Prof. J. M. Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet S. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Rev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Comer:Mrs. Rev. R. J. George, Mrs. M. S. Gibson,Beaver Falls, Pa.New Oa«tle, Pa.THE CHURCH ANu ITS WORK.Some readers may not approve of all thatMr. McKnight has written to our Contributors'page. There is room for a difference of honestconviction, both as to what is the real limit ofthe church, and as to whether certain lines ofGod's work had better be left untouched untilthe church gets ready to take hold of them.Let us note a few facts.Pending the waking np of the church tothe importance of foreign missions, voluntaryorganizations inaugurated and prosecuted thatline of work, which is now the church's boast.Possibly the Head of the church looked uponthose voluntary organizations—whose memberswere constrained by the Spirit—as a part of thechurch, albeit unrecognized as such by thechurch itself. Voluntary organizations haveSocieties? And yet the church justifies andDr. HoraliuB Bonar once said, witb the Biblein our hands, " The Bible is the truest of allhonors them.Let ns not make a distinction where there is true books, and the only book that ib all trne."not a difference. The world is wiser than the Preachers of the gospel today minimiza thechurch in this matter, for it looks upon all vol­value of this all-truth by passing by the wordsuntary organizations that are opposed to it, asone with the church; and are they not? "AndJohn answered aud said. Master, we saw onecasting out devils m Thy name, and we forbadhim, because he followeth not with us AndJesus said unto him. Forbid him not; for hethat is not against us is for ns." (Luke 9:49-50.)The work of the church is greater than thechurch organization, and they who do thechurch's work, in whatever way they do it, arefor Christ. We praise God for the church,and we exalt the church, but we pray God thechurch may not become an obstacle in the wayof any one who would he! p to do the Lord'swork.Much of the confnsion existing concerningthe proper attitude of the church to voluntaryorganizations that are helping to do its work,would be cleared away, if the church were whatit ought to be, as there is a very marked differencebetween what the church ought to be, andwhat it really is.THE BIBLE CHRISTIANITY.A few weeks ago one of the prominent papersin London opened its columns to a discussionof the question, " Is Christianity plajed out?"The sentiments of men of all shades of opinion,rationalist, atheist, agnostic and sceptic,have been arrayed against Christianity, showingthe characteristic feeling of prominentmen towards the tenets of Ohristian faitb.Every criticism, doubt and defect have beenput forward in the vain effort to sweep awayBible Christianity. But in these days whenthe supremacy of the historical argument hasasserted itself in every field of thought, theChristian need not be afraid to say to the blatantcry of the critic. It is not a question of theauthenticity of books, it is not a question ofthe permanence of doctrines, or of the truth ofthe gospel versus the pseudo-gospel; the questionis, What can the critic make of the historyof sacred inspiration, and placing reliance upondefences drawn from other sources. Theyfancy that by pandering to human appetite, bythe use of human arguments, and by meetingon the low-level ground of human expediencythe contestants against Christianity, they willsnatch a worldly victory from their opponents.The results of human learning and the acquirementsof human culture do not possess theBoul-saving and character-building power ofthe gospel of Christ. A story may elucidate avirtue, and a scene give light to an ideal, butthe story of the cross alone can save and sanetifya seul. It is the Word of God that ismighty to pull down the fortifications of sin.Pascal may be spoken of as the giant intellectof Bible Christianity. He was himself calledto pass through a quicksand of doubt. Hepondered volumes of Christian evidences, studiedimmense stores of theological writing, tocome at last for light and peace to the unadulteratedWord of God. Toung men and womenof today need to learn this lesson. The Biblelies too often as a dusty volume on the shelf,while the novel, the newspaper and the magazineare the constant companions of life. Wedo not say that it is wrong to read the literatureof the day, if it is held in subordination tothe Word of God and subsidiary to Christianprinciples. The Bible alone can present .anevidence that infidelity cannot touch, and asolidity of sentiment that stands iike the rockon the surf-beaten shore, impregnable.The Vyeek.—During the last year in New York oity the numberof licenses for saloons has decreased, no less than 411applications being rejected. The total number ofplaces where drink ia sold is 7,783.in later days preceded the church m other—The Republican convention met at Louisville,lines also, of God's work, and we may live toKy., last week. Unanimity did not prevail as wassee the history of the church and foreign missionsrepeated in tbe future history of theseen in the election of oflBcers and on the immigrationquestion. The platform adopted was a fightingone,most of the planks being taken from the third partychurch in its dealings with these.of Christianity? Nineteen centuries of fierce issues. Among the items of the platform we note aThe truth is, it seems, just this: that there confiict, terribly keen scrutiny, and bitter per­singlsecution term presidency, woman suflfrage, election ofhave always been and are now, advanced soulsin the church to whom God reveals clearly the and opposition, have only brought out U. S. Senators by the people, civil service reform, eto.into greater light the powerfulness and the A timely demand is made for the suppression of publicgambling, and the execution of existing laws byneeds of the times, and these, being unable to truthfulness of Christianity. Emerson's wordsrouse their brethren in the church to a sense may be reiterated over the sepulchre of a thousandnegations of Christianity, " What the —Young ladies in England are to be seen smokingthe oificers of the law.of du^^y, " take the field,"unauthorized by thecigarettes in public parKs aud in smoking rooms inchurch visible, but .how much more directly world needs are not negations but positions ;the cities. It is a common thing also to see fashionableladies seated at the dumb-tables drinking bigauthorized by the Head of the church, and by not denials but affirmations." A search forHim companied and cheered in the battle. knowledge hae constituted the grand struggle gorums of brandy and soda. Morals require the forceAnd then, in the crisis hour, God's great reserveof the ages. In that struggle a vast literature of prohibition to make some men and women realizeforce, the church, with quickened con­science, leaps into the breach.of apologetics has been produced in reply tothe attacks npon Christianity. It should notwhat they should do and abstain from doing.—The directors of Union Seminary have electedWho sent Carey to Ind'a? Was it the be forgotten however that the greatest apologeticProf. McGiffert of Lane to the chair of Church His­is the Bible, possessing as it does an ever tory, vacant by the retirement of the world-knownchurch? And yet the church of today justifieshistorian, Philip Sehaflf.and honors Caiey, and uobly continues his forceful spirit, and exerting a continuouslydivinely inspired work. Who from the first magnetic influence upou all truth-lovers—The threatened attempt to tax bicycles in Mass. isjustly exciting vigorous opposition. Not only arehas been filling the isles of the sea with through the personality of Jesus photographedassessors disqualified to judge the value of the wheelscopies of the Bible? Is it not voluntary in its pages. To every sceptic, and in answer now in use, but in the majority of cases a tax wouldorganizations, the British and American Bible to every scorner of Christianity, we may say as fall upon thg mechanics and olerks to whom bicycles