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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1907.
3
TO WHAT EXTENT MAY A CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION
ENGAGE IN THE CORRECTION OF THE PUBLIC EVILS?
Address by Rev. John E. White Before the General Baptist Convention at Jamestown Exposition, May 22, 1907.
T HE! earnest disposition of recent
years to get back to the words
of Jesus as llnal authority in
matters of religion and the balancing
of His message to know what was up
permost and foremost in His thought,
whatever Its exaggeration, has made
one thing very clear, and that Is that
the absorbing Ideal of Christ and the
passion of His teaching was the king
dom of heaven to be reallxed on this
earth. It was, as wo make out, i
state of affairs In which righteous
ness and good ruled the hearts of men.
It was His largest love, larger than
the church, larger than the Individual.
He Bought Indlvldnals, but sought
them for the kingdom. He founded
the ecclesla, the church, but 'It was
not an end in Itself; It existed for the
kingdom. The three great facts in the
citizenship of the kingdom are: God
la, I am, and there are others. When
a certain man said to Jesus that he
believed In one God and loved Him su
premely and his neighbor as himself,
Christ quickly responded: "Verily I
say unto you, thou art' not far from
the kingdom of God." For that king
dom on this earth, even as it
heaven, Christ prayed and taught His
disciples to pray, and In nothing may
Christians be more assured that they
are truly Christian than when they
are engaged, singly or together, in the
great forerunner's work of preparing
the way of the Lord and making the
path of His kingdom straight'.
The Denomination and the Kingdom.
Now, when we turn to find anything
In our midst corresponding to Christ's
idea of the kingdom of heaven on
earth, we are impressed that the
Christian denomination Indicates the
furthest advance we have In the world
today of Christ's great Ideal. It Is,
of course, even here Imperfectly real
ized, but careful thought will confirm
the statement that In the Christian de
nomination, In Its enterprises. In
Its councils. Is constituted a
Christian life and power larger
and broader than any individual or
church can realize alone. I believe
that In the Christian denomination the
law of Ideal righteousness comes to a
complete manifestation, that Justice
and brotherhood are hero freer from
the Interference of selfishness and the
constraint of human nature than In
any other modern organization. There
Is a corporate conscience In the Chris
tian denominations that Is far more
apt to ring true to Ideal Christianity
than the Individual conscience. A
convention of Baptists could scarcely
be betrayed Into disloyal action. Rare
ly. If ever, have we known a Baptist
assembly to strike a false note on n
moral question. I have marked It
carefully that no matter how excited
the bitterness of public sentiment
over the race problem In this coun
try, the denomination In Its assombly
never falls to measure up to the level
of the Ideal Christian spirit. On the
question of tho liquor traffic ar.d the
child labor evil and the crime of
lynching the denomination has never
taken a step aside from morality, hu
manity and justice. Bet us thank God
for that and take courage.
Intolerable Suspicions.
But the. form of the question, "To
what extent may a Christian denomi
nation engage In the correction of pub
lic evils?" suggests a restraint some
where. . That public evils are to be
corrected admits of no doubt or dif
ference of opinion. The doubt seems
to bo whether a "Christian".denomina
tion should engago In correcting them.
There are reasons for questioning
whether this Is not a falso and dan
gerous* limitation which a traditional
prejudice Instead of a Christian prin
ciple which has been laid on ouj de
nominational life. We are living In a
time when public evils are being un
covered as never before- The con
science of tho people of this nation Is
wonderfully sharpened. The lines are
drawn more pointedly every day. It
must be evident that a policy of
"Laissez-faire." with regard to the re-,
form of public evils, will Increasing
ly embarrass religious leaders There
are not a few who genuinely fear that
the Influence of organized Christian
ity has been already greatly weaken
ed by that pollgy. It would certainly
be a disaster to religion and an Injury
to reform If we were to allow our-
selves to be swept off our feet by pop
ular clamor and to be drawn from
our position of extreme conservatism
Into an attitude of extreme radicalism,
but It seems to me that we are not at
present as Christian denominations
Sharing as actively as the world has
the right to demand of us, InJ the
righting of public wrongs, and In the
construction of a righteous ojjgr of
things in our country. Th ® Christian
denomination to under suspicion. We
are suspected of such a sympathy with
wealth and power that weoro counted
as a handicap and not a help to Jus
tice. Powerful Influences, amounting
almost to a propaganda, are boldly at
work with the rank and file to under
mine confidence In the leaders of
Christian denominations. Tbto to »
Intolerable condition. I believe that In
any comprehensive view of denomi
national life It to a profoundly unjust
and untrue suspicion, bat It to Ml ft
negligible one. We have done w$ll to
ask whether we should not engage In
the correction of public evils. It Should
he considered ns something more than
an academic inquiry.
Christ—A Remormer.
Is there anything In the original con
stitution of Christianity, of precept or
example that prohibits a Christian de
nomination from engaging in the cor
rection of public evils?
Christ's Idea of the Kingdom of God
on earth was tfte very height of revolu
tionary doctrine. He urged that the
kingdom was a present reality. Its
command was, “Change your minds."
The cry of John the Baptist which
Christ took up was a bold appeul to pub
lie opinion. It went to the heart of re
form. Later as Christ laid down the
ideals of the kingdom which was at
hand to overturn existing philosophies
of life, It Is evident that He is speak
ing in full view of those evils which
the Scribes and Pharisees were fat
tening upon at tho expense of the peo
ple. The laws of conduct, set forth In
the sermon on the mount, touched im
mediately the question of social rela
tlons. It Is inconceivable that a man
could accept the code of conduct Christ
prescribed without becoming at once a
champion of righteousness, public and
private.
Because Jesus Christ would not be
entrapped by the Pharisees Into a
“fool's errand” against Caesar by an
attempted revolution, has it been con
cluded that He was indifferent to the
political welfare of'His own people?
If the Jews had been a self-governing
people, is It supposable that He would
have been neglectful of their political
sins? As it was, He participated in
public affairs to the extent of greatly
angering the zealots and as far as his
Influence with tho people went, by dis
couraging their ill-timed schemes of
revolt He did this not because He did
not sympathize with their aspiration
for freedom but because In their moral
condition political security was not
possible through war. In deepest truth
Christ brought to the Jews their golden
opportunity for liberty and national
glory. Their political redemption was
but second In His thought and purpose
to their moral and spiritual prepara
tion for it. The program for every
thing tho most ardent patriot could
wish was Involved In His proposition
to the Jewish people. The sorrow that
wrung from Him the bitter cry, “Oh!
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! If thou hadst
known the day of thy peace “ was relig
ious enthusiast. It was the disappoint
ment of one who would not only have
been Israel's spiritual Redeemer but
her political Redeemer os well.
In regard to public evils rampant In
Hto day, Christ spoke scathingly. The
repression of the poor by the rich, the
tyranny of the haughty over the hum
ble, Uft excoriated. Of a certain pub
lic evil, at that time as flagrant In
Jerusalem as the curae of the money
. as tin JlirM
est undeveloped resource today for
moral statesmanship In this country Is
the denominational college made alive
to tho problems of tho country and
keen in lta conscience with regard to
public evils,
Tho Religious Press.
Another point of contact with public
evils which the Christian denomina
tion may take advantage of Is through
the religious press, There havo been
great editors and great papers which,
avoided topics of present, pertinent re
form In public affairs, hut of them
we may truthfully say. as tho Spaniard
boasted of hla country: "Glories of
the post, I salute,you." But wo can
not, as his German companion retorted
with reference to his country, say:
"Glories of the future, I salute you."
There Is no future for the newspaper
organ of denominational life, no future
of power or real leadership which dare
not voice the Influence of the Chris
tianity It represents against public
evils. Dr. Hodges, In his great book,
suggests a piece of good advice to the
religious editor in his comment on the
Prophet Isaiah: ‘It Is Impossible to
think of Isaiah as a quiet parish priest
living at the center of a narrow circle,
letting the great world outside go un
interrupted on Its own mistaken way.
In New York, In Boston, Isaiah would
have been the heart and soul of a
great outspoken, radical. Independent,
righteous newspaper." If the editors
of denominational papers were not In
the dangerous habit of never being
wrong on any point I would venture to
propose that they get together In a
resolution to throw the vast influence
their constituency represents Into the
scale of public opinion with regard to
public evils In such a united way that
everybody would realize that something
hod happened.
The Preacher as a Moral Leader.
The Christian denomination can not
engage effectively In the correction of
public evils If lta ministry la trained to
silence and unconcern. I apeak In full
regard of the public distaste for ratters
and sensation mongers, and yet to
plead In behalf of a moral leadership
Invested In the preacher of the Gospel.
I believe no greater need exists In the
public welfare of the country than for
a bold and patriotic pulpit—speaking
righteousness In love and taking Its
place In the rank of dignified public
service.
Brethren, the preacher ought to be
loosed and let go from the fetters of
fear and tradition. His office requires
the reclamation of the prophetic out
look upon public morals. The prophets
were men who shouldered responsi
bility for the uncorrected wrong-doing
of society and discharged that respon
sibility In the fearlessness of men and
In the fear of God.
I make bold to ask whether the theo
logical seminaries should not be
brought to account for the weakness of
moral leadership In general with preach
ers of the Gospel? Is It more Impor
tant that preachers should be trained In
exegesis than In application? It Is well
for a preacher to know how to load his
gun. but a poorly loaded gun well aimed
will do more execution than the utmost
balancing of powder and shot exploded
without aim and right direction. The
Christian denominations are wrestling
shark In our modem cities; He dared
to proclaim "A den of thieves," and He
went even further than anyone could
wish a Christian denomination to go In
that Instance as an energetic reformer.
The Christian College.
There are three channels of Influence
through which the Christian denomina
tion may practically express Its power
In the correction of public evils:
ETrst—Through its educational Insti
tutions.
Second—Through the denominations
press.
Third—Through the moral leadership
of Its preachers.
In its educational Institutions the de
nomination should maintain an outlook
upon and an Interest In public affairs
and social problems. It is not a mat
ter properly cared for by old-fashioned
chairs of political economy. It wants
direct emphasis .and Intereit The de
nomination should have more represen
tation In the ranks of Christian states
manship than comes to It accidental
ly. Tho trend of Influences In our day
la toward a vast stimulation of civic
and political consciousness. Tho as
pirations of noblo citizenship are awake
in tho land. Unless tho denominational
collego can meet tho demand of this
spirit It Is doomed to EiitTrr moro an.l
more the effective competition of stato
Institutions which appeal so strongly to
ambitions for public servico. It Is the
denomination’s business to pro<l trus
tees where they need prodding; and
standing behind Its college to require
and make provision that Its students
shall be kept In full view of the world
In wblch they are to battle. Tbs great-
with tho problem of slender rolls In
their theological seminaries. It may
P® found when all the reports are in
that the dearth of able men entering
the ministry Is not due to the scarcity
of consecrated Christiana who want to
servo Jesus Christ or to the allure
ments of business and professional life.
bl L t , , t0 . the limitations of usefulness
which by tradition and custom are
maintained with regiyd to the work of
the ministry. Restore to the preacher
the prophetic ideal and adjust It to his
priestly function. He gave some apos
tles, some prophets, some pastors and
teachers, but Ho gave to nil tho field of
a world’s need to work In. The main
ministry of the modern preacher will
still bo that of a shepherd, hut of a
shepherd valiant for the moral protec
tion of his flock.
It was not long ago charged by one
who abandoned hla mlnlatry that ho
had done ao because his pulpit was re
quired to be a coward's castle. The
comment Is frequently heard that min
isters do not exercise the same power
they used to In the direction of public
sentiment. A great writer, referring to
the preachers of another generation,
writes: "They almost ranged them
selves with the giants. I had rather
have known one of these men than all
the political and military heroes we
have since bred. For a century he was
by far our greatest man—the man of
the largest original power and of the
strongest character." Does not that
description suggest-an apostolic stand
ard, Inspiring to any father's dream for
his son? With a preacher of such typo
In a community the public evil would
have to reckon. The man who needs to
know his freedom in this country Is the-
preacher of the Gospel. His message
and meaning to our life as a public
teacher Is too vital to be lost or to he
played on a slender reed.
Patriotism must be defined In terms
that place him In tho front rank. The
denomination should Insist that Its
ministry be something more than a
passive subsidiary asset In the cltixcn.
ship of a land where tho Ideal Is for
every man to be a ruler. The preacher
has a Gospel that saves both men and
nations. His priesthood Is the priest
hood of a kingdom In which righteous
ness Is the Imperative and the redemp
tion of society the Anal consummation.
We are entering upon a period in
this country which history will cut,
"The era of the struggle for public
opinion." It Is demonstrated that pub
lic opinion- Is the real power In this
republic. It Is greater than aggrega
tions of capital, however enormous, and
greater than the organlsatlona of la
bor, however welded Into unison of ac
tion. "The big stick” In this country
Is not the will of any one man, but It Is
what you think and what I think to
gether.
A great struggle Is ahead of us.
There are Indications beneath the sur
face of American society of which It Is
not possible to over-estimate the sig
nificance. The lines of conflict will
Invariably draw lino to their elemental
Issues between right and wrong. The
Christian denomination should be more
than a spectator of the conflict. It
should be counted and It will be for one
sort of sympathy or the other. That It
be counted always for righteousness,
conservative and constructive right
eousness, Is the obligation no bravo
Christian should seek to avoid.
Jacobs’ Prescriptions
There is more to the proper filling of a prescription than it appar
ent at firet glance. The succees of tho phyeldan, the health, the very life
of the patient is dependent upon the care and j'udgment of the com
pounder, and the quality of the material he uses.
Accuracy is everything, end the pharmaceutical chemist mutt give
hie entire mind and thought to this ona particular line, if he ia to give
the beet that i* in him.
Jacobs* Prescription Department
hai prepared for thi* contingency, and in this department maintains four
expert pharmacists who devote their entire time to the filling of prescrip
tions. They have no other duty and no other thought, and their experi
ence, coupled with the use of the most complete laboratory of drugs and
chemicals in the United 8tates, supervised by the tame executives whose
care has been the cause qf our success, assures both physician and pa
tient
Accurate Service—Fresh Drugs
Reasonable Charges
In building up this unusual establishment we have borne in mind that
the rudiments of the druggist’s succees is the proper diipeneation of drugs.
Our service ia prompt. We maintain a messenger service that will call
for and deliver your order.
Jacobs’ Pharmacy
6-8-10 Marietta Street.
23 Whitehall Street.