Article November 5, 1904 Issue

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If one were to ask for the causes of that decay of conviction which has come upon so large a part of Christendom, he might discover that it lies in the cowardice which dares not make its venture, take its chance and unfurl its sail to the winds of truth. Knowledge in these modern days is like Hiawatha on those wonderful moccasins when he went "a mile at each stride." To keep pace with this spirit requires a confidence and an endurance which has not been cultivated in the churches. It is not dishonesty so much as hesitation, uncertainty, timidity, which afflicts so many. If Christendom dared, If it only dared to sail out or travel out toward the light! If it would stop this everlasting telling people about things which endanger faith. If it would only appropriate all well-established truth, and climb up on it and get a glimpse from it on to the wider world, what tremendous forces would then be turned for rather than, as now, against faith. The momentum of truth, the hunger of men for knowledge, the whole tide of intellectual expansion ought to carry forward the high interests of human trust and hope. A religion which contributes to the perfect whole of life must make this conspiracy, must harness itself to truth and run with it.—The Universalist Leader.

In a recent sermon Rev. W. S. Jones pointed out a need of our time too pressing to be neglected. After describing forms of religion that may lack the moral impulse, he said,

"The chief danger of our time lies, not in an immoral religion, but in an unspiritual morality. The various forms of religion which flourish in our day are, as a rule, moral faiths. Their adherents usually observe the commandments. Religion in its higher manifestations to-day is eminently practical. It does not neglect the needs of man's body. It is concerned about the developments of his mind. It builds and equips hospitals and schools. It is not lost in dreamy Oriental speculation. It is in the forefront of the battle for moral reform. There is no reason, therefore, why we should be particularly alarmed about the possibility of an immoral religion springing up in our day; but we cannot help being concerned about the future of society, no matter how scrupulously it observes the moral law, if it loses its grip on spiritual realities."

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