Article July 7, 1906 Issue

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with contributions from Rush Rhees, Charles S. Macfarland

Mr. Goldwin Smith has collected in a small volume certain letters which he had published in the New York Sun on religious and theological topics. The title of his book indicates not only the character of these letters but also the character of this age. Says Mr. Smith in his preface, "A secular journal in England received, in the course of three months, nine thousand communications from people seeking for light on the religious question." Such an age may be skeptical; but it is not irreligious. The skepticism is not of that immoral variety which discards religion in order to escape responsibility; it is not of that flippant variety which asks questions for the sake of asking them. It is very much in earnest. It is "in quest of light."—The Outlook.

If the history of the Church teaches us any lesson more than another in connection with the mission and work of the Holy Spirit, it is that the next step in the moral and religious development of the race must be toward the creation of a Christian social conscience, not as distinguished from the individual conscience, but as increasing the individual's sense of responsibility for the world's condition. No one can doubt that under the tutelage of the Spirit of God the Church and Christian society are being even now enlightened concerning many matters of conduct about which legislation is either silent or the ethical standards of society need further guidance.—The Churchman.

If we are ever to get rid of graft in society, it must be by the spread of the religion of honest, true lives,—we must get down to the roots of the matter. Giving his reason for not attending church, a laboring man recently replied: "When I go to church, I am not helped along my line. I am told how to feel, and I have a hymn-book put in my hands. This may be well enough, but what I need is more knowledge about doing my work faithfully. I want a religion that goes into the shop with me, and I know right well that is what my mates need."

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