Article March 18, 1911 Issue

FROM OUR EXCHANGES

with contributions from Oscar B. Hawes, Harold Begbie

[Christian Work and Evangelist.]

We need a new order of the saints in this twentieth century. We need a group in every church which will think Christ, speak Christ, act Christ only, in whose heart there are no lusts of the world whatever, who care nothing for that half of life which is equal in most Christians' hearts to the Christ life, but who with singleness of purpose devote themselves to the service of Jesus Christ alone. We are not ascetics, and are not pleading for any new monastic order; yet we are persuaded that the only way which Christianity can recover its commanding influence on men's lives is by groups of young men in the various churches pledging themselves to live again in the world the sacrificial life, the life which, to use an apostolic word, has for its motto "Jesus only." We wish that such bands of young men could be formed in our churches,—of young men who would agree to rid their hearts of the present paradox of Christianity, the double life of the world and Christ, the paradox which clings to pagan practices and Christian virtues equally; and who would vow to have nothing more to do with luxury, inordinate pleasure, self-gratification, worldly ambition, militarism in any form, temporizing politics or questionable business ethics, but would commit themselves, under the conditions of the twentieth century, as St. Francis did in the twelfth century, to the purpose of being again what Jesus was and doing what he did, and living by his word and teaching, following him, and him only, leaving all to love mankind with him. Should there be such a group in every church, of not more than five who renounce the lust of the world and dedicate themselves to know the Master of life only, a general revival of real religion would burst into flames that would kindle all the land.

[Watchman.]

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