Signs of the Times

[San Jose (Calif.) Mercury Herald]

Nor will the efforts of the religion of the future be confined to preaching about God and His love; but regenerated and consecrated men and women who in every age have given religion its real strength and power, will in much larger numbers and in a more personal way be manifesting this love to His children by wisely and unselfishly ministering to their needs, temporal, moral, and spiritual, by striving to create for them a healthful, pure, and elevating environment, and, better than all, attracting them away from sin by the drawing powers of their examples and the influence of their pure, unselfish, and godly lives, full of love for God and men. This future religion will teach that unless religion produces such regenerated and consecrated men and women, it avails little or nothing in this world or the world to come.

In short, unless the whole world is to become agnostic, infidel, and materialistic—which God forbid—the religion of the future must more nearly approximate the religion of the Christ as outlined in the New Testament. That religion, although often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and distorted by the many creeds and dogmas alleged to be founded upon it, is still the hope of the world. It will outlive and rise above all these misunderstandings and distortions, and in the time to come it will again be vitalized and made a present reality to the world by those who live its truths as well as talk of them. The human race is not watching for, nor greatly needing, the promulgation of new creeds nor the formulation of new dogmas; but it is suffering, groaning, dying, for lack of love, the help, the power, and the spirit which the religion of Christ, manifesting itself in the lives of his followers, alone can supply. The religion of the future, no matter by what name or names it may be called, will be a larger and more perfect incarnation of his spirit and life in those who profess to be his followers.

[Manufacturers Record, Baltimore, Md.]

Labor strikes are threatened almost daily, but many labor men are showing keen appreciation of the conditions under which we are living and are opposed to the radical leaders—an extremely hopeful sign. In so far as labor men are willing to increase their efficiency and production they are fully entitled to high wages. Neither the laboring man nor the farmer nor the average salaried man has ever been adequately paid as a whole. The unrest of the hour is the inevitable struggle of the chrysalis as it seeks to throw off its old shell and become a butterfly. Eventually out of the struggle will come a larger, broader life, a closer friendship between all classes, and a more harmonious cooperation between employers and employees, between the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated. This will be founded not on so-called charity or philanthropy, but on a fair and honest recognition each of the rights of others.

[The Muncie (Ind.) Star]

In a thoughtful article contributed to the Journal of Philosophy, Professor Sheldon calls attention to the fact that today the greatest defect of democracy is oversocialization, or social cowardice. He asserts that this "can be overcome only by a gradual spiritual education which will restore our vanishing respect for the more valuable elements of society, independence, leaders." Our old-time physical fear has given way, he says, to a social cowardice which now is our obsession, and that oversocialization tends to kill the very brotherly love it was designed to foster. It kills the virtue of thrift, foresight, and individual initiative.

For many years the emphasis has been placed upon social welfare, social cooperation. In religion we have had an overinsistence upon social work and morality. What we unquestionably need to-day is more of the spirit of worship and prayer, more thoughts of Deity and a more intimate relationship to Him. Consequently, many persons have felt that much of the preaching of modern times dwells too much on economical and sociological themes, too little upon individual duty and morality. Even conscientious churchgoers complain that they go to church only to hear lectures on sociology rather than spiritual sermons, which bring cheer and hope to weary souls.

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