The Church and the World.
Then drew near unto Jesus all
the publicans and sinners for to
hear him. Luke xv., 1.
That the Church and the
world are drawing further apart
is a common remark.
We do not believe that the
schism is as wide as many
think, nor do we believe that it
is growing. The Church beyond
all denial, is exerting a profound
influence upon the age, and the
world is no slower to-day than
ever to respect religion that bears
the marks of sincerity.
Nevertheless it is too true that
there 16 far more ot such an alien
ation than there should be. Our
text shows that the case was not
such with the founder of the
Christian religion. There was
nothing in His manner or words
or life that repelled the multi
tude. But says the inspired his
torian. "Then drew near unto
Jesus all the publicans and sin
jiGrs for to hear." And these
were the very ones who most
ncebed His divine counsels.
Let us ask then why it is that
the Chuach too often seems to
fail in getting in touch with the
world as to transform it as it
should.
First, because of the attempt
to secularize its message. This
is the device of pulpit charlatans
and sensationalists. In order to
draw the world they pare off all
the distinctive marks of the
Church. They withdraw the
claim of divine authority for its
teachings. They repudiate the
supernatural in its origin and
history. They square all its ten
ets with a narrow reason, so that
there is left no sphere for the
larger exercises of faith. If the
world wants anything it wants
the real gospel the Word of Life.
Another reason, no doubt is the
failure of church members to il
lustrate the, religion they profess.
Very true that the world is too
exacting here. It forgets that
church people may have many
innnnflifltfiTiftifts and in manv re
spects show the same weakness as
others and yet be sincerely pious.
Still religion must make one a
new creature. It must give one
a new master motive. And when
the Church does not show itself
a nursing mother of the graces of
love and humility and unselfish
ness and brotherhood the world
has a riglft to question its claims.
A third and chief reason for
too frequent alienations is an in
correct and unjust presentation
of religion. To many spheres of
life which the world rightly re
gards as innocent the Church is
often made to take a hostile atti
tude. A chasm is forced between
piety and the ordinary ways of
life. Temperance is confounded
with abstinence. Liberty is la
belled with the tag of license.
The spirituall ife is divorced from
the natural. To come to the
Church men are asked to deny
what is justified by their common
sense. One sided religionists
overlook the fact that a man can
legitimately live and enjoy life,
art. beauty and pleasure without
loving God the Less, but only the
more.
Nor do these austere notions
truly represent the historic
Churclr. In her true worldwide
she has always been characterized
by broad, liberal, rational and
joyous conceptions of that piety
which is . pleasing to God, who is
love and who as a father rejoices
in the happiness of His children.
Let, then, "the children of light
be wise in their generation" to
ward the worldly and unsaved.
And let the world abandon its
misconceptions and prejudces as
to genuine piety and, the world
and the Church meeting together
religion will prove to be that be
nign power for righteousness, joy
and sonship of God which it was
meant to be by its eternal author.
Rev. Junius B. Remensnyder,
St. James' Lutheran Church.
One Cigarette $50,000.
The New York Evening World
prints the following from Chicago
in: V
"There is $50,000 coming to
Nelson L. Barnes if he gives up
the use of cigarettes. The money
will be paid by John the million
aire car builder. It is the result
of a wager.
"When Barnes first went court
ing pretty Anna O. Barker, niece
of the car builder, the wealthy
man was not pleased. The
Barnes family opposed the match
and when the elder Barnes died
he did not mention the young
man in his will.
Mr Barker desired to cure the
youth who married his favorite
niece of the cigarette habit and
to atone for the omission on the
part of Barnes' father. He drew
out young Barnes one afternoon
and told him he had no will pow
er to-control his habits.
" 'Bet you I can stop any habit
I have except eating and drink
ing,' he replied.
" Til bet you $50,000 you
cant stop smoking cigarettes.'
" 'Done.'
"And that is why when friends
invite him to smoke young
Barnes replies: 'I can't afford it."
Apportionment of School Fund.
The county school board, at
its meeting this week, appor
tioned the school fund by town
ships for the year 1906-07 as fol
lows :
Abbotts Creek, $850; Belews
Creek, $1,070; Bethania,
$1,832.50, Broadbay, $2,007.50;
Clemnronsville, $870 Kerners
ville, $1,938; Lewisville, $1,222.
50; Middle Fork, $2,322.50; Old
Richmond, $1,350; Old Town,
$1,435; Salem Chapel, $950;
South' Fork, $1,730; Vienna,
$1,168; Winston, $10,895.
Total $29,650.
Those have a lend who owe
money to be paid Easter.