Centennial history of the First Presbyterian church of Easton, Pennsylvania : 1811-1911 . ssion forthe souls of men. It must be conceded however, that Christian-ity in its manifestation to the world, in its institutions and ma-terial possessions does seem to be mechanical. Moreover regard-ed as a system it is vulnerable, and this is what men are attack-ing in the popular sense. Occasional assaults are made uponspeculations and doctrines, but these have always been confin-ed to the few. The most ominous attacks upon religion are inthe muttered charges, misconceived it is true, but still signifi
Centennial history of the First Presbyterian church of Easton, Pennsylvania : 1811-1911 . ssion forthe souls of men. It must be conceded however, that Christian-ity in its manifestation to the world, in its institutions and ma-terial possessions does seem to be mechanical. Moreover regard-ed as a system it is vulnerable, and this is what men are attack-ing in the popular sense. Occasional assaults are made uponspeculations and doctrines, but these have always been confin-ed to the few. The most ominous attacks upon religion are inthe muttered charges, misconceived it is true, but still significant,that the church has no life corresponding to its expression andthat as a great religious machine, it has failed to do its work. The accusation is freely brought that the Church no longerpossesses the spirit of its Founder and fails to represent Hisattitude toward the world. When Jesus was here He rebukedorganized religion. The only people He ever condemned werethe Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites, and apparently it never didthem any good. This He did, because they regarded religion. P< rt crt . P. Ho .-^ ca en ^ c« o .14 >> / 51 as a form and not a living reality. He never organized a society,never wrote a book, never even delivered a lecture in the wayteachers of new doctrines do to-day. The Sermon on the Mount and the discourse in the sixth ofJohn are the nearest approaches to this method, but even theseare dififerent, for the first of these sets forth the practical dutiesof men, that is, the ethics of religion, and the second of thesepresents Himself as the life of men, that is the inspiration ofreligion. The church has systems and books and organizationsand machinery. These are valuable if used as means and notmistaken for ends. Mr. Arthur Christopher Benson, the de-lightful English writer claims that these have captured Chris-tianity. He says, We have to-day in consequence the amaz-ing spectacle of a world religiously organized to an extent, thatnegatives Chri
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