Excerpt from Morality Without God: Including Letter to Right Rev. Bishop Anderson; A Lecture Delivered Before the Independent Religious Society, Orchestra Hall, Michigan Ave; And Adams, Chicago, Sunday at 11 A. M
When a great cause, or a cause that has been great once, declines a public opportunity to advance its interests, to justify its claims, to convince - to convert, it is a pretty sure sign that its fires are burning low, and that it has fallen into the sere and yellow leaf.
Christianity, once an agressive and virile movement, now resorts to apologetics, compromise and concession to prolong her life. She seeks shelter against the spirit of the age. She is cultivating the art of silence. Yes, Christianity is seeking a lower level. It attacks wooden idols seven thousand miles away, but at home, -in the presence of intellectual inquiry, it is paralyzed.
Of course it could be said that if we wished to hear the bishop's gospel we could have gone to his church. Yes, we could. But so could he have come to us. Furthermore, the bishop does not say to the Hindoo, or to the Japanese, If you want my religion, come and get it. He sends it to them, and he even asks for iron-clads to compel the Japanese and the Chinese to hear his gospel. Yet at home he will not step around the corner to deliver his message to us.
The invitation to the bishop is a standing one; it will never be withdrawn.
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