THE CHURCH OF TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 7

THE CHURCH OF TO-DAY

Rev. 0. E. Burton’s Address “The Church of to-day is tolerated by the world,” said the Rev. O. E. Burton, M.A U at the monthly meeting of the Brooklyn Methodist Parents’ and Teach-, ers’ Association last week, “because the Church has become so little different from the pagan world about it. And so persecution has censed. When tlie Christian takes the teachings of Christ in earnest and carries out His precepts in his daily round, the world will have to take notice and then the trouble will begin. “Selfishness is caused by fear, and is the greatest cause of disharmony, not only among nations but in our homes. In a home the selfish person is afraid of shadows. Fear of other members of the family scoring over him—of being put upon, of being ‘out of it.’ of being bested in an argument, of being ‘outshone’ —ail these cause unhappiness. The selfish person is alone; he cannot commune with others. His dependants may fawn upon him, but thev do not seek his company. ‘He that saveth his life shall lose if. and he that loseth his life for My sake and the gospels shall find it.’ “As in the home, so in the nation. By putting Christ’s teaching into praetii'e and following His two great commandments, to ‘love the Lord thy God and thy neighbour as thyself.’ we lose the fear which causes us to distrust and disown neonle of other nations “To many thinking Christians participation in war is unthinkable,” said Mr. Burton, “for how can it square with the Master's injunctions to ‘bring in' the peoples of all nations —to ‘love your enemies and bless those who curse you—do good Io those who dispitefullv use you and persecuted you?’” Following Mr. Burton's .nvigorathig address the members plied the speaker with numerous questions., and the discussion was continued until supper.