Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/237

 FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH 22$

educate humanity into highly developed ethical and religious life.

If the above analysis of the relation of the church to society is correct, it becomes clear that society has a right to ask each church organization to furnish each human being intrusted to its care a discipline calculated to produce growth into developed ethical and religious life. Each church is to be judged accord- ing to its fruits. The young, crude life of its children is to be skillfully assisted in its efforts to gain fully developed ethical and religious manhood and womanhood. That church which produces men and women who live intelligently and in perfect devotion to the fulfillment of their highest ideals, is the church that is greatest, because it serves society's needs.

Denominational divisions have arisen from the belief that God has given a revelation of the divine law. Each group united about a peculiar interpretation of the revelation has formed itself into a church, for the purpose of advocating its interpretation. The motive which has governed the organization of these denomina- tions has been a determination to carry on a propaganda, whether the various interpretations are justified or not. The resulting organizations are, therefore, such as to serve only indirectly the great end of existence for the human being, the realization of the individual, personal ideal. An organization formed for the purpose of subduing all to belief in a particular system of ethical and religious doctrines in many ways obstructs the development of the individual. These are times in which the rights of the individual are being determined : each is king and servant. The organization of the church needs to be somewhat changed, and suited closely to the function which it is proper for the church to perform, the education of tlu ethical and religious life. The church that serves society as it is today must needs be an educational institution instead of an organ for propaganda.

Since the church has an educational function, it follows that its proper method of work will be determined by the application of general educational principles to its special ends. It will not do for the church to adopt the methods of the college in toto. The