USE AND IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE GEORGE DE CHARMS 1943
January, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
The Use and Importance of Doctrine.
Address at District Assemblies
George de Charms 1
Baptism.
A Sermon on the Text of John 3:5
Ormond deC. Odhner 9
The Hope of the New Year
Sydney B. Childs 17
The Rod of Iron.
Charter Day Address, 1942
Norman H. Reuter 21
Obituary.
Alfred Godfrey - J. S. Pryke 28
Frank Wilde - William Whitehead 30
Editorial Department.
An Australian Book Room 32
South African Mission Magazine 34
Mission News 35
Military Service Committee.
Roll of Honor 37
Our Men and Women in the Services 37
Extracts from Letters 39
Church News 41
Announcements.
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 47
New Editions 48
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February, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH IMMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Swedenborg's Birthday in February
Alec McQueen 49
Genuine Charity Toward Enemies
T. C. R. 407. 51
Peace and the Sword.
Evangelical Sermon on Matt. 10:34
Martin Pryke 52
The Miracles of the Word
W. Cairns Henderson 58
The Support of Church Uses
Charles G. Merrell 68
Editorial Department.
Early Days at Colchester 71
"Go up, thou bald head!" G. A. McQueen 72
A Missionary Leaflet 75
Man's Duty to Fight 76
Hatred of Evil 77
Reports.
Canadian Northwest Elmo C. Acton 80
In the Southland Bjorn A. H. Boyesen 85
Military Service Committee.
Roll of Honor 88
Our Men and Women in the Services 88
Notes by the Committee 90
Church News 92
Announcements 96
March, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
The Divine Answer.
A Sermon on the Text of Psalm 99:8
Norbert H. Rogers 97
The Triumphal Entry.
A Palm Sunday Address
Hugo Lj. Odhner 103
Baptism and the Holy Supper
Two Gates to the Mind and the Two Sacraments.
E. E. Iungerich 110
Brought to the Light
How I Came to a Knowledge of the Doctrines.
Catherine Letele 117
The Divine Blessing upon the Church
Conjugial Love and the Love of Offspring.
F. E. Waelchli 120
Editorial Department.
Thoughts on the War 125
India and Italy 129
One Religion Eric A. Sutton 131
The Word Explained.
The Temple of Solomon, Nos. 6244-6247.
Emanuel Swedenborg 133
Military Service Committee.
Men and Women in the Services 135
Letters from England 137
Church News 139
Announcements 144
April, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Temptation in Gethsemane.
A Sermon on Matthew 26:36
George de Charms 145
The Opening of the Spiritual Mind.
The Fruit of Redemption
Gilbert H. Smith 150
The School of Wisdom.
A Memorable Relation Adapted
Alfred Acton 156
The Study of Languages
Stanley F. Ebert 164
The Witch at Endor.-W. E. VI: 6155-6157
Emanuel Swedenborg 166
The Will and Understanding of Man
Edward C. Bostock 168
Editorial Department.
Anointing the Weapons of War 182
The Name "Nova Hierosolyma." Alfred Acton 184
Military Service Committee.
Roll of Honor: Sgt/Pilot Ralph Roschman Hill 186
Our Men and Women in the Services 187
Church News 190
Announcements.
Annual Council Meetings-June 21-27, 1943 190
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 192
May, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Sign of the Second Coming.
A Sermon on Matthew 24:3
F. E. Gyllenhaal 193
Making Things New.
A Sermon on Apocalypse 21:5
B. Ishmael Nzimande 197
Betrothal
Elmo C. Acton 201
The Place of the Humanities in Our Education.
An Address
George de Charms 205
Editorial Department.
The Word Explained-Volume VI 213
Conquest of the Land of Canaan 216
Occupied Regions of Heaven 219
Influence of the Swedish Idiom Alfred Acton 221
A Presumption E. E. Iungerich 222
Military Service Committee.
The Roll of Honor 226
Our Men and Women in the Services 226
Church News 229
Announcements.
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 239
Annual Council Meetings-June 2127 240
June, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
The Bright and Morning Star.
A Sermon on Revelation 22:16
Willard D. Pendleton 241
The Arcana Celestia.
Plans for a New Latin Edition
A. Wynne Acton 249
The Academy Library.
A Brief History
Freda Pendleton 253
Libraries in Heaven-Spiritual Diary 5999 263
Editorial Department.
Swedenborg and the Apostles-Preparation for
Their Mission at the Second Coming 264
King Solomon.
From The Word Explained, Volume VI 268
From The Spiritual Diary 270
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 274
Extracts from Letters 277
Church News 281
Announcements.
Annual Council Meetings-Program 286
Academy Joint Meeting-June 5, 1943 288
July, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
The New Freedom
Hugo Lj. Odhner 289
Divine Judgment.
A Sermon on the text of John 8:15, 16
Norbert H. Rogers 295
Revelation to Perception
Gilbert H. Smith 301
Ernest J. Stebbing.
A Memorial Address
Alfred Acton 308
The Women's Guild of the Bryn Athyn Church.
Its Organization and Uses
Beatrice C. Pendleton 313
Editorial Department.
Impersonations in the Other Life 318
Familiar Spirits 326
Influence of the Swedish Idiom Alfred Acton 327
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 328
Church News 331
Announcements.
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 336
August, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
The Academy and the General Church.
A Resolution and an Explanatory Statement.
George de Charms 337
Life Alter Death.
A Sermon on Luke 16:26
B. Ishmael Nzimande 341
Communications.
The South African Mission W. H. Junge 345
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETINGS.
The Human Essence.
Address to the Council of the Clergy
George de Charms 346
Annual Reports.
Secretary of the General Church
Hugo Lj. Odhner 356
Council of the Clergy
L. W. T. David 361
Editor of "New Church Life"
W. B. Caldwell 370
Military Service Committee
Doris G. Pendleton 372
Corporation of the General Church
Edward H. Davis 373
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 374
Preserving Freedom. A Poem
Lindthman Heldon 377
Church News 378
Announcements 384
September, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Streamlining Instruction.
Public Address to the Clergy
Gilbert H. Smith 385
Council of the Clergy Sessions
L. W. T. David 392
Joint Council Sessions
Hugo Lj. Odhner 395
How To Teach.
Address to the Educational Council
C. E. Doering 403
Educational Council Sessions Lois Nelson 414
Brought to the Light.
How I Came to a Knowledge of the Doctrines.
Philip J. Stole 421
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 424
South Africa.-Our Boys on Active Service 427
Church News 428
Announcements.
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 432
Charter Day-October 15-16, 1943 432
October, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Divine Revelation, How Effected.
Public Address to the Clergy
Alfred Acton 433
Science and the Humanities.
Address to the Educational Council
Eldric Klein 443
Brought to the Light
George Nteso 450
The Working Hypothesis of the Soul.
An Address
Donald F. Rose 451
The Church and the Kingdom of God.
Social and Economic Reform
W. Cairns Henderson 459
Editorial Department.
Forthcoming Book on "The Word" 466
The New-Church Herald 467
Swedenborg House at Axmar 468
Photographs 469
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 470
Parent-Teacher Journal 473
Church News 474
Announcements.
Charter Day Program 479
Episcopal Visits 480
November, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
Practical Subjects and the Application of Doctrine.
F. E. Gyllenhaal 481
Comfort and Encouragement.
A Sermon on Matthew 5:13
Gilbert H. Smith 486
A Talk to Children.
Thanksgiving
George de Charms 493
Nature and Art.
The Word and Derived Doctrine
E. E. Iungerich 496
Rev. L. W. T. David.
A Memorial Address
Hugo Lj. Odhner 500
Biographical Sketch 504
Photograph 505
Editorial Department.
Patriotism and Evangelization 506
A Romance of the Other Life-Review F. F. C. 511
Radio Talks 513
Military Service Committee.
Our Men and Women in the Services 515
Parent-Teacher Journal 518
Church News 519
Announcements 528
December, 1943
New Church Life
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHINGS
REVEALED THROUGH EMANUEL SWEDENBORG.
What Shall We Teach About Nationalism?
George de Charms 529
Marriage Within the Church
Sydney B. Childs 539
The Second Advent of the Lord.
A Sermon on John 8:32 and 16:13
Harold C. Cranch 544
Swedenborg's Mothers.
Two Corrections
Ormond Odhner 550
Mr. James Pryke.
An Appreciation
Frederick Daniel Balls 555
Directory of the General Church.
Officials and Councils 557
Military Service Committee.
Roll of Honor; Our Men and Women in the Services 562
Obituary: Justin Hugh Davis 566
Missing in Action: William George Bellinger 567
Church News.
Chicago District Assembly, etc 568
Editorial Department 574
Announcements.
Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths 576
No. 1
NEW CHURCH LIFE
VOL. LXIII
JANUARY, 1943
(Delivered at Local and District Assemblies, Fall, 1942.)
What is the real need for doctrine? What is its function and its use? With regard to this the thought of the Christian world has in recent times undergone a profound change. For centuries it has been taken for granted without question that faith meaning thereby an intellectual belief-is the first essential of all religion. It was supposed that only by a true faith could man be saved. This being the case, it followed that the highest function of the church is to determine what a true faith is; and having done so, to defend that faith with uncompromising zeal. Doctrine, as the formal definition of a true faith, was therefore seen to be a matter of supreme importance. It was formulated and proclaimed by learned councils whose decisions were considered as having Divine sanction. Opposing views were declared unorthodox and heretical. But still, opposing views persisted. Being regarded as matters of conscience, they had to be maintained at all costs. Even slight differences of doctrinal opinion were thought to be vital, since they were the distinguishing mark of a true faith. This attitude led to endless quibbling over the technicalities of theology-multiplying schisms, and fostering sectarian intolerance.
Against all this there has arisen a strong revulsion of feeling. Wearied by interminable and fruitless disputation-deploring the senseless rivalry between sects-many have reached the conclusion that the root of the trouble lies in an over-emphasis upon the importance of doctrine. If men would but strip doctrine of its unwarranted authority-recognizing that, after all, it is merely a matter of human opinion containing perhaps in every case both a modicum of truth and a considerable ingredient of error-it is believed that every incentive to conflict would be removed, charity would prevail, and the noxious mists of sectarianism would dissolve before the rising sun of a universal Christian brotherhood.
Such is the dominant trend of present-day religious thought; and the result is that the church has almost completely abandoned that doctrinal teaching which at one time was regarded as its chief function. The traditional formulas of faith persist in song and ritual, in creed and catechism, but for the most part they are repeated without thought or understanding as to what they really mean. Few members of any modern congregation have a clear idea as to what are the characteristic tenets that distinguish their particular sect from others. How can they, when no specific teaching is given? Indeed, it is net desired, and any attempt to teach doctrine from the pulpit is liable to rouse strong opposition. This, because the foremost endeavor of the church in our day is to discourage sectarian antagonism by ignoring differences of belief and promoting community of effort. The leading idea is to cultivate a spirit of unity by fostering every form of external charity with out regard to doctrine.
The evils of sectarianism are so obvious that we are apt to feel an instinctive sympathy with this idea. In fact, many within the New Church, both laymen and ministers, have been deeply influenced by it. For this view they find apparent confirmation in many passages of the Writings. There, on almost every page, it is explicitly taught that charity, not faith, is the prime essential of the church. We are told that men are saved from every religion in the world-in spite of their falsities of doctrine.
In Divine Providence 101 it is said that "in the spiritual world, into which every man comes after death, it is not asked what your faith has been, nor what your doctrine, but what your life, thus what is its nature and quality; for it is known that such as ones life is, such is his faith and such his doctrine; for the life makes doctrine for itself and faith for itself.'
And further we read that in the Christian world it is doctrinal matters which distinguish churches, and from them men call themselves Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists, or Reformed and Evangelical, and by other names.
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It is from what is doctrinal alone that they are so called, which would never be if they would make love to the Lord and charity toward the neighbor the principal of faith. Doctrinal matters would then be only varieties of opinion concerning the mysteries of faith which truly Christian men would leave to everyone to hold in accordance with his conscience, and would say in their hearts that a man is truly a Christian when he lives as a Christian, that is, as the Lord teaches. Thus from all the differing churches there would be one church, and all the dissensions that come forth from doctrine alone would vanish. Yea, all hatreds of one against another would be dissipated in a moment, and the Lord's kingdom would come upon the earth." (A. C. 1799.)
All this seems strongly to support the modern view. Since it was written at a time when sectarianism was at its height, and when few indeed would have dared to suggest that the tenets of faith were mere matters of opinion, to be regarded with indifference, some have taken it as evidence that Swedenborg was ahead of his time, anticipating a truth that was not to be discovered until long after his death. The modern development is seen as indicating that the Christian world is rapidly drawing nearer to the New Church, and that it will soon be prepared for a mass-acceptance of the Heavenly Doctrine. Closer examination, however, will show that, even in the passages quoted, the teaching of the Writings by no means runs parallel to the recent trends of Christian thought in regard to the place and importance of doctrine.
Modern criticism is directed against the symptoms-the outward manifestations of the fatal disease from which the Christian Church is suffering. But the cause of the disease is not known, nor has any remedy been prescribed that can restore the church to health and vigor. The Writings concur in recognizing the evil symptoms, but they probe deeper, pointing out the true cause of those symptoms, and indicating the only possible cure. A Divine Authority that does not belong to them has indeed been ascribed to humanly devised doctrines. This is wrong. It has given rise to bigotry and intolerance. It has caused the spirit of Christian charity to be violated by persecution, and consumed in the flames of enmity and hatred. But these evils cannot be remedied merely by ignoring doctrinal differences and cultivating an attitude of indifference to all matters of spiritual faith.
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For the charity that is needed to restore internal harmony-the charity that is proclaimed in the Writings to be the first essential of the Church-is defined as the love of spiritual truth for the sake of use. This is impossible where all doctrine-and thus all spiritual truth-is regarded with indifference.
The key to the distinction between the teaching of the Writings and the commonly accepted view as to the importance of doctrine is found in the very number from the Arcana quoted above. For while that number explicitly states that doctrinal matters should be regarded "merely as varieties of opinion concerning the mysteries of faith which truly Christian men would leave to every one to hold in accordance with his conscience," yet it is added that men "should say in their hearts that a man is truly a Christian when he lives as a Christian, that is, as the Lord teaches."
Every thing that the Lord teaches is Divine Doctrine. The distinguishing mark of a Christian is that he lives according to this Doctrine. Nor can he do so except so far as he both knows and understands what the Lord teaches. The "doctrinal matters" that should be regarded as mere "varieties of opinion" are human interpretations and applications of that Doctrine. These will vary with individuals and with organizations. They will differ according to circumstances, and will change with the times. They must be different in adaptation to each specific use to which the doctrine may be applied. These differences are of order. They give no cause for enmity or for separation. So far as they are but diverse modes of bringing into act what the Lord teaches, and thus what all in common acknowledge, they will be in internal harmony. They will unite in promoting the life of regeneration, and thus in the spiritual up-building of the church everywhere. While performing distinct uses-each in his own special way-they will all contribute to the perfection of the church as a whole, even as the several organs and viscera of the human body contribute to the perfection of the whole man. But that alone which can bring them into harmony is that all in common acknowledge and love the same Divine Doctrine.
Charity is indeed the first thing of the church. It is the very end for the sake of which the church exists. But doctrine is the means provided by the Lord whereby alone this end may be attained.
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It is Divine teaching as to what charity is, and how it is to be exercised. Everyone knows that success in any natural undertaking requires accurate knowledge intelligently applied. Wishful thinking in a state of ignorance can accomplish nothing. All the remarkable developments of modern civilization are the result of scientific learning, of painstaking research and experimentation. That this is the only road to practical achievement is now universally recognized. Men realize the need for an abundance of knowledge, and for a correct analysis of its significance in application to every field of worldly endeavor. This is the reason why there has been such a rapid and astonishing development of civilization on the material plane.
But at the same time men have lost all vital interest in spiritual truth. They feel no need for accurate knowledge, or for straight thinking, in regard to spiritual things. Vainly they have relied upon the advance of natural learning to banish strife, to prove that crime, dishonesty, selfishness, and greed do not pay, and thus to convince both nations and individuals of the necessity for justice and harmonious cooperation in order to secure the highest good of all. And while they have remained content with ignorance, with unfounded opinion, with wishful thinking, in regard to charity and Christian brotherhood, the evils of self-love and the love of the world have multiplied.
So long as these evils did not break forth into crime or open scandal, men paid little heed to them, considering them as the natural and inevitable expressions of human nature. And so they merely trimmed the branches of this evil growth, allowing the plant itself to flourish and take deep root. No superficial reforms, no political or economic system, no external device based on scientific knowledge, can remove this deadly enemy to real charity. The only weapon adequate to conquer these evils and destroy them at their source is the Truth of Revelation which men have neglected and ignored As long as this Truth remains unknown, these evils will continue to grow, holding over society an ever increasing threat of violence, and of eventual annihilation. This is the inner cause of the desperate situation in which the entire world finds itself today.
The only hope of the future lies in the restoration of spiritual charity among men.
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It is to this end that the Lord has made His Second Coming, giving Divine instruction as to what charity really is, and how man may become a recipient of it. This is the whole burden of the Writings-to make known the laws of spiritual life, the Divinely ordained principles of thought and conduct without which charity cannot now be given.
We are impressed with the fact that, because it is founded upon a rational Revelation of Truth, doctrine in the New Church is to hold a more important place-it is to perform a more vital use than ever before in the history of the world. The difference is referred to in A. C. 2572, as follows: "It is one thing to be in good, or in love and charity, and another to be in the good of doctrine. Little children who are in love to their parents and in charity toward other little children are in good, but not in the good of doctrine or faith. But they who have been regenerated by the truths of faith are in the good of doctrine. Insofar as these are in good, so far they are in truths, that is, insofar as they are in love and charity, so far they are in faith, consequently so far in wisdom and intelligence. The angels, being in love to the Lord and in mutual love, are also in all truth, and thus in all wisdom and intelligence, not only in regard to celestial things, but also in regard to rational and natural things; for from love, because from the Lord, they are in the very principles of things, that is, in their ends and causes. To see from principles, or from ends and causes, is to see from heaven all things that are below, even those which are on the earth."
In the Most Ancient and Ancient Churches, men were led by the Lord as little children, subject to direct command. They were not yet capable of rational understanding and judgment with reference to spiritual things, and therefore they were in obedience prompted by innocence, that is, by a simple willingness to be led. They lacked the knowledge of natural things, of physical forces and the laws of their operation in nature, which knowledge is essential to an understanding of how the Lord operates in His government of the universe. From love they derived a perception that what the Lord said was true, and they accepted His Word without question in heart and faith. But they could not yet be given to know how it was true; nor was it necessary that they should, since they were under the immediate guidance of the Lord, like children depending upon the judgment of a wise father.
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In the First Christian Church, the race was spiritually in the state of youth, being still dependent, in large measure, upon direct command, yet longing to be free, struggling to understand, eagerly searching for an explanation of the deepest mysteries of life. And though they were not yet prepared to solve those problems-being misled by appearances, falling into error, becoming enamoured of natural knowledges and the external advantages to be derived therefrom-yet this struggle was used by the Lord to form the rational mind, to furnish it with factual data, and to train it in logical deduction with regard to natural uses. All this was a necessary preparation, in order that the Lord might at last give His own Divine explanation of spiritual truth in rational terms such as man is now equipped to comprehend, correcting the errors of human thought and opening the way for man to enter intellectually into the mysteries of faith.
The giving of the Writings introduces mankind into a new state,-the state of spiritual adult life. Man must still be led by the Lord alone. His faith must be founded upon a simple belief in the Divine Truth of the Word-even though in large measure that truth is not understood. In this sense he must still be as a child, for the Lord has said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18: 3.) But man is no longer to be led as a child by direct command. He must be led more subtly, by means of spiritual principles acknowledged as Divine Laws that are to be intelligently understood. From these he is called upon to form rational judgments as if of himself, yet inspired by love to the Lord, and by the desire to keep His Commandments. In this necessity to understand and to judge there is a sense of freedom,-a delight and blessedness that could not be given before. But in it also is a unique responsibility to learn and comprehend revealed doctrine. It makes accurate knowledge and sound thinking in regard to spiritual matters as important to his salvation as keen observation and rational deduction are to external success in worldly undertakings. Not that spiritual knowledge alone is saving, but because without it there can be no genuine life of charity.
This is the reason why, in our Church, complete devotion to the Heavenly Doctrine-an abiding love of spiritual truth-is seen as the "stone rejected of the builders that is to become the head of the corner." It is the reason why we believe in an educated priesthood, systematically trained and devoted to a life-long study of the Writings.
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It is the reason why we believe in the necessity for a new kind of child-education,-an education designed to demonstrate the vital relation of spiritual truth to every branch of human knowledge and to every field of human use. It is the reason why we look upon the organized body of the Church as a plane for the practical application of the Doctrines to worship, to ecclesiastical government, and to all the activities of social intercourse, that the life of charity may grow and may find ultimate expression among us. And finally, it is the reason why we lay such stress upon the need for regular doctrinal instruction, that the adult members of the Church may increase in spiritual understanding, and may learn ever more fully to apply the Truth of the Writings to their individual and family life. These things we regard as essential uses of charity, whereby in practical ways we may-with the Lord's help-remove the loves of self and the world from our hearts. This removal alone can make our charity genuine, and render the Church spiritually living. It is the Truth of Divine Doctrine-the Truth of Revelation, acknowledged from the heart, loved, and lived-whereby alone the Lord can be present with us to overcome the hells and to build His Church within us.
This idea is central to the establishment of the New Church. It is far removed from the thought of the day. When the whole world is searching for a new order-an order based on self-interest, on some political or economic plan of ingenious devising, to guarantee universal peace and prosperity; when even those who imagine they are looking to religion interpret it entirely as ethics and natural morality, without regard to spiritual truth; when any belief in the spiritual world, in Divine Revelation that can give us any sure knowledge of God, or of the laws of His Providence, is looked upon with thinly veiled contempt, and is treated with a studied indifference far more deadly than open opposition; it is of extreme importance that we should understand the real value, the indispensable need for Divine Doctrine, and should persist in our determination to make the teaching of the Writings the law of our life. Nothing else can lead mankind back to true charity and mutual love. For this is the way of the Lord's revealing.
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