It is said that two famous enemies of Christianity were once
talking together of a plan for the reconstruction of religion.
They believed only in the enjoyment of the life that now is.
They talked of the building of a temple which would express
the religious impulse and yet lay stress on the glory of the
life that now is. And after they had talked of marvelous music,
forever in the major key, they admitted that something was
lacking in their scheme. “I know what it is,” finally declared
one. “It is that hymn, ‘O Sacred Head Now Wounded.’ Without
that there is a fatal lack of beauty and of power.” And this
goes down pretty far toward the center. The compelling beauty
of Christianity is in its doctrine of self-sacrifice. The
cross sets the Christian teaching on high.--FRANCIS J.
MCCONNELL.
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