What are its fruits in the political realm? Can any thinking man fail to recognize the connection between German rationalism and German militarism? The fearful holocaust which sent millions to a premature grave was the legitimate fruit of the jungle doctrine of the survival of the fittest.

But if that conclusion were at all debatable, examine the fruits of modernism nearer home. What are its fruits in our national life? It would be unbecoming in me to attempt to point out such elements of weakness in your national life as a close analysis might discover; but I know the effect across the border and in the Old Land, and of its effects, there I may boldly speak.

Beyond question, modernism in the religious life of the nation is having the effect of lowering the moral standards everywhere. Even the common and fundamental principles of the Decalogue are called in question the marriage relation is more and more lightly regarded; and while our divorce laws in Canada have not yet been changed for the accommodation of persons of easy morals, great numbers of Canadians come annually to the United States to secure the dissolution of the marriage bond.

What are the fruits of modernism in the religious realm? Is it not evident to all that Roman Catholicism is everywhere making tremendous strides? Why is it that in this day of supposed enlightenment, of popular education, and general increase of intelligence, the superstitions of Rome should be welcomed by multitudes who long seemed proof against its teaching? The reason, it appears to me, is obvious. People are turning away from the negations of religious modernism to a religion that is positive and authoritative; and there is no hope of stemming the rising tide of Roman Catholicism by the doctrine of doubtful inspiration, which leads a man, at last, to the position where he is without any religious authority at all.

Look, too, at the new cults, which are everywhere springing up. Can the subtleties of Christian Science be answered by the guesses of a "science falsely so-called?" Can the vagaries of Mrs. Eddy be dispelled by the vagaries of a Fosdick, or a Vedder, or a Shailer Matthews? Consider, also, the rapid spread of Spiritualism. How are we to account for it? Is it to be explained merely by the fact that death has held high carnival during the recent war and that for that reason, more people have an interest in the life beyond? I am convinced we must look deeper than this to explain the increase of Spiritualism. Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are the natural successors of the modernist apostles of doubt and unbelief. Indeed, Spiritualism is the natural child of rationalism and unbelief. It was when and because Saul had rejected the word of divine revelation, and the oracle was silent, and no voice out of the unknown answered his hungry call, that he resorted to a witch. Spiritism if the twin of modernism. If the first is Zarah, the second is Pharez, twin brothers born of an adulterous union. Modernism is the devil's broom by which he would sweep the world clear of the last trace of a supernaturally revealed religion, and make way for the ever-multiplying positive religious delusions of the pit.

Consider its effect upon our evangelical churches and upon the cause of evangelical religion in general. Here and there, it is true, men of the modernist school of special ability succeed in attracting great numbers to hear them for a while, but their popularity is always short-lived. They build nothing, but only destroy; and leave behind them, at last, only a heap of ruin representing the faith they have wrecked. Everywhere the Christian religion is at a discount because of the negations of modernism. Modernism has, in fact, become atmospheric. The prince of power of the air has his own broadcasting system, and the very air is full of the voices of unbelief, to which the natural heart is already by nature attuned, and to which the carnal mind delights to listen in.

Is that, however, the whole case against modernism? By no means. While modernism is negative in relation to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, it is positive and aggressive in its antagonism to revealed religion. We believe in freedom. We rejoice in liberty, too, I trust we believe in liberty for all modernists as well as for ourselves. They should be accorded absolute liberty of conscience and the fullest freedom to preach and teach what they believe but at their own expense! Being opposed to all manner of coercion religion, I refuse to be compelled not only by the state, but by cleverly manipulated denominational machinery, to support men and institutions whose teaching my conscience abhors.