powerfully affected other religious bodies. This fact we admit; but
as the effect is devitalizing, disorganizing and ultimately
demoralizing, we consider the result the crowning shame rather than
the crowning glory of Unitarianism.

That the liberal theology resulting from rationalism and championed
in this country by Unitarianism is merely negative and destructive,
is evidenced on every hand. Dr. Pearson, in the _Missionary Review_,
has recently pointed out its fatal effects in the mission fields, and
still more recently it has been compelled to confess its own defeat
in Germany, where it originated and where it has found its chief
support. The evidence of this is found in the _Literary Digest_ of
Feb. 25, 1911, where we find the following:

That "liberal" theology has made an almost utter failure in Germany
is asserted by one of its leading spokesmen in a liberal religious
organ. It consists too much of mere negation, he thinks, and has no
strong faith in anything. The masses have rejected it, and the
educated have accepted it only in small numbers. Practically it is a
failure, and he demands a reconstruction along new lines, with new
ideals and new methods. This courageous liberal is Rev. Dr.
Rittelmeyer, of Nuremberg, and he writes in the _Christliche Welt_
(Tubingen). Here are the main points of his argument:

"Let us ask honestly what results modern theology has attained
practically. As far as the great masses of workingmen are concerned,
practically nothing has been gained. They either do not understand it
or they distrust it. All the public discussions and popularization of
modern critical views have not found any echo or sympathy among the
ranks of the laboring people.