Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-02-16
ForNs Tin..
THE DARK AGES AND THEEFFECT OF
CHRISTIANITY UPON The WORLD
PERIOD.

NHt-
h. comparison with It's former and 81 bsequeuI
greatness, it was like the ruins OF some noble
edidee, which had been disiingdis ,ed Tor lis
splendid architecture and elaborate workman
ship. out i, has fallen e. decay andUll its beau
uiui statues and specimens OF architectural
skill aud genius, are completely covered with
the common rubbish Of the building, so that
nought is seen buta heap of smouIjeHng ruins
1hus it was with the mind in those times.
It was covered with a deep aud gloomy soil
OF monl darkness, which concealed all it's
noble powers and energies and deha:ed 1t TO a
Level with the brute. How revolving 1t is TO
the feelings to contemplate such a scere even
ssii is described TO Us by history. But how
much more 50 the reality must have been, for
nearly a thousand years was the human race
enthraIied in ignorance sensuality snd super
s%tition. 1t appeared as though that great
Being from whom comes all light and knowl-
edge, had hidden his face from the world. No
pure ray OF religious light b-amed upon the
hard and insensible hearts OF the people. But
idolatry and superstition reigued instead.
wild and e1trsvagant notions occupied their
mind. instead OF the Investigation OF science.
Aged men whose limbs were weak aud fraIl
msde long pilgrinages to the tombs OF certain
saints. hoping that this would obtain for them
eternal salvation. 1t was in those dark times
that the wild spirits OF The Crusades arose
and is it no, a proof OF the degradation oil the
human mind, when we learn that the CrusaGes
with all the misery and devastation they pro-
duced, originated from the raving Of d wild
fanatic { we allude to Peter the Hermit }
by his influence large armies were raised
Monarchs deserted their thrones, fathers aud
brothers left their families and homes to rush
TO the sword. What was the consequence,
many noble armies were cut down before they
had even seen the walls OF Jerusalem, others
reached there only TO perish by famine or by
the naughty Turk or the wild Arab. Rome,
that once proud empire OF the world, which
had been the theatre OF 50 many great exploits
AMI which had produced her learned men and
philosophers, did She escape the influence OF
those dark times -! All mol The halls which
had reverberated with the mighty cloquence oi
her orators now stood desolate and solitary.
The learned men had passed away, and no.
thing was hear but the clashing OF swords.
anarchy and confusion. The world seemed
to be lettering on its foundation. All traces
OF knowledge and refinement were passing a.
,.ax Tho baar. r,t, si,b a4d the axa "a,
sensibly turns away from the page which re.
cords the debasel and degraded condition Of
the human race during those dark times. II
was a sight 10 make The Angels weep, and
that o%mnipotent being who sits upon hi:
throne high in The Heavens, gazed upos The
earth which he had created by his power, and
upon the beings whom he had formed 10 bis
image, and endowed with so many noble
powers. He was moved with o mpassion
and in a voice which reyerberated long through
the courts of Heaven, He issued forth tn
as lie had at the beginning OF tn,
world, Let there be tight not that ligh
which illuminstes the material world, but in
telIectual and spiritual light. Immediately
pure bright beam saot through the azure vaul
OF heaven, it fell upon the ca nth II was smal
at first but pure and steady, gradually it grew
into a dazzling flame. 1t penetrated tn
gloomy veil which enveloped the humal
mind, and dispellcd The mora darkness as III,
sun d~isperses the morning mist by his rays
1t was the light OF Christianity from TIN
glorious Sans of Righteousness, which re
wolves eternally around the throne OF the grea
| Am. 1t fell upon the hearts OF men, stillet
their wild throbbings, hushed all strife an,
contention and difiused over them a calm all,
heavenly influence. 1t penetrated even It
the most secret recesses OF the soul and brough
forth powers aud energies which had long laiI
dormant under the healing influence Of thi
spiritual light " it'll other circumstances, sucl
as scientific discoveries made al the SAINT
time with the reformation in religion. Tn,
world began 10 assume a new as pect, societ,
made rspid improvement in happiness, powe
and know ledge, churches were erected, anC
myriads OF pei sons who had hitherto bent theiI
knees and offered up their prayers and sup
plications TO dumb idols or imbued theil
hearts with d superstitious religion; now came
to offer to the only true God their pure and
holy alterations. The heavy wheels OF time
have rolled necessarily on and many ages have
passed since the reign of darkness upon the
world; but that pure light which exerted so
beneficial an influence in those times has at
every succeeding age become more dazzling
and brilliant; it has spread over hill. valley and
mountain, until nearly all the inhabitable
globe has been visited by the light OF Christi
anlty. As proof OF its beneficial effects,
let us gaze upon our own bright and beautiful
land. We behold a powerful and enlightened
nation; the earth cultivated untii it yields ia
abundance the rich harvest and golden fruit.
Large and beautiful cities, charitable %institu-
tions Of every description. churches in which
the worship OF the true God is preserved,
colleges and seminaues OF learning and every
facility offered Tor the investigation OF science
or Tor acquiring knowledge either intellectual
or spiritual. This knowledge Is not confined
TO the male but extends also 10 the female sex.
Here let US observe the happy change in the
OF females in comparison with
what they were when idolatry anj superstition
reigned in The world. Then they were con
sldered as menIals or slaves rather than com.
or equals. Is it so now No, the
which s. long held in bondage womaus
mind aud subjected her to toll aud slavery is
broken and since Christianity beamed upon