Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-01-21

The above paragraph was originally pub
lished, We believe, in the Hartford Republi-
can. respectable paper, and has been going
the rounds of the newspaper press during the
last three weeks. We have been in hopes of
| seeing the statement contradicted, or at least
some explanation, relieving christian church
from the imputation of wrong in the matter.
Thus far, however, we have seen nothing to
relieve the sad impression, which this item of
intelligence is calculated to convey. We
know there are multitudes who are disposed
to hold the christian church responsible for
every individual wrong of its members, and
who charge upon the entire body of chris
tians, the sins of apostates and erring ones.
This is all wrong. 1t is possible the case of
starvation above stated may yet turn out to
be an exaggerated one, and we believe it will !;
nevertheless it is suggestive of a few thoughts
which are worthy of being entertained.
Are the relations of the church to human
ity what they onght to be! This is prac-
teal question, and one which enters into the
land, where the necessaries of life areso album
dant, it is certainly reproach to the church,
that any of its members should starve or suf-
fer for the want of bread. No christian
duty is more strongly enjoined, than that of
administering to the wants and necessities of
the poor. Christ himself was the exemplar
of this truth-his life and his teachings are
a living epistle to all generations. But may
it not with propriety be asked, do these great
practical duties enter into the teachings of
the pulpit, or receive the active support of
the church which they oughtl Doctrinal
discussion, matters of faith and belief, and
the relations of man to God are faithfully
preached-books Of theology innumcrable
are written to help men to embrace an intel
ligcnt faith. While all this is we'll, the liy-
ing exemplifcation ofau intelligent faith, and
the practical duties of christianity to human
ity are too often but family exhibited. The
first great commandment of the law is ear
ncstly and truthfnlly set forth; but the sec
ond great command, which lis like unto it."
and which extends not only to the spiritual but
to all the temporal wants and necessities of
humanity, is passed by as the Levite passed
by the suffering man, who had falleu to the
ground beaten and bruised, while on his way
from Jerusalem to Jericho. We do not say
that there is everywhere a remissness in the
public teachings and Practices Of the church
on this subject. There are many noble, hon
orable and truly christian exceptions.
We saw it stated a few days since, in a re-
spectacle New England Journal that a men,
Der of a Christian church had been sent to
the poor house in the same town where this oc
CURED, an unbelieyer was invited to attend up
on the ministration of the church; he refused,
saying'you have sent Christ to the poor house
What ould be said in answer to a remark of
such seeming impicty? He who "spake as new
er men spake," has said, ''Inasmuch as We have
done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, We have done it unto me-" 1t WAS
stated in eNtenuation of this transaction of
sending member of the church to the poor
house, that the civil government has provided
place for those who, by misfortune or 9TH
erwise, are incapable of gaining the mean,
of subsistence This is a humane provision
Of government, but the civil law does not re-
| lieve the church from its moral and religious
| obligation. If he who was poor while here
on earth, so thst he had not where to lay his
head, had been sent to the government poor
house by his brethren and followers, to be
provided for, what an eternal reproach it would
have been to his decipeSy But if doing this
to the least of his brethren, is doing it to him,
what an amount of wrong and inconsistency
attach to those who permit it and have the
ability to prevent it.
1t is not our intention to trouble our rea-
ders often, if ever, with religious homilies or
theological teachings. Such is not the pri-
mary design of our paper. But it seemed
fitting to say a word, or at least to make a
respectful inquiry, whether the world would
sustain any great loss, were small portion
of the time subtracted from that now spent
in Observation-Disclosures hair-splittng
and polcmical disputation, and that small
portion devoted to practical instruction in
the duties and obligations of christianity to
the poor, the degraded and the down-trodden
In short, whether the pulpit, the religious press
and christian teachers, might not, without
detriment to other important interests, devote
| little more time to faithful exhibition OF
the life of Christ-the divine pattern of chris
tan imitation, who dwelt with the poor and
lowly, compassionated the woes of humani-
ty, visited the sick, fed the hungry, comforted
the afflicted and spent life in doing good
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