Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-24
Religious Wants Of the Country.

Several ofour contemporaries have recently
expressed their alarm in strong terms at the
influx of an irreligious and infdel population
from Continental Europe, but they offered no
suggestions of remedial misunderstanding
content with the effort to awaken apprehen-
sions and rouse prejudices. We fear that the
spread Of irreligous views is not entirely
traceable to foreign sources and causes, and
In arriving at conclusions from which course
Of duty is 10 be evolved, we should take care
that those conclusions are sound and oompre-
hensive. If there be causes at work in Amer.
ican society which favor rather than hinder
the development and bolder expression Of an
ti-religious views by those who come here
tainted with the anti-chrstian and infdeI spir-
it largely prevailing in Europe, let US trace
out these causes and commence the reform al
the right place.
If American Christianity has grown sleepy
and formal, or has been corrupted by courting
too close contact with the materializing in
luences ofthe political and commercial world,
and cleanse its garments from the impurities
by which they are defiled. A warm, living,
vigorous Christianity can alone stay the tide
of irreligion and change its polluted waters
into pure and refreshing streams Of spiritual
truth. Mere logical denuncation or proscrip-
tion has never yet worked religious change
| in fho 0c nd
ment may turn vain minds to inlideIty, but it
is weak when relied on exclusively to win
them to Christianity. The spirit and language
OF love, devotion 10 truth demonstrated in
the life and conduct, are the weapons which
prove powerful to win victories in Christian
warfare.
! 1t is easy to create seots and parties, and
produce an excitement which may be mistaken
for religious activity but too often that which
appears to be healthy revival of the Chris
tian spirit, is nothing more than temporary
stirring of feelings and prejudices which have
been formed in the mind by education and hab-
it. Though these periodical excitements not
unfrequently do for the moral atmosphere that
the thunder storm does for the natural, they
soon subside, and the pestlential calm re-
turns. Not so when the movement is purely
Christian. Its effects long continue, and the
good done descends to future generations.
1t is, then, a truly Christian spirit, reform
ing and transforming society, that we need
to stay the progress of deluson and atheism
in our beloved land. 1t is spirit that will
battle error with weapons which cannot be re.
sisted. 1t is a spirit dogmatical, not pro
scriptive, not ambitious Of ensaving the mind!
and judgments Of men to an imperious rule
but loving, gentle, persuasive, engaging tht
affections and kindling in the hearts and con
sciences of men true and holy reverence 70
the Creator-a spirit in communion will
Heaven, and eager to bring others into IN
same communion. This is religion. Al
that is called religion which is less than this
is will-worshiP, lip-worship, an effort of ih
intellect to copceal the hardness, the deadness
or the corruptness of the heart--or it is bias
phemous mockery, lie, device to blind I'll,
eyes and delude the conscience. 1t is infdel
ity in costume playing the Christian.-N. Y
Sun.