The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-09-28
VOL. VIII.---NO. 366.
POPULAR INFIDELITY.

"What is your opinion of the amount Of
infdelity prevailing!' said one acquaintance
of ours, a few days since, to another. 81 think
just this" was the reply, shat, Will. there is
very little difference of belief as regards the
essential truths of religion, such as the exis-
tence and paterna character of Supreme
Being, and the wisdom and goodness of his
universal arrangements in nature, there is n
vast amount Of skepticism as to the Divine
ordination of many Of the visible church
forms, ceremonies and dogmas of our days,
which are made to fill the foreground as es-
sentials of religion" There is, we fear, too
much truth in this reply. Whatever is claim
ed for religion in accordance with the sublime
harmonies of nature, or the sublimer, though
simple teachings of Christ, is accepted gladly
by every intelligent, ingenious mind, leaving,
scarcely scoffer or doubter; but whatever is
claimed contrary to such accordance, is as
widely rejected, or branded with suspicion.
Religion, such as would justly represent
Christ's life and lessons, which ought to be
the measure of Christian faith and purity, has
suffered wickedly through formalities, deceits,
and hypocrisies, palmed upon mankind in its
name. Its triumphs have been retarded more
by the treason and falsehood of professed
friends, than by all assaults of open enemies;
and the abundance of this treason and false
hood is what makes so many skcptical to-
wards religious annuncations, mistakingy
deeming, as they do, that what processes to
be religion or Cristianity, must be. Acting
falsely with Voltaire and Shelley, and scores
of the bravest intellectual spirits, they assume
that the visible church, good, bad or indiffer.
ent, is the fruit OF Christianity, and proceed
to judge the tree by its fruit. Here the mis-.
takes made. The Church may, in part, rep.
resent the sound, ripe fruit of the tree of life,
but few will deny that it too often stands
for Dead Sea appes"-fair to the sight,
but bitter to the taste, and ashes TO tho
touch.
Proclaim Christ to-day, anywhere, as he
appeared and addressed himself to the null
titude, and the first rejecting scoifer Of his
precepts and morality, could not be found
Christ and Christianity, the body and soul of
the only religion that has tho slightest practi.
cability in its pursuit, to redeem the world,
the two great ideals toward which mankind
are every day more earnestly yearning. All
may not comprehend them in the same form
or forms, but all acknowledge in them the
same glorious, redeeming spirit. Can it be
wondered there is skepticism toward much
that is put forward as Christianity. The
wrestling of his word and example to uphold
the most monstrous wrongs. The bunting
of the edge of his anathema against pride,
hatred, and lusts of the flesh, pampered on
the very so.caled affairs of God, and yet
calling it the true "Sword of the SPIRIT
How much of the real Christ does the church
present orpreach to us? How much of the
Christ who cried, "Wo unto you scribos,
Pharsecs, and awyers"-or whoever wags
the tongue or lifts the hand to blind the poor
and ignorant to the way Of righteousness and
truth. /, The people love and adore that Christ
who went among them seven days in the
week, healing their wounds and soothing
their sorrows. But they recognize Him not
in the isolate, unfamiliar being set apart by
the church for special sabbath worship, and
exhibited to suit creeds and dogmas, from
purple pulpits, but scarcely called up for ro.
membrance or consolation during the six days
of toll and wcariness, when his presence il
most needed. Ida.
We speak these words more in sorrow than
bittefness--sorrow that those who have
Christianity in special keeping, cannot, or
will not, introduce their Teacher and Master
to the world, in that familiar and attractive
character which he assumed on Earth. Could
He fail, thus introduced, to draw unto him
the fishermen and the cratfsmen--woul not
the widow and orphan, the sick, sorrowing
and outcast, again follow Him, with blessings
on their lips, as erst on the Judean highways.
But the cold, white glare of marble walls,
and the glitter Of stained glass, repel these
poor O souls from the gorgeous altars dedi-
Gated TOTO them-an unknown God."--
Give them o men, and women of the church,
that Saviour who scorned not to "eat with
publicans and sinners" and who was and is,
the unfaing friend of the poor--who has
declared, .lf be lifted up, will draw all
men unto me,'--nnd there shall be no dam
gerous nfdelity il your midst.
r&- An exchange states that Brigham
Young, during recent tour in Southern Utah,
'fell upon an inexhaustable bed OF coal;' and
y Ahn Ind Ihoronnhlxr