Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-04-10
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1858.
Is tho Religious Movement Benar
fieiall

VIC w hoC oitcu aIluue 10 rellglOuS mat
ters. They are not generally thought to be
/, within the province Of secular newspaper.
) So long as the public think thus, it is the
duty of an editor to respect their opinion,
and no more to obtrudc religious opinions
) and feelings upon their attention than he
would any other subjects in which they take
no interest. 1t is his task to reflect, not
create public sentiment.
We have therefore carefully withheld our
religious sympathics and sentiments for the
circle of private life, in accordance as well
with the dictates of good taste as of public
duty.
A remarkable change in this respect has
occurred in the last few months in the pop
ular mind throughout this country. Amys-
terious wave of religious sympathy is swell
ing over every community, and stirring it to
its very depths. Our city, in common with
others, has shared this movement. Religion
for the last few weeks has been a matter of
c1m'aon, every day conversation and interest
among all classes and circles Of society Our
streets are moving and our churches filled,
morning and evening, with people going from
their daily business to the daily meeting,
and from the meeting back to their business,
with as much regularity as to their meals.
Our young men have also their own especial
meetings, which are numerously attended
and accompanied with extraordinary interest.
All these meetings are conducted without
excitement, and in calm, practical manner,
that betokens sound and healthy, mental
and moral action. Business flows on unin-
terruptedly in its usual channels. Men and
women pursue their ordinary callings and
pleasures with the same cheerfulness and
energy as before. Nothing ghostly or gloomy
casts shade over the community. People
attend to their daily affairs as before the
only difference is, that they attend to their
daily religion, also.
This universal interest in religious matters
affords to the public journalist the privilege
and the right, of giving his testimony on the
side of truth, on subject from which he is
ordinarily excluded-and of this privilege
we right gladly avail ourselves.
Such an opportunity comes but once in
century, and we would not have this one,
touch US with its dropping wings as it passes
over, and speeding on to the day of account,
bear the sorrowful witness against US there
that we had refused to take advantage of it's
gentle presence, and to speak to those who
were willing to listen, our testimony on the
side of Christ and his religion.
This revival of religious feeling differs
from any which we have witnessed, or of
which we have read, or heard, in that it does
not draw men away from their ordinary
affairs to religion, as a thing belonging ex-
clusi,ely to the meeting house and the Sab
bath, but it is bringing religion right down
among their daily avooations, and making It
a part of their daily business. 1t is, we
think, the beginning of 4 new phase in reli-
gous experience, Time may soften and
subdue its outward manifestations, but we
predict from it a lasting and sensible effect |
on the public mind. Our Father in Heaven
seems to us to have taken this meth I'd to
demonstrate His power to men of the world;
to show them that H. really exists, and takes
an interest in their alflirs, an to convince
them that He loves them all, in whatever
associations they are. and that they can, If
they will, admit Him into all their daily re-
lations By His influences on their hearts
and those of others, they are shown that if
they choose, lie will accompany them every
where, tightening and cheering their daily
toll, and making them happier, more ener
getic, more successful, more useful, and
better men. This movement will have the
effect of making men sensible, that religion
is as necessary to the happiness and prosper
ity of a community, as science, learning and
general intelligence, are now universally
conceded to be; hat it is valuable acqui-
sition to the individual and to society, de-
sirable to all, and attainable by all. We,
therefore, as a Business man, interested in
whatever pertains to the prosperity and
common good of our community, bid this
movement God-speed.
Especially do we extend our right hand to
our young companions who are engaged in
this reform. We believe that they are taking
the right course to become useful and valu-
able members of society, as well as to make
themselves happy and prosperous.
We have thus given our testimony as a
public writer to what We believe to be the
side of right. "rhere are three things"
says the Arab, (which can never be reclaim
ed; the spoken word, the sped arrow, and
the lost opportunity" Our word is spoken;
like the arrow it has sped to the mark, and
cannot be recalled. When it will meet us
again, with all our other words and deeds,
we tn nix we will not regret having spoken it.
-.~.-
IMITATIoN.-What waste Of time
it is for one man to spend half a life
in initiating others, when, by following
out his own tastes and dispositions, he
would, with less trouble, acquire respect
for his sincerity and independence =
Whatever we do with spontaneity, is
easy and pleasing in the doing, and
profitable III the result. By following
nature, we grow, as it were, towards
the sun, fair and straight. A ship that
runs with the wind goes smoothly and
swiftly on her course but against it,
how much tossing how much loss of
time, how much hard work and ever
recurring anxieties, none but the mariner
can recount.
TRUE AS PREAcHlNG.-The Phila-
delphia Evening .4rgus says: "No
man can borrow himself out Of debt.
If you wish for relief, you must work
for it, economizc for it. You must