Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-08
COMMUNICATED
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY.
FFUIH IHo NHtVHSU 'Vu' H"t'

70 believe In muscular christianity. We
he,ieye that the minister Of muscle. will hgh
g more valiant and a stronger battle VIII
the pre- udices and passions OF men we De
lieve that Sdll0 mems m san" r0fP0ff appiies
70 parsons as well as to parshoners, and ina
seints bodies rs we'll as sinners are none the
worse for an hour at the dumb bells or the
weights.
We have been led to this subject by meet
ING in the gymnasium, As regular a'teii-
G;:nt, a leading and eloquent DIVINE OF TINS
city. lie swings the dumb bell IN manner
hat few of the adopts can approach. lie Is
fleet Of foot in the track, and scores his hall
mile in belt time. He climbs the ladder;
goes through the bars, walks the treacherons
.ighs rope, la Blondin, in fine, develops ms
Muscle with all the ardor and interest ol the
Youngest tyro. Possibly Mr.. pecksnIn Or
nv lady Potiphar, who attend chnrch
quite punctiiously, may sneer AT on; reFer-
md friend of the strong arm and chest, and
IS thew knew who he was would drop their
religious patronage; therefore. We shall not
crafty their curiosity by mentioning ms
name, at the risk of lessenlng the Number OF
MS dock.
But, seriously. are the sinners the only
Grating exercises? Shall the sheep gambol
ell day upon the hill side, and the shepherd
lazilv doze in the sun? Must he wage his
treat warfare with the enemy OF mankind,
led down with the impc3imrn'a Of an ener-
yated and wasting bod y? Does he not by 4
vigorous physica! regimen during the week,
bring to his pulpit. a fresh stock Of strength:
81 new activity and vigor: q genial and kind
I hall an,
20 Ell men, at all times, and in all Places
IRE not half the sins OF the day the result OF
:. lazy, puny, good-for-nOthing body?
We verify believe that If all our ministers
woaid "cultivate their muscle, there would
be less need Of voyages 10 Europe, less bron-
chitis and dyspepsia, and countenances us
-2hite as the neck cloths below them; that we
should have better sermons OF 4 Sabbath: SER
mons with more of the milk of the human
Kindness in them, and clad with Il new force
and power which would at once seize upon and
mold captive that most deceitfu OF all things,
the heart; that religion would be stripped OF
II That Chadbandism which, if not Il reality,
81 least has the outward seeming. Were not
,he twelve. better fishers of men, because Of
heir previous occupation? We cannot PIC
cure Paul with the bronchitis or the dlspep-
cia, OF making long annual pleasure trips
over into Europe for his health. But one
Eaa, miserable Eutychus, slept under his
preaching, and fell out the window i'll consc-
;iuen3e Of the eight Greek fathers, who
nave come down to us as the leaders, but
E.rbrose, Athanasius and Augustine, were
strong and robust, aud admirably adapted
Cor the uncompromising fight they waged
-;ith the Byzantine heather.
.Je hope more Of our ministers will de-
rote attention to the body as we'll as the spir-
It. 4. good heart in good body, is III ourop-
;1ion much better sacrifice than Il good
heart in q miserable body. \ certain ad
mixture of innocent animal life with the
spiritual, will infuse vigor into it which the
midnight oil shall not waste. We may ques-
sion the propriety Of Peter Cartwright's
stopping his sermon ut filthy, to fog an IN
sultng ro,!dy, or to the Allegany minister,
who pounded the grace OF God into the Meth
oGiat-miniSter hogging blacksmith; but we
really think little more muscle in the pull
pit would ensure less sic epy heads i'll the au-
d;ence, and that the physical Zion conduces
largely to the growth and importance OF the
spiritual Zion.
i has zoo long been the notion that phy>l-
cal strength and spiritual sanctity are i'll
compatible. The days of those feeble young
CARTS who die early, are numbered. "lhe
good die first, because the good too often
nave poor stomuchs and lungs. We are Of
he opinion that q man may fear ''God and
-yalk thousand miles in II thousand hours,
and that he will fear God all the better for it.
Re welcome the advent of Kingsley with his
stout Amyas Leigh. Beecher with his sinewy
arm, Chaplin with his iyspepsia-detying
"rame, and our Chicago divine swinging his
huLGred pound dumb bell.