Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-23
Religlon. ono of the Flne Arts.

Religion 0me OF Ghe HAho 3AESe -
There is. a form of liberal Christianity
gSinihe ground At the present day Nv htot
treats religion as graceful accomplish
ment, the highest branch, perhaps of es-
tbetic culture. It's creed is eclectic. Il
skins lightly over the law and the prophets,
gathering from those dim traditio ns, gseaul-
ing through the mfsts of anttqutty,i mere
and there a striking fancy OF q, picturesque
fact It RIides daintily through the Cos
pels. culling charming moral precepts as q
child culls violets from the meadow, smiI-
inp gently at superstitfons and mistakes,
approying much and ignoring more. Its
theology is appropriately embodied In ele-
CANT extracts, Beauties of the Biblein q
superb holiday volume, emb sllished with
eneravings in the highest style of art. us
eIouuence flows from dmaguIhcentpulptts
uttered with the trained enunciation of a
Kean ora Siddons, bellishediby artistic
qraces and statuesque positions. the tragic
muss elevated from the sock and buskin to
the cassock. In ailyersWayes9 it descends
10 the high toned occupants of costly pews5
first families who import their mythology
and their millinery from Paris, and are
sheltered from vulgar intrusion by bRrTI'
caies of damask and rosewood and the ar
tilIery of weIl-bred stare. They sit be;
meath. the stained light of george win Il
doSss, fauned by airs heavy Wi b lPettqm me
andtIhe rich music Of the preachers voice.
All around them ,are9 light, warmth, odor,
melody, ibeauty; thsiway. TO- Heaven Is IS q
primrose path, between clipped hedges and
bbrdersd by we'll Kept turf few there be
that findsit,itis etrue, for the elect are the
elite. Yet it may be- indeed Il must be,
that crime, poverty disease and death are
skiffut lapid arfest onl that shall pol sh the
rough diamonds of society, not presentable
now and here into gems thatlshall sparkle.
in celestial crowns.
Now this r0se7coloretl religion is about
IA much like that Of the imam of sorrows"
10 art ia like nature 1t is martyrdom |
Ia marble and not in throbbing human
hearts, blessingwhile they break. 1t is |
he crneifixiotlin agilde led frame, cunning |
v uortrayed upon canvas with oil and pig |
nent. and not the mingled agony and |
neekness, and love that conquers death. |
It's central idea is self ling, not self |
sacrifice. 1t seeks, to. save its life, not by |
.osingit. The elements of its communion
,ymbolize nectar and ambrosia, not the
perfect love that lays down its life f1rSits
friends. Its Christian is pagan gem
Heman with all the modern improve
mcnts, educating amid earthly amenities
for the gates of pearl and golden streets.
His uprightness is trellis on which to
train the roses of his devotion; thornless
roses, which he cultiyates asa matter of
taste. He accepts but one miracle, that
Gnlilean carpenter and a group ofillit-
crate fishermen should found a school of
manners unapproached for two thosand
years. He does not see that religion is
beautiful Just as honesty is polihc, and
4.
taste or prudence will find neither the one
nor the other;-the beauty and the policy
being accidents merely, and not essential
traits. He does not know that Christian
ity underlies the stubborn factsof life, it
self the most stubborn of them al; that
its music is won from discords; its peace
from conflict, its beauty from ashes and
its Joy from conquered sorrows