The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-27


rs matter of personal interest, or applica-
ton, from tho list Of topics of conversation
in fashionable society throughout christen-
dom. And it ID only. in accordance with the
proprieties Of lie, admissi6ls for laymen to
introduce the subject in church on rare oc-
casions, or lie some exceptional denomina>
lions. And while the tone Of fashionable
society, and the acknowledged order of the
Church, secure them asAinst the intrusion Of
this awkward subject it is summarily elected
from business circles, if any person has the
temerity to introdscs il. Hence, it i ncitly
and universally accepted and andssaood,
That religion is excluded, "a topic Of COM
versation, in all the intercourse Of social
public and everyday life. And it is quite
generally taken Tor granted, that any person
who introduces the topic, unless it be an
aged preacher, must be An ill-mAnnered
fanatic, or enthusiastic xealot. No uher
persons would 90 disregard the proprie-
ties of life, asto give expression to
raligious feelings or convictions Of their
own, or seek to draw out the sentiments
of others, on subject so sacred and delicate.
And many, protesting Christians, taks credit
to themselves, and magnify their piety, by re-
marking thatthe religious feelings are so deep
aud sacred, that they cannot think Of expos.
ing them to the observation of their fellow
creatures, but reserve them for their inter.
course with God alone. And this idea, or .
very natural perverson Of it, has Invaded the
domestic circle also, and banished religion,
for the lost part, from the conversation of
the family, and no doubt in numerous in
stances, to the exclusion of family devotions
even.
Under this state of things, religion has
poor show in this evil world of ours, for the
most part. Ii has no advocate or standing
place, as a general thing, amongst men, save
the Preacher and the pulpit, unless, indeed,
We except the routine formal meetings for
prayer held by some churches, and usually
attended only by few old fashioned or very
Questionable members Of the church.
But to say the least, ~ . general rule in
this christian country, the Devil has it all his
avesue of social enjoyment and business oc
cupation is crowded with his friends and fol-
lowers. While the followers of Christ generally
seem to exhibit as little sin gularity as posi-.
BILE. and in shamed faced way participate in
many of the frivolities and Mammon worship
of the crowd, and only "back out" from
the grosser forms of devotion to "the world,
the flesh, and the devil" by which they are
surrounded
1t seems clear that Jesus Christ organized
no such campaign against the enemy as is in
dictated in the foregoing, nor did he enlist
soldiers for any such service. Nor, indeed,
is there any indication that there is much of
war going on, as general rule. The pro-
fessed soldiers of the cross recognize the
fact that they are in an enemy's country, and
seem disposed to sneak through it in silence
like " dumb dogs" till they reach their cita-
dels under the shadow of the pulpit
Recently, however, in our own city, rs
elsewhere, these soldiers of the cross seem
to have imbibed new spirit, and plucked up
fcesh courage, ard are now making MANU-
battle in the cause. If they continue
TO advance their banner, and stand
steadfastly by their colors, and
Eight It out on that line" they may, after q
few year $ experience, and discipline, be en-
abled to wage more equal warfare. They
are even now adopting new measures, and
striving, with somewhat Of zeal and earnest
ness, to seize some vantage points, long since
surrendered to the enemy. Many Of them
are penetrating, once more, the social cir.
cles, the business resorts and the households,
and calling upon the enemy 70 surrender.
Unquestionably if the spirit which now
pervades the Christian ranks should continue
to animate them, and thus maintain their pres.
ent standard OF bold and active warfare,
great victories may be achieved.
But If halt is called, and truce made
with the enemy, and an informal peace takes
place, the parties will return to the condition
of things which existed before the war. The
ban OF exclusion will be enforced again; the
soldiers Of the cross will have to disarm and
lay aside ''the sword of the Spirit, and ''the
breast-plste of hope and love-" before they
will be allowed to re-enter again the domain.
of social, business and domestic life. And
then once again we shall have, as in other
times, war carried on by proclamations
from the pulpit without armed soldiers in the
field. J. B. II.