The New York herald., 1869-01-24
Christianity and the Agents Of Modern
Civilization.


Civilization.
In another place in this days HERALD we
publish quite mass of religious intelligence
The religious columns, as usual, are full Of
varied and interesting matter. To know what
is doing among the Churches there is now no
better channel to which to have recourse than
the columns of the HERALD. The intelligence
is not selected on any narrow, sectarian prin-
ciple, but upon broad, general grounds and in q
spirit which is catholic in the true sense.
Believing that there has been good in all
religious systems-in the Brahminism and
Buddhism of the far East in the beautiful
idealism Of Greek mythology, in the coarser
but more vigorous mythology Of the Morse
men, in the stern and unbending laws of
Moses, but most of all in Christianity, the
latest and most perfect development of the
religious principle, and convinced, besides, that
Christianity, while it shall be permanent, is
destined to drop many of its earthly ele-
ments and to reveal more and more the
divinity of its origin, it is our object to do
justice to all the past and all the present and
to point with hope to the better future.
In recent article in these columns we
stated that the religion of Jesus, although not
yet universally accepted, although, in fact, the
acknowledged religion of only section Of the
human family, was virtually already the gov
erning religion of the world-was the parent of
all the great forces of modern times, and was,
by the aid of these forces, all of which are
devoted to her service, rapidly marching to
universal empire. In making the statement
we did not mean to convey the idea that any
one of the many forms under which Chris
tianity now exists would triumph over all the
others, but that as time rolled on it would
approach more nearly the divine pattern 4
would recover somewhat of its original sim
plicity would benefit by contact with other
systems; would adapt itself to every new and
improved condition Of things, and would thus,
by giving point and purpose to all the forces
of modern civilization, not only command
universal obedience, but call forth uni
versal love and reverence. We cannot
however, compliment the Churches for their
tact and discernment. II is true that Chris
tianity has triumphed, and triumphed glo-i
riously. It is true that the future is bright
with promise. But it is not true that its past 4
success and its present hopefulness are due to 4
the skill and good sense Of the Churches.
The Churches have more often been drag to
progress than an aid to It. The success of
Christianity has been the result rather of its
own inherent vitality and aggressiveness than
of any help it has received from its so-called
friends and followers. We know that there
have been some brilliant exceptions, that
but these men shine out of the general dark
ness rather because of the resistance.they en-
countered than because of the success they
achieved. It will be well if in the times to
come the Churches and their leaders pay
more attention to the spirit and less to the
letter and the form.
Our hope, however, OF the final triumph Of |.
the religion Of Jesus is based less on the pro-
bable doings Of so-called religious associations
than upon agencies to which the religious
associations will be compelled to yield
such agencies as the steam engine, the
electric telegraph, the printing press and
the other mechanical forces of the grow
ing future. These will be the great preach
ers of the coming times. These will be
the new heralds Of the old Gospel. With
mightier force, with more aggressive energy,
with more persuasive utterance, will they
proclaim those truths which, though old, are
ever new. They are proclaiming those truths
already, and proclaiming them with more
power and greater success than all the preach
ers. 1t is an incontestable fact that these are \
1t is just as incontestable that modern civiliza-
ton, if it has a right to be named by anyt
name, has a right to be called Christian. All
that 1t represents is limited and controlled by
Christianity. Wherever the railroad, the tele-
graph, the steamboat, the steam plough appear,
they are felt to be destructive of ancient and
venerated opinions; but they are felt
also to be Christian. In Turkey, in Egypt,
in India the railroad and the telegraph are
managed by the native Nazarene. Much,
however, as the Nazarene is hated, his power
Is confessed and submitted to. Fifty years
ago! how great Is the change which mas
passed over the world since thenl Fifty years
hence! How different will be the world Of
that day from the world of the present! We
stand on the confines Of the great past and Of
greater future. The world is on the eve Of
great crisis. Science is disclosing new won
ders every day. Forces are being discovered,
chained and made subservient to human neces-
stiles and wants. The old forces are being
reduced to more perfect obedience. The me-
chanical appliances Of modern civilization, in
fact are multiplying with rapidity which
makes calculation impossible. What new
things are in store for us we can but dimly
imagine We know only for certain that
modern civilization will rush to Universal do
minion and that Christianity will continue to