The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-25

W.
sort of melancholy pleasure pervades his
thoughts as he pities the zeal of his friend over
the way, who is wasting, in mistaken zeal, his
time on false theory of religion. We know of
a distinguished clergyman who ANNOUNCED from
his pulpit, not only that his path to the skies
was the most direct, but that it was the only path
which would lead to the haven of rest. That
same gentleman, now bishop in his Church,
stated that reverend doctor of another de-
nomination was NO more minister than q negro
laborer in the street. Yet this gentleman was a
man high in his congregation, exemplary
Christian and most eloquent orator. If the pre-
late who thus denied to his brother the right to
his robes would be found near that brother in
the last great day, he will find that he must ex-
ercise more Of that most Christian of virtues
the virtue of charity. The sentiment expressed
by Bishop - is one entertained by very many
Christians, only not so broadly expressed In
deed the ritualistic branch of the Episcopal
Church goes so far as to hold il an utter impos-
sibility for any one TO reach heaven by any other
light than six white candles, held by six surpliced
boys. is this charity? Is this brotherly toe-
rance? Is this reason or right We fail to see
that it is By what right can one man Judge his
fellow, and declare himself right and his neigh
Dor wrong? By what authority can we, when
following our convictions of duty as our con-
sciences dictate, be called deluded victims and
irrcligious fanatics We would give liberty to
all. We would deny safe passage to none.
Let each be the sole accountant between himself
and his God, and let no other tribunal of
human judgment sit on his views. We say that
ssch exhibitions of unchristian bgotry as that
which we have quoted is doing daily injury to
the cause of Christ-is giving the irreligious
r;1bft
say that the practice and the profession are at
variance. Against all such we urge the attacks
of the pulpit and the discountenance of all who
would not the cause of Christianity suffer
for the sins OF its false followers.
While the case of such rs deny salvation to
all but their exclusive set is bad one, and well
calculated to do great injury to religion, yet we
must give the palm for excessive inconsistency
TO those who belong to the second class of our
Pharisees. To those who deny their charity and
close up their sympathies to all who do not belong
ostensibly to some Christian church, we can best
illustrate the kind of Christians we mean by an
example of actual occurrence. To our know
ledge gentleman of this city called on a lead
ing churchman for the purpose of soliciting
contribution to aid poor woman who was posi-
lively in want of food. She had three small
children, was penniess, and the rent being over
due, was about to be expelled from her home.
Upon stating the facts of the case to a church.
man. he replied that he only gave to a certain
society for the alleviation of the wants
of the needy, and that therefore he could
not give to this particular case. But he
added, II will give you note to one
of the managers and if the woman can pro-
duce a certificate of membership of some
evangelical church, the society will give the
necessary food" 'What if she cannot give such
a certiicate?" inquired the gentlemen. would
not your society give, when she is positively
hungry" 'It is against the rule of the associa-
ton, " was the reply; "a certificate in every
is an absolute necessity" Our friend left that
Christian brother, went among those who made
no profession of godliness-men of the world,
who did not think it necessary to bow three
times in the Creed-told his story, and got as
much money as he needed. We were, and still
are, 10th to believe that there exists in our city
an association which will discriminate against
any one who is positively suffering Yet from
evidence so undOubted we have it, that it seems
put beyond question that even starvation will
not omen the hearts of this sect to Christian
charity. Has the New Testament become obsO-
lete and its principles been forgotten? Is there
not still in force the sublime doctrine that Pure
religion and undefled before God and the
Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and
widows in their atfiiction?'" Do we find
in it discrimination in favor of the
widows who have certificates and the chill
dren whose mothers have certificates Away
with such charity, such Christian enterprise as
this We would rather give to one needy one
what she actually wants than to ten cases which
are fed through such society. We are not
aware that thereisa mandate to give Il cup of cold
water only to the professors OF religion, nor are
we aware that the curse pronounced against
those who refuse eXempts those who deny
"A non-professor. Our modern Pharisees will
find, when they come TO claim reward for
their well-ordered charity, that upon them will
fall the denunciations of the Lord for their re-
fusal to aid any who are in need, If the ability
be theirs 1t is new doctrine that the Church
should extend its aid only to its followers We
think that it was to the Magdalen that our
| Lord gave aid, and that he fed the multitude
! without discriminating between the Jews and
! Gentiles. The sort of charity which would dis
criminate is hypocrisy and bigotry and is to-day
| degenerating the pure religion of the Lord into
an exclusive clique of bigots. Unto such Chris
tians we recommend the sublime denunciation
commencing, 'Woe into ye! scribes and Phari-
sees, hypocrites :" 1t is the most appropriate OF
any of the Bible references.
THE NATIONAL ORPHANS HOMESTEAD