Smyrna times., 1870-12-21
.MfSceII0 ~ as.
a Significant Story.

u OlSAAuGduI OGO1Js
The secular press, We are told every day, has
NO business with tho discussion Of theological
subjects, which is tue enough. Apostolic
Succession or immersion versus spTinkiMg are
not matters TO mix proGtably with protective
tariff or the fishery question. But the great
truths Of Christianity, left for the ennobling
aud strengthing OF humanity, are the inhcri-
tanee OF Us all-Of the poorest politician as of
priest aud prelate. Doctrines OF Wesley, Cal
vim, OF Rome belong 10 their Disciples; but Il g |
germ of fChrlstanty--the pure morality, the |
spirit OF liberty, Ui infinite charity aud broth |
erhood, the leaven which is to lit the world to
higher social eVelS-->hnuld be defended by |
the secular press as we'll as Sectaran te eIcher>.
Paul plants and Apnllos waters. but the seed
came from God. Any error OF ductrinal teach
ers, by which Christianity is III 4de tn appear
less ChrletIan, It belungs to every man t0 ex
pose. We are led to say this by the end of a
ptiful story of Christian minister, whose
name lat ly was made bywnrd III every mans
mouth through the length aud breadth Of the
country. Our own old-tashi0ned idea of the
| Christian Church was that it rrsembled an
| hospital under the care OF the Great Physician
into which those who knew themselves to be
sick or suffering Game to be cured. Its minis
ters were sssurcdly not immaculate saints. but
men who, like their founder, were in every
point tempted ourselves, aud by the >tremg Ia
OF their own temptation, and knowledge OF the
help gwen them to resist IL, were the better
able to guide and strengthen Others.
A few months ago the pastor OF church in
this city, being man like other man, fcii into
temptation; or to speak after the ordinary
fashion, although married man and he iathr
) OF ian!iy, he conceived sudden mad pas
sion for young girl, one of his pari>hi0ners
and allowed his inta tustion to get the better
of him 50 Tar as to run away with her to PhiIa-
. delphla. vi his sin we have not a word to say
- IN extenuatiOn. 1t Was a grievOus Iault, aud
gricvOunly he answered it. Having reached
Phlladelphia, the mans conscience began I,
work with him; he appears to have been Of a
!, !, weak, lnpulslve temperament, with fttl.
!. judgement aud strong sAOtiOns. OnOne hant
Was his passlsn yet ungratl6ed the conscious
ness that by bis rash act he had destroyed hi
BONE, lost his hOno>t name and position forev
IS err The press had already opened Oh him it
tull cry. There happened to be no other sen
=, satiOn at the tine. The story of ri. crime an,
y. the girls dishonOr was bl.zonrd in every pa
Of per in New York. If he went back, as hi
III own sense OF right aud religious feelinj
prompted him to 10, it was to face the oppru
a. brlum Of the whole city, thu repro aches OF ht
wife. and most probably the revenge Of tn
I gir s family. On the other hand, the wnnr
IN whom he loved waited for him at the hate
tie had already incurred ruin tor her sake
iy there was no hduc'meut TO make him return
N but hard, inc xorabc duty.
OF We venture to say that under like circuul
:. stances few OF u, being men as impre>siOnab
O' aud lll-balanced as this one, but would hav
gone on the downward path. This man cam
= tack; gave the girl To her parents as pure
when she left them aud then, half mad wit
=, the struggle through which he had gone, VA
" the world and the church with n cOntesSlU
-. which, TO say the least, was manly and SINGER
80 The world OF course, as represented Ly Il
ci. pe>s dropped him unroncernedly He W,
IIy oi no value, as more items could he extraC
aid ed from him. What did the chu.ch DE-
10 Here, we think, is the test OF their compr
. hensiOn OF Christianity. and we desire to c;
attention to it and to its results. This IN,
ZIP had, it is true, brought obloquy upon his pr
vii fesslon and upon them: to use their own Ia
ios guage, there had been dire conflict in hi
between the flesh aud the spirit, and the fai
goodness and truth and right in him had co
quered. He had turned back from the We
edge Of the pit. Such a man if wecom
back, would surely have fought Satan all q
- better, because, like Christian OF old, he h
Il struggled with him face to face until his |
had we'll nigh slipped. But in spite of his &C
teSs0n aud repentance, he was thrust out trC
ore the Christian fold, with bitterness and vel
mencs which savorcd Of no little worldly ',
.ter gesnce ThencslOrwsrd the man went dOV
ark The end Of the story is briefly told: II
III, Rev Horace Cook was yesterday sent
lssM@ BlackwelI's Island tor six mouths on cha
of drunken
glass There is a story of another of Christ's m
nand listers who denied Him; who in the hour
seLs; his pitterest need cursed and swsre, s&yiu
Co., h"o" 1o1 n 'ne "'aI. n'S Ieproo' was
I'd as ~ LtL l. - T, L:iI' ~
in az dultery, III the very act, and Of His wO
= to her-words Rat Of rebuke, but healing
!. ra forgiveness: Neither do condemn tn
90 and sin no more" Would that all
..o ministers could read the words which He ito
,.sS ed and wrote upon the ground that they co
lions. Dettsr interpret 'ne realty ~ ChrlSutn Gu