The New York herald., 1871-02-06
Country Versus City Christianity.

Country Versus City Christianisy.
There is a very common belief among Chris.
tians as well as moralists that the country is
the only place where true religion can be best
maintained and nurtured. The vices and
crimes of great city are supposed to bs in
surmountable obstacles to the progress Of
truth, and we presume that this style of belief
very largely influences Protestant congrega-
tions in their removal from the lower to the
upper wards of this city-from where they
conceive the grossest immortality exists to
where the highest types of Christian morality
may be found. A short time ago some such
sentiment was expressed by reverend
rector of new Protestant Episcopal church
which he was dedcating, as an excuse
for getting away from the Eighth
ward. 1t was pleasing, therefore, last even
ing to hear another eminent divine of the Same
denomination, while advocating the cause Of q
benevolent institution, speak 40 grandIy as he
did in favor of city Christianity. The battles
OF truth, the discoveries of science, the manly
courage, the promptness of action, the gener-
ous charity and the deep sympathy of the
human heart and soul are drawn out in cities
as they cannot be anywhere else. Here, on
every side of US, we find objects which take
hold of our inmost nature. Poverty, sick
ness, suffering, stare us in the face at every
step. Temptation to vice and crime meets US
on many corner, and, as every athlete we'll
knows, 1t is by constant graphing with one
difficulty after another that physical obstacles
are overcome. So must it be, and so it is
in spiritual life. Hence the manifest type Of
Christianity is found in Cities In the country
it meets little or no opposition from any quar-
ter; there is nothing to call out the noblest
or highest attributes of the soul compared with
cities, and hence when the Saviour com.
missioned His disciples to go and preach the
Gospel to every creature He expressly en-
joined that they should begin at Jerusalem.
Christ knew, as every Christian who has re-
sided in large city knows, that man who
can successfully resist the temptations which
exist among us here derives moral courage
and strength that will carry him safely through
this life, no matter where he may be called to
go. While, therefore, advocating the superior
claims of the country for children, DR.. Potter
was right in asserting that Everywhere cities
are conspicuous for robust manhood" The
busy life of the city demands it and furnishes
it; and, since the Reformation, mankind has
been gathered more largely into cities than
ever before, as if to prepare the world for still
greater exhibitions Of Christian manliness
In sympathy, too, to some extent with
Dr. Potter's idea of city religion, were the
remarks of Rev. Dr.. Hepworth, who declared
that fright action is more needed than right
believing" After all it is the life, the char
acter of man, that makes its impress upon
the community, and that impression is cor
respondingly good or bad as the character
may be good or bad. This great metropolis
is too frequently held up as a second Sodom
and deserving the fate of that city; but for
every evil among us there is correspond
ing good, and however much we may desire
ease and pleasure in the country here is
where we can cultivate true Christian manli-
ness, because here the temptations exist to
which we must say yes or no, and the oppor-
tunities for right action are here given to us
as they occur nowhere else.
The Alabama Clnims-A Chance for Settling
Them.
From Information in our possession we
have reason to think that plan has been
arrived at for settling the Alabama claims
which may leave Minister Schenck very little
to do upon that matter, except as far as
regards such official action as his position of
American Minister to the Court of England
may demand. II has been evident for some
time past that England was quite willing, and,
indeed, anxious, to settle up the Alabama
claims upon reasonable and feasible terms.
England was, perhaps, never in a political
situation SO delicate as to render desirable
the smoothcning down Of all angularties with
foreign nations, and, above all, of securing so
powerful nation as the United States ter its
friendly ally.
Notwithstanding the captulation of Paris
and the existing armistice, the olive branch of
peace in Europe may be delusion. Indsed,
it is premature even to regard the war be-
tween France and Germany as concluded
The end is not while foolish Gambet a holds
power and half million of armed French
men are lowering about the North and South
Of France in armies still preserving form and
organization 1t only can be finished up by
the wholesale destruction Of these armies by
the overwhelming force which the Gelmrn
Emperor has at his command. Should the
action of the National Assembly result in
declaration against peace upon Bismarck's
hard terms it will be war to the knife, ending
most probably in terrible chastisement for
poor France.
Then there are little clouds of trouble float
ing in the atmosphere Of Europe that may
gather into q storm cloud of war upon any Of