New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-12

affect the condition Of the dead. This 10
not my high, prerogative, but if my humble
PRAYERS, exhOrtatiOns and warnings VIII
comfort the isorrowing and bring the living
to Christ, they are, with all my heart, at
your service"
Through small things God sometimes de-
monstrates grand truths to the world, and
whether George Holland accomplished any
good while living or not, let us hope that in
his death he shall demonstrate the frail
tenure Of human symbols over the public
mind, and awake the religious world to
consciousness of the fact that the day OF
ecclesiastical despotism is passed, and that
a storm is gathering, before which these
systems will 20 down in utter ruin, unless
Invested of the dead and false issues OF the
Dast, and conforlned to the more rational
and scriptural Christology Of the New Test
ament
Again, Christology declares that the Cos
pei is prominently for the poor. But IN
our great cities what provision Is made Tor
the poor! Do we build our churches for
their accommodation Can the humble
woman in her plain gown and well-wOrn
sun bonnet feel ut home in these worldly
monuments of human pride and genius
No: churches are not built now for the
poor. nor do people attire themselves when
attending church with the view Of mingling
with the poor. Preachers do not look after
by preaching their funerals when dead.
Suppose George Holland by accident, or
from the public crib, or else, like the phari-
sees of old, "by robbing widows and Or
phans Of their homes" had died rich, think
you his body might not have found repOse
for an hour in the big church on the avenue,
and even the priestly Sabine have shed
some tears OF sympathy, while the tones of
the great organ sounded forth the requiem
Of the dead, and the rustling silks and
satins lent to the solemn occasion music
sweeter far, to many, than the songs OF an
gelic choral bands I! What matters it now
whether his life was godly, or whether his
was rich and must be buried even though he
lift up his eyes'-like one of old-.'in
hell"
No wonder the great masses-as they
contemplate this wantOn indifference to the
poor-are ready to cry out with Joe Jef.er-
son: "All honor to the little church around
the corner" Here in this little church is
something in sympathy with the wants and
needs Of the great masses Of suffering, hum
BILE poor.
Again, while the church Justly denounces
the fO.lies Of the hour and the sins OF the
day, the question is not what we shall do
with the bodies Of sinners when dead. but
what shall we do for their souls while iv
ing. This is the emily question in which We
VI tucN dlc III tuc ACdSI ulcTcSJcu. IL CcT-
tain vacations are sinful, what are We doing
to reclaim those who follow them! What
| can we sap of the immense number of fallen
| women that thrOng our city, to say nothing
of other sinners! Here and there, indeed,
a spasmOdic effort is made to save them by
few noble spirits, but the great mass OF re-
ligious society turn away from them with
! utter lOathing. Not one tear have these
! piOus souls to shed over such. Those who
have ruined and blighted their hopes for
ever. may go ''unwhipt of justice" the pet
| ted and caressed ornaments even Of reli-
gious society, While the light Of day is shut
out from these forever. The church, if she
| would command the respect of the world,
must abandon such inconsistent and un-
hallowed paths. catch the spirit of the
Savior. and while rebuking sin in all it's
FORMS yet win by kindness and Low the
most hayward TO Christ.
l have but "a word to say in refer
| ence to the unjust attacks upon the
church growing out of this incident.
Many as are our faults, what would
become of the world without us France,
the patron of theatres, has made the ex-
pertinent; and who would have the scenes
of the French revolution of 80 re-
enacted in that or any other country! BY
the purest and best III all nations. from the
days of the Roman republic till now, the
theatre has been regarded as pernicious and
baneful in its effect upon the public morals.
The history OF nations demonstrates the
truth OF this conclusion. We have only to
look at modern France, and some cities in
our own country, to know that AS the peo-
pie cease to attend church and frequent the
theatre public morals become lax and social
ties are disregarded.
But does the fact that the lite Of the actor
is alleged to be in antagOnism with Chris
tianity forbid efforts to reclaim him while
I, fr.n dc hon
dead! Not if the spirit of the Master is
upon us. With the Savior. while we con-
denim the conduct of publicans and sinners,
We will mingle with them, yea eat at the
same table with them, if possible. by love
and kindness to win them to Christ. They
indeed are sick and need physician.
We conclude, then. that the true philosophy
| of the present excitement is to be found in the
fact that the world is wearied and disguised
with obsolete symbols and Inconsistencies
| of religious systems. Men must have some
| thing better, or they will have nothing.
| But is there no salvation for the church
and the world! Most assuredly there is.
| Let the church, and if not the church as
such. every individual minister, arise in the
strength Of his God-given liberty. declare
| allegiance to Christ alone, and refuse 70
bow one hour longer before the false stand
ards OF earth. Let them emulate the ex-
| ample of Christ, and go forth into the
world without respect of persons, labor
for the high and the low, the rich and the
! poor alike. Let the world know that riches
give no man the prc-eminence in the king
dom of God; that the widow who con-
! tributes her mite is entitled to as many
! rights and privileges in the church as the
rich man who contributes his thousands.
| That the Church of God does not belong to
the rich, but to the humble. whether rich
or poor in this worlds goods, and that the
Gospel is to the sinner, however great his
sins. Let the church TO all this in earnest,
and the day of her triumph is at hand.
| Let her refuse to do his and IchabOd is
written on her WALL. and the day of her
| doom is at the door