The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-10-19
sianificance of Steeples.

nrettr fair evidence of zeal in a
eanse. especially in a mercantile
community. According to this
tsst we Americans are a religious
naonIe. We subscribe literally
= the erection and support of
churches, the maintenance OF min
;stors, the spread of the gospel
among the heather; in proof of
rhieh behold the numerous stee-
nles that rise from every city,
town and village in the land, and |
read, or, if you have not the pa
t;ence, listen to the reports of our
BibIe and missionary societies.
II is a subject of establishment to
foreigners visiting this country,
and accustomed to see religion i'm
their own supported by the State,
m witness the readiness with
which Americans usually respond
70 calls upon them made in the
name OF religion. "Surely," eA-
claimed they, before they lived
here long enough to know better,
athis is a people whose God is the
Lord. Religion is the national
nassion. Behold many steepies,
nointing heavenward, the church
Is beneath supported by the volun-
tary contributions of the devout!
Here we have something like a
return to the zeal of primative
Christianity. Among these breth-
reu love must certainly he the rule
ofintercourse, making justice a
suTerhuous virtue. Small need
in SO religious a community of
prisons and police. Some build
ings Of the sort there are douuSess
for the uncoverted, but surely
their numbers must be insignifi-
cant for Christianity acted out as
it doubtless is by the worshipers
in all these voluntarily establish
ed churches cannot fail to exert a
regenerating force through every
atom of society,"" Guileless, I'M
sophisticated traveller Follow
these worshipers to their homes
h,-day; to their places of business
no. morrow morning; to their places
~Of a musement tomorrow evening;
,evide noes of practical Christianity
will sou then see! Love, forberance,
truth and Interest in each others
spiritual welfare, a self forgetful
devotiap to each others happiness
nm the family CIRCLE, strict homes
,ty, influencing uprightness, un
selfish public spirit Oh Grange and
in poiitiess In socieey, neighbor
ly offices the vicinsge, charitable
ones toward ihe needy teaching
the ignocart, gently repro1ng
the errins, consideration for in
feriors; among equals lofty social
'communien CT pnre Inirth in
which angels might join; toward
all diffusion of beReEslence as all
pervading as itbe -stmosphere!-
Are these some 0f+tbe evidences
ofChrisuanity (the esaly ones OF
much yatae) are undeHdste<lly to be
seen in nany a homeln cur minds;
i'm some -neighberheeds ihow fewi)
perhaps, even ia SEINE shops,
cbuiting,houses aud public Offices,
though this is doxbt+al; but the
man whe%ould expect to see them
difised as We have Indicated
above, would be regarded as a
focl or a f4natic; the minister who
should ain to produce such re.
suits in his congregation woald be
stigmatisesars a hypocrite, cenSur.
de as a tneddler,and probably
adriftas afailure:yett hereare those
stubborn Steeples bristling with
slgni6cane-of what: LIS il not vfa
merely representative religion, d
pew-holding Christianity, liberal
with money, bRt misery wish love
-worshiping the distant Diety to
whose far off home in the heavens
those tapering steepleS point;
ignoring the everpresent Father
who says to them, "My son, give
me thy heart!" But then it is So
much easier to give ones money,
and If ones wife and children are
provided with a pew in church and
occupy it ION fine Sundays, and
one accepts the teachings of the
Church aud avoids scOffing and
profanity, what more can be ex
pected-of a business man! Thus
says and acts many pew holder
and thus it appears that most o
those towering steeples, rising
nom amid our homes and auction
narts and attracting our eye,
every time We go out of doors, dc
not actually represent religion it
self, but only a recognition of tn,
existence, value and necessity o
4 eigion-or, more properly, be
II llnf IN thu N az ..,.x, - ksl.r,rn xra-