Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-08-28


1he art of printing, which at its
discovery shook the foundation of the
citadel of ignorance and superstition.
has been increasing in power. until
now it opens up to the imtelle ctual,
field of beauty, of grandeur and of
glory.
Astronomical Developments havelong
since qGieted the nerves of those who
feared our earth might be jostled by
falling star, or consumed by a blazing
comet; while to day, as never before,
The Heavens declare the glory Of
God, and the Firmanent showeth his
handiw0rk''
The art of teaching has undergone
a thorough revolution. No longer is
the rod of the pedagogue the existing
power in the halls of learning, but
the patient teacher gently leads the
pupil up the hills Of science. Our
common school buildings dot the sur
face Of our whole country. The doors
of our Collegiate Institutions are now
open for all And our manuel labor
system invites the poorest to work
his way up to the fountain of knowl
edge.
In view of all this, we should hush
our murmurings; and no longer say
in point of social comforts-'thef for
mer times were better than these
II. Former times were not better
than these for the requirement and
enjoyment of the moral and religious
comforts of life.
We will net pause 10 compare our
condition with that of the world be
fore the introduction of the gospel
We will not stop to point you TO the
burial places of the gladiatorical com
bats of ancient Rome; or to those of
the ca libalisms of the South Sea is
landers; or to those of the gross Pa
ganism which, whenever it has come
in contact with the Gospel, has been
overthrown and destroyed. But the
question for discussion is, elias the
Church, which Jesus planted with his
hands, and watered with his blood,
lost its aggressive power"
In an impartial consideration Of
this question we will find ''the former
times better than these only in the
Imagination of those who dishonor
God by a disparaement of his Church,
and ''cursing those whom Go has not
cursed" There are evils in existence.
will not deny that there are evils in
the Church which should not he toler-
ated. But we are here to compare the
present with former times; AMI to in
quire whether the moral and religious
conditions Of the Fathers were better
than ours in the present day.
We are too apt to look upon the
biographies Of good and great men as
proof of the purity of the age in
which they lived. But these men are
not brought before US as representa-
tives of the times, but because, in
point of religious purity, they were
superior to those around them
The present will compare favorably
with any former times. Let us look
at the world since the reformation Of
the 10Th century Without dwelling
on the dark days of Luther, if we look
at the times of Wesley, we will find
that practices were indulged in that
would be frowned down in the pres
ent day. Drunkenness, horse racing,
fox-hunting, and card playing, were
not confined to the professional sports
men Of the day, but mem bers of the
Christian Church-ministers of the
gospel-devoted far more time to
these wicked and degrading sports,
than to the duties Of the Holy office.
Denominational jealousy manifested
itself in violence; and ruthless mobs
were urged on by men in ministerial
| robes. Look at the scarcity of relig
ious literature; the cost of a Bible :
the ab sence ofthe religious newspaper,
and the appliances of the present day
Now, the tendency of the churches
is to drop their weapons Of warfare,
and unite their forces for the further
ance of the gospel.
The press sends out light and truth
tie religious newspaper-every week
-proclaims the triumphs of the cross
the Bible Society has pulled down the
price Of Bible from a little fortune,
and places the lamp of life in every
cottage of the land the Tract Society
sends its silent messengers on their
mission of love; the Missionary So
ciety pours its treasures into the cOf
| fers of the church the self sacrificing
missionary calls the heather from
darkness to the spreading light of the
sun of righteousness the Sunday
School trains our children for the
army of Jesus. Look at our Aims
Houses, our institutions for the deaf.
dumb and kliud. Look at our Luna
tic Asylums, the Sanitary and Chris
tian commissions of the late war; the
emancipation of 100000 Of human
beings. l claim all these as trophies
of the cross All these are the fruits
of the gospel, and show that tht
church, as never in it's former history
is alive to the work Of spreading thC
Redeemer's Kingdom.
But, as Methodists, we are con
cerned to know whether our owl
church is retreating or advancing
There are croakers among us whose
religious business consists in discour
aging Gods people. Too many say
Methodism is deteriorating. The glor,
has departed. Extravaganza is ruin
ing us. Our churches are too costly
Too many calls for money. Thes
cries startle the timid, and they ar,
ready to mourn the declension of TIL
church. But, looking at our condi
ton in the past, our surroundings a
the present, and the prospect tha
looms upin the future, l will still say
rejoicingly, "Happy is the people tha
is in such case"
l will not excuse the faults of tn
mo dern church. Too much may, i
some cases, be expended by the ric
in expensive edifces Some Of Ou
Sunday Schools have left our ow
press and gone to irresponsible put
fishers and introduced light and chaff