Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-09-08
THE DUTY OE THE WORLD TO
THE CHURCH.

-
THE CHURCH.
Every person. without regard to his
condition, occupation, or creed, is bene-
flied by whatever tends to elevate the
intellectual or moral standing Of the So
ciety in which he resides; and whenev-
err he refuses to do what he is able for
the religious, the educational, or the
business interests of his community, he
disregards his duty, steals his prosperi-
ty and his happiness from condition of
the worlds affairs, which he has in no
way helped to produce, and only blesses
the world, when he dies to make room
for better man. There is doubtless,
not another people on the face of the
earth that enjoys so many of the privi-
leges and blessings that go to make up
the joys of life, as do the people of our
own country and if we ask what has
produced these things. the answer must
be: an excellent government, the gener-
al diffusion of useful knowledge, and
the influence of the Christian religion.
That the three great blessings of good
government, education and religion may
be maintained and perpetuated, it is nee
essary to keep alive the love of liberty,
take advantage of the educational priv
ileges afforded us, and to labor hard for
the interests of our churches. The sac
ri6ces and the efforts, that were made
by this part of the nation during the
late sanguinary struggle, to maintain its
integrity, showed that there was no lack
of patriotism in the sons of our brave
ancestry and the excellent provision
made by law for the support of schools,
together with the muni6cence of the
people, will amply provide for all our
educational wants; but the church is
not supported by law, nor unfortunately
does the world realize and acknowledge
that the influences of the church do
more for our welfare, than all other In
fuences combined. Such, however, is
the case and when in6delity is suffered
to take the place of Christianity in any
nation or community, that nation or
community will rapidly drift back TO-
wards ignorance and depravity. What
ever is exalted or admirable in our con-
stitution and laws, is founded on the
great code of laws by which the univer-
sal church is governed and whatever
or whoever we may worship and obey,
the fact is patent that we shall be gov
erned by the great Head of the church.
Hence it becomes us, whether we are
members of any particular branch of the
vhurvh-vr urvvf tf1tU portion OF society
commonly denominated 1.-The world" to
labor for the promotion of all church in
teres is. But Notwithstanding the truth
of the above assertion, it is easy to
find in any community, persons who not
only deny their obligations to their Max
er, but to society, and utterly refuse to
do anything for the support of the
preaching of the gospel, the building Of
houses of worship. or the PRONUNCIATION of
the light Of religion. 1t is fortunate for
them, as for many, that the rains fall
upon the 'just and the unjust. . for were
the just only blessed. this world would
be more desolate and barren than Saba
ia. And was the great Giver as unwil-
ling to grant blessings, as are his un
worthy subjects to do their duty, who
would be left alive to-day to dig our
graves? If there is any security Of life
or property in the land, it is because the
minds Of its inhabitants have been SUBJ
jected to moral influences; if the con-
dition of this people is any better than
that of Dahomey or of Abyssinia, it is be-
cause the light of religion has shone
upon it; and who shall find pity for the
sordid and wicked soul that is unwill-
ing to do aught for the Christian instl-
buttons of his home? We may do moth
ing for the church from principle, or
from pecuniary motives. believing that a
good state of society favors us in our
business, and still be under obligations
to the society in which we live, to help
maintain everything that promotes good
for there are some at least, that will fol
low our example, or be injured by oul
wrong doing, and if our example con-
teammates society, we shall be accounta.
BILE to God if not amenable to the law
The millennium may not come in oul
day,'and all be found in the pale of tn,
church, but in this enlightened age anc
at this time, when there is SO great neec
Of reform. we hope there is no person s.
devoid Of good principles that he vii
not be willing to do something for tn,
benefit of the church, and the differen
institutions that are founded for tn
good of tho world.
The question as to whether railroa
Is OBLIGED IN furnich caato Gov oil ~