National Republican., 1873-11-25
LEcrURK or DooroR $. h mrroaEL,.

What s., Rather Than what no.
Last evening, at @ O'Clock, large sud intolll-
eent audisncs assenbled at IAncoln hall, In re-
spouse V the rubilshed invitation Of the Y. N.
@. A., 70 hear the lecture OF Rev. 3. &. Mitchell
Of the New York avenue Presbyterian church,
on the subject named above.
hfter the usual devotional exercises, the
speaker Wa introduced, aud said that his sub.
iect might be expressed ss the Relation Of Reli-
gion 10 Churches
The many voices Of the worid-the morailst
and skepuc-say there IL no such relation, The
world Ia talking hard OF Christians. and II Ia not
well TO bury eyes aud ears In religion; but with
,nese sss vide @ open 70 bring out our men In the
World, in .peeplns through the fencing Of the
Church, should sec In there better men than can
be found outside. Otherwise the Church Is Of
orchards y we could gather fruit In the woods Z
Let US look st some OF the Phenomena which
make the world think thus The nrst is High
| instead Of means and its ritual ceremonies
placed above Christian character. What is the
picture such Church presents 10 the world
tSe priest 4, one end tSe p,ms ass DONNA !, W ,se
Other, and the people In the pit between. This
Ia religion In its spectacular aspect altogether.
| hnotner phcnomenon inducing TITS opinion ol
| the world In the ''stationeries OF character" In
professors Of rellRion-the samcness the char.
| acter OF professors remaining the same a. when
tney made tne proiesson no culture OF improve
| ment. We profess TO grow better men than tho
world; II should not be all profession. Improve
ment IN character Is what the world looks for u
Another phenomenon which has ,et, 10 mi. he
lief is the large number Of protesting Christian.
| who are lacking In moral character. How man,
defaulting clerks and otlicers have our churche,
| and associations Enthusiastically more thar
their shaIe-men Of tainted reputation; not
SPOILED altogether. but like the potatoes,
tisns, and many Christians In Il have fallen Into
grievons sins. The Church 10 made the resort
| for villains who have taken the bread out Of tho
Widows mouth and then closed the door In her
face.
mon cBuRcHIsN
turns religion into pantominie; lack OF improve.
ment distraces II, and the large number Of I'm
moral msmbers Of the Church make II tho tam,
OF the world. 1s there then no relation bctweet
religion begins in I csanae Of % cnsrsctcr. by In m
birth OF new life" 10 the heart,
A man commences 70 be Christian when h
.,c, Sss!ss TO s.s ss sood man We Ssll soTe,hin
turning towards ChnA; then in its very .cel
STATE, In Its origin and germ religion Is char
An Its growth Is character; growing up int,
Christ our living head In ali things" adding Il
Temperance, virtue, ro,herly Kindness, love an,
charity, RellEton begins, grows and ccnsum
i
character, and We are commanded 70 be perfect
a. Christ our father Ia perfect. A good life
the beginning Of character; q better character 1
the continuance Of religion, and perfect char
acter b It's consummation. This is the true idea
OF religion, and the relation Of character TO Il
IS intimate Of that OF the sun and light.
Character Is the Joy and rewsri OF religion
The chief power 10 religion Is character, an
| character II It's greatest power for good. tn
sweet scent Of the rose coinpels us to notice an
admire It.
II inauimste being has such power to rcac
compact personality" influence "! We re
member personality and personal influence. W
help Others more BY what We are than by wha
we do. This power Of being Is constant, tn
power OF action Il Intermittent. By standln
amid storm We enable others 70 stand. Their
over which our personal influence goes when
know nothing OF II. the modesty Of this goo
being Ia In part Its power. Our manners ofte
offend Others in their very assumption. tn
manner Of these
SPIRITUAL BROKERS,
who 20 for the poor, miserable sinner, is mos
| repulslve. The possibility OF dslng good b.
being good-of preaching Christ by ilvin
| Christ-s what We want TO learn. No napkIi
can hide the beauty OF q Christian being.
well might the lighthouse fear that it will no
be seen in the black, dark night when the yer
blackncss makes It's discovery the more sure
| SO surely will you guide some erring one n 70
burning.
The aIst and greatest obligation Of the Chris
tan worker Ia character. No amount OF talkin
or doing will substitute It.
BE GOOD IN ORDER TO DO GOOD.
Many have fallen from the heights Of Christia
activity into the Jaws Of helL