, 1873-06-22


tending the work Of the Church in Chicago, than
tne sunday gatherings evince within the walls
OF what has been considered by the Church las
one OF the devils Btrongholds. could not kecp
out the reflection, that. just where stood tho
holy man, with the sacred writings open before
him, from which he was readine both Of tho
love and the mercy Of God there was e1hib-
tied al the pomp aud circumstance Of tho drama
some twelve hours before-a contrast in
vi Mh,cn tug anmtaSonism could scarcely
oe more OBVIOUS. The movement is, certainly,
an adro1t one, and speaks in high commendation
OF the theological generalship Of those who con-
ce1Ted that method OF assaulting the works of
tho devil. 1t "a like planting ones cannon in
tbo citadel Of the enemy; and, woro it not known
tnht the preacher who weekly addresses tho vast
audiences who gather there docs not utterly re-
pudlate the drama, the question might arieo, in
the mind Of the lessor, whether ho Was not being
undermined in his vocation. I trust, however,
the Sunday services will be kept up. even after
the transfer Of the present popular preacher to
his own church edifce To survey the attendants
who fill those seats Sunday after Sunday, no
friend OF the Church can doubt the good
work being dono in bringing so many hard cascs
from OF the DEVILS commons into the pure
atmosphere Of religion. Hundreds so there who
only be got inside an orthodox church by the aid
OF file Of soldiers. A great mauy undoubtedly,
go there because it don't cost anything, unless
they choose to drop dino into the basket as it
COMES TOuDQ. Out IL tuaL u1AS1IiY CTONQ Gat
next to me last Sunday, and did not even drop
nickel into the basket for the OF one of those
elegant chairs, saying nothing about the able dis
course, though worth his half million. But, take
the congregation as q whole, it may justly be
ranked high on the score Of intelligence, If
not in piety; and, as to tho latter, Who
will say there is not as much in any other con-
gregation in Chicago? Ispeak Of the great body
OF attendants, mai jor part Of whom come from
other churches or from the world,-who have
+r>,tx. x.n1
pohtan aggregation OF seekers after truth. of
which the church body, over which Prof. Swing
presldcs with so much ability, ia the nucleus.
It does not require, much scanning to discover
members OF the First, Second and Third rrosby-
terian Churches, occupying seats at McVckcr's,
and eagerly listening to teachings which their
own shepherds, to be consistent, must brand as
hcterodo1, or, it not quito over tho border 60
near IS to require IN equal precision OF the man
IN Hudebrass,:-" who could distinguish and
divide
a hair 'twi1t south and southwest siden
to note the difference. What draws such away
from their own pews to swell the concourso OF
all religions and reugions7 Arc not their
spiritual guides able men. and veraod in all tho
wisdom Of the Fathe1s from Origen to Calvin
Zion' They arc signally eo,-then why should
the sheep stray away from their folds Is it
from vearinoss at the repetition Of old dogmaa
and incomprehensible discussions amidst tho
Eazes OF metaphysical subtleties ]? Are they be-
coming restive undcr the doctrine Of degrada-
tion, which sinks the race to the Lowell OF tonds
and finds no good in :it7 It is quite
natural to presume that, amidst the agitation
Of the great problem Of maus destiny, new
methods Of discussion should attract toward
them the thinking men and women Of the world,
and also from organizations long tod down to
old forms and dogmas and bound up in the rigid
e1actlons Of creeds.
s'Nhosocyer will, lot him take OF the water Of
life freely" Who did not come away from the
service last SUNDAY, after listening to Prof.
mented love and reverence for God, and q loftior
estimate Of humanity Tho Christian must
have felt relief from the pressure Of old time
emotions, in learning it were possible to ignore
man of the world WAS made to see how much
easier it is to be Christian than his early teach
i1gs had led him to believe possible. Liberal.
THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
column on the "New Chicago' The editor ro-
CARDS Ill great facts as representative. They
ire not incidents merely, but typical results
pointing us to causes and tendencies out Of
which they grow as surely as the leaf grows
upon the tree. Chicago rebuilt is just as much
representative fact as WAS Chicago when, in
he time OF its calamity, comforted and relieved.
It would be allowing to itR citizens far more Of
:redit than they deserve to attribute to thcm
!lone what the visitor no" looks upon.
~ 40 P0l1A5 ooo ~ sAo "olot1-
III manner In which human inter-
,sts have been made identical by
mixing together Of even very distant cofnmuni-
les III those eaes Of trade and intercourse which
low make the misfortune or the prosperity OF
me the misfortune or the prosperity Of all. It
partly due. also, to the fact that, SO banded il
common interest arc our great cities, when |
me ls destroyed the others lind It IN economy
0 combine for its rebuilding, each one in tho
OF cities being essential to all the
$7 f1,n .f ft,ar
est, anu necessary ~ tle ps1loct!oA u 1ne BYE
ON OF interchange OF which cacn ls part. It, I
herefora, does not become the people OF Chi
ago to eay or seem to say:
11.,,t ~, -a,+ R,hv,or vbicb .,* ,.xo hr,aa ~,
7o;r 49,. n IS. reatorei condi,on st,nds to-+b
t;tin1 an1a ~ ~ t1,,t vondarsnl prar;daca 1ih
~ .zronrht N iii human t,inoa for ths ionr rvhi1a
Ehich h.s tn s,1cb ~ sstnn;sjno da5-aa ~
~ ,or1d fnrT.rd IN nj t;,e a1ementa ~ T1ogaa. r.
istn, 1urro thosa ,act ~, ro.ra i. taat;nnon .d
prophecy. It testincs what Divine Providence ia
Ding to advance the human condition, and make pos
ole and natural things which once could have be-
,nee9 70 Inc Eealm o, 'no a 1
oh1est e,nsea 6owers facilities. resources shah re-
oneecrated uron altars supromeiy worthy Of them,
nd men will understand md will remember why it IS
1ut God is go good
Within the last few years number OF proni-
ent divines ha7o boon called to this country