The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-04-26
The Conflict OF tho Day.

The Conflict OF the Day.
The Christian forces OF the world TO-
day are struggling, like Esau and Jacob,
in the womb-qnarreling as to whether
or not the worlds religious growth is to
stand in its outward relations and regu-
lations and doctrinal lines, or not. That
ls the struggle of the churches to-day.
You may look through Ohristendom and
you will find that there is everywhere
high and low party-a party of liberty
and party of authority though
neither party altogether realize what
they are doing or know what they mean.
The strugels to-day is not between two
parties-one that represents selfshness,
and arrogance, and pride, and self-seek-
ing; and the other that represents love
as the central element. and demands
that everything else shall be under it's
control; though that is the battle which
must be fought out before the Lord
shall reign in the hearts of men. But
the conflict of the time indicates the
rebellion of thinking religious men
against the bonds with which eccle-
siasticism seeks to hold them bound.
Look at the struggle in tue Roman
Church abroad. What mean all these
6tful outbursts in tho direction of
liberty under the lead of Pere Hya-
ointhe and his German colleagues, in
which men attempt to break away from
the restraints. OF an external system
which surrounds them? The quarrel is
between the liberty of mans under.
standing and authority in externaIities
and in faiths.
Look at the condition OF the Church
of England. It is broken up into some
four secte. If you were only to cut one
or two of it's hoops, four churches
would spring out of the Church of Eng
land to-day. There used to be time
when the Presbyterians and Congrcga-
tionalists had their little pet quarrels on
hand. and when the Episcopal Church
used to open its great slumberous doors,
and say, 30, brethren, come into this
harbor OF peace and rest" The time
was when they had good rest. They
slept soundly. But they do not extend
that invitation to those Of other denomi-
nations any longer. It is too sarcastic.
1t would be absurd to throw open the
great cathedral doors of England, and
say to anybody, "Come in here. 70 as to
get out Of dispute and debate" Why,
there are four fighting armies on the
field spiritual there to-day.
Gorand look ut the condition Of
things in France and Germany, and see
what the struggles of Christianity are.
See how largely they are external SEQ
how much is being written which re.
lates merely to it's outward features. See
how all the schools are studying back
along through books and libracies to
establish the usages of the past. See
how everybody is working to nscertain
what are the relations of papaoy; what is
the right of bishops; what is the condi-
ton of the ministry; what is the status
OF the priesthood; what is the pature of
the organization of the church; what is
Liberty in church; what is servility in
o church; how far the observance of
ordinances should be carried; what is
the right or what is the wrong on this,
that or the other subject
The whole Christian world to-day is
embattled on these externalities; and
the power of the church is not now, any
more than it has been at any other time,
concentrated in this: Man must be like
God in loving.
Now, there will never be conversion
Of this world until there is an enthusiasm
OF love; until men at last understand
that the kingdom Of God comes without
observation; until it is recognized that
Christianity may make use of anything
which will promote its objects, but that
it does not stand in external forms, in
governments, in orders, in ordinances,
IN priesthood, in the ministrations of
the sanctuary, nor in scholastic appli-
snces OF any kind; until men believe
that the kingdom of God is within
them, and that it is made up of tho
fruits of the Spirit-love, peace, JOY,
humility and goodwill toward men.
II you throw this out. you throw every
thing ont. You may erect your cathe.
drals till they kiss the heavens with
gold, you may build your affairs till they
glow like the rainbow. you may drape
yonr priests. and let them walk in solemn
PROFESSIONS, you may have your songs,
yonr chants and your music in the sane
tuary; and yet, without love, these
things are nothing. or are like tho hub.
BILE which the boy blows, which he tos.es
in the air, in which lie sees Heaven for
sn instant, and which is then gone for.
ever.-Henry Ward Beechcr.
All the property of ''The Fair OF
tho CarOlinas" will be sold ut auction in
Charlotte on Thursday, Tic It'll Of May.