Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-05-22
IBceCher as u Liberal" :"

The real force Of Christianity to-day is
the example of those men who lived as
Christ lived. 1t is not in the church or
church organizations, but in the sense OF
individual excellence. If there is any pow
er worth preserving, it is the unorganizad
living force of men, sancliled, inspired,
lifted up by the power of God, and the real
power, historically has been the same.
Church organizations have exerted great
power in the world, but cont think YOU
will find that they have exeiied as much
influence lot good as for harm. Organized
Christianity has been the poorest part of
religion. Ii would have been sunk long
ago irthere had been no other power. 1t
has not been the church that has preserved
religion, it has been religion that has pre-
served the church. 1t has not been the
priesthood that has preserved the laity, it
has been the example OF the hui.Ible lives
OF the laity that has preserved the priest
hood. Churches lave been like caves.
When in limestone realms you go into
these vast caves, where everything is cold.
as people want it to he in churches; where
the temperature never varies mi uch from
40 degrees, and people don't want it to va
~ much in churches; where everything is
formal Us people want formality in church
es; and from the roof there come stalac-
tites growing downward and from the bot
tom s;alagma growing up and then comes
through one man with torch and you see
all there is in those caves become beauti-
tul. In themselves? No; bul 10 the light
a that mans p4pI1a nd bnV
cbu ches, with archbshops and cardinals,
and other eminent men and saints down
through the ages, full Of all manner Of
things, dropping from the roof, or spring
ing up from the ground, cold as ice, except
now and then a holy woman casts light
through them and makes them all attract
i've.
Christianity has made but little progress.
What is the condition of Africa, of Asia, Of
Europe, OF North or South America? g? Look
over the world and see the coalition of the
nations after nearly two thousand years Of
Christianity. Where are they to-day 'Tis
true there has been great deal done; but
compared TO what was to be done, how
very little! Why has it been so SLOW?
First, because those that set forward
Christianity in this world adopted n coer-
Give conscience, announced the authority
of men in Gods name, attempted in re-
ligion that which was attempted in poll
ties, namely, 10 govern men without their
consent. 1t did not succeed with either.
Liberty is best for either state or church.
Religion should be spontaneous. 1t is The
free offering Of free souls, and il does not
do to say: "Believe this or bo damned"
For one man to secularly say to another,
You be damned,' is bad enough but
take man, put big robe ON him with a
black cap, give him stan with twirl on
top Of it, and then say believe in transub-
sanitation, or ''be damned - l don't think
'be damned under such circumstances is
any better than before in fact an official
be damned" is great deal worse than a
personal one. You can't force people to
be religious any more than you can force
grass TO grow. Let an armed force come
up TO my farm at Peekskill. There is some
grass there very backward about coming
up-le a fire company come and see ifthey
can squirt il up-or a military company
and sec if they can force ii up, or compa-
and see If they can bring it up. There is
no man can take n crowbar and say TO the
tree, "Grow;" it won't grow.
Another reason why Christianity had
not progressed faster was that men had
employed maign elements TO spread re-
ligion rather than spiritual ones. 1t was
impossible to develop love by hatred, or
peace by furious argument. The fruits of
the spirit cannot he produced by quarrel
ing. The gates of Lel bad opened into this
world thrugh ecclesiastical judcatories,
and the greatest cruelties have been prac-
Used by Christian sects and the world has
been presented with a hideous, bloody
moulhed God, that makes men only TO de-
your them. The church dominion in the
world had been simply monstrous; the
church had been under the dominion Of
devils. Another cause for this slow prog
ress Of Christianity was that The church
had aimed at knowledge rather than char
ity, Mr.. Beecher here alluded TO tue di-
vision in the various secIs as they existed
to-day, and all these differences were about
externals not ono of them touched in any
manner the essential fruits of the Spirit.
Abiding to his position among the Con-
gregationalists, Mr.. Beecher said il was
said to him "If you are so impressed with
these liberal ideas, why don't you go out
from the Cong egationalists ?" 81 stay
here" said Mr.. Beeoher, "because there