Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-09-30
CAssylLLE, September %.

MAN WORSIlIP-F0OD FOR THOUGHT.
Is there such thing as man worship? 1t
looks ike it when we can scarcely look into
one Of the leading papers Of the country with
out seeing something substantially as follows
The Rev Henry Ward Beechcr preached last
Sabbath morning to crowded house, etc
We are then informed, that the services were
delayed awhile to await the arrival Of the
train from Portland. Then follows a short
sketch Of what he said and the people are
Informed, that in the opinion Of some of his
hearers, it was one of his happiest efforts
when had the R"v. john Smith preached the
same words from she same text to his hum,
bic congregation Of worshippers in the log
school house, and the hundreds that the train
brought from Portland to hear Beecher had
heard Smith, not one of them would have
thought that Smith was anything extra as a
preacher.
But, Henry Ward Becchor
Is wonderful preacher;
Meier spreads he the Gospel too thin,
But ever stands ready,
With voice clear and steady.
To rebuke poor wording for sin
But, had Beecher preached the same ser
mon from the same text one year ago, it is
probable that not half Of the people who
made the journey from Portland the other
day would have taken the trouble to hear him
but, Judging from the notices of his every
move and word which We see III the papers
we should think he had risen wonderfully in
the estimation of the people within the last
wear; or can this all be accounted for by
the fact that it was getting to be understood
among the people that a man who had not
heard Beecher could be Of but little account
as boy who has seen the elephant will gems
orally consider himself superior to the boy
who has not seen him.
Again, we are informed IN the same papers
that Cardinal McClosky landed in Rome, and
was received by another Cardinal, who inns
mediately conducted him into the presence of
his holiness the Pope. Now, proper re-
sponse to that may be: Wen, who said lie
didn't? Or We may borrow from Boss Tweed.
and enquire, Wa2 telGt arc you doiaQ a5out IT,
This ought 10 be proper enquiry; for surely
where anything is of sufficient Importance to
be thought worthy Of place in all the lead
ing napcrs each week, it ought to be Of con
sequence enough to be enqured into. Now
there is food for thought in all this; and the
enquiry naturally comes up, What has raised
Beechcr SO high in the last year, Did the
scandal trial do it? Is it possible that any
thing that was brought 10 light by that four
months trial could raise the character of any
one ? We shoald think not. But if it could,
what must have been the character before it
was raised THESE questions, and a score Of
others that will naturally suggest themselves
to the reader. are all worthy i beil en-
auired into: for if We can solve them it viii
tend to show US whittier we, a people,
drifting. Are we in danger Of becoming
nation of idoators and Of worshippng a man
We have often seen signs Of man worship
among politicians, and although it may be
lust as sinful in them. as il is when practieed
in tie churches, yet il does not look so bad,
for the people are not accustomed to look
among politicians for any bright examples OF
holiness. or even common honesty; and it is
perhaps we'll for them that they are not, for
il has saved them wonderful amount of
disappointment, but they naturally look
among the leaders of the churches for pat
terms of holiness; and here is where they
ought to find them When they fail to do so
after deligent search, ii viii prove that we,
as a people are in danger OF drifting into
idolatry LUTHER BRowy.
PArCH GROVE Sept rs, 1915.