New-York tribune., 1876-02-04
LLrSrRlrING orr RELIGLOrS CONDITION.

IIITSTEfTTNG ORR RELIGIOTS CONDITION..
There was an exceptional degree of practical
force in the resolutions adopted by the Ma
tional Evangelical Alliance last Monday even
ing. The Philadelphia branch was requested
TO take measures to acquaint visitors To the
Exposition with our Christian and philanthropic
Institutions, and it was urged that special
"rcligous services should bc held at that time,
TO illustrate the unity and power of our Gins
tianity. and the relation OF religious thought
:" 10 the progress. pripctuity, and true glory OF
"thc Republic and the worlds civilization
Possibly the duties here enjOincd on the Phl-
adclphiau, take too wide a range. Intelligent
foreigners can judge of the effect OF religious
thought upon the worlds civilization without
our help, and We shall probably tind the task
of showing its effect in the Republic q;Iitc suf-
hcicnt for us.
II undoubtedly is necessary that some effort
10 show that effect should be made The true
idea Of our centenary celebration is to Illus
trate the growth Of the nation in the highest
and broadcst sense; though there Is now
some danger that that idea may be
lost SIGHT of in consideration Of Euro
pcnn stuls and japanese pottery. Any
illustration of the present status of the nation
must be partial and feeble which fails to rep
resent the under forces of religious or ire
leious thought. There is good reason 10 sup
pose, too, that we shall not be credited 10y our
ruests with the Just degree of progress i'll
religious truth. American virtue abroad Is
ratcd by Credit Moblicr, the Whisky Rings,
swindling ministers, greedy rulers Blemer-
haven Monsters the murders and other capital
crimes which are patent to the world. How
are we going to help this mattcrl Not 10y
exhibition Of our generosity in costly chucheS
or magnificent PRISONS hospitals, or buildings
for the Y. NJ. c. Association. England
and France proved long ago to themselves
| that reform H. not the erection ol vast cara
vanSarirs ior conyicts, Or stately temples, but
| in the management of the individual prisoner
| ard the appeal to the individual soul. The
| out door works of LuSk and Metray have
| taken the place of costly jails cheap cottage
hospitals arc pushing the large ones aside and the
great machinery of chapcls, itinerant
preaching, Bible readers and church clubs, are
doing the work which the CathedfalS, with
their royal endowmcnts, LETT undonc. We have
not yet passed the stage when IA beautiful
temple means Christianity. 1t was scarcely a
|
when tie long fcry0r of religious zeal in Phia-
dephia was utilized merely to erect costly
building. The sums expended in piles of
| granite and brown stone would have sent out
living men into every hovcl OF byway to preach
Christ and Him crucilicd.
Nothing probably would better illustrate our
true religious condition than the holding of
general meetings without regard To sect, pro-
yidcd the motive was sincere and genuine, as
in the Moody and Sankey revival, and there
were no temptation to individual display. Re-
ligious newspapers. religious conferences, con-
vcntions, or synods arc apt to show the narrow
sectaran side of faith; petty dogmas, petty
acerbtics come to light. and outsiders sneer
at the lack Of true Christianity in these its
teachers. The fact is that each Of these men
in his village or city field is, as rule we'll
meaning. faithful laborer to bring the world