The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05

W nat tnTletiuully mus DOHo Aof thc
World.
Christianity has become so identified
with modern civilization that many peo-
pie regard II rs its cause. In their opinion
we owe to the spread Of the gospel our
Government, our laws, our safety Of per-
son and property, and all the comforts
and conyeniences OF social life. The mis-
take would be harmless one did II not
tend to obscure the real glory Of Chris
tianlty, and to distract attention from the
far more important and enduring spiritual
benefits which that religion has conferred
upon the world.
How little mankind are indebted 90
Christianity for their mere physical well
fare, VIII appear from the fact that long
before the Christian era Egypt excclled in
agriculture, manufactures, and mechani-
cal inventions; Greece in letters, sculp-
ture, and architecture. and Rome in aque-
ducts. sewers, roads, public baths, and
the nice regulation and conduct OF
municipal government When, finally,
Rome had combined all Europe and
great part Of Asia and Africa
Into one immense empire, she diff
fused the reflnements of her capital, the
administration Of justice, and the order of
her political constitution. into the remotcst
regions. The Roman legions, as they nd
vanccd into the distant wilderness and
mbdued its barharous inhabitants, sub
dued also barbarism itself The Roman
camps III England, France, and Germany.
are to this day the sites of popu-
lous and 1ourisbing cities. the Roman
10 a. utx al, 20
the rude dialects of ancient Britain, Gaul.
and the north Of Europe, while the Roman
laws are the basis of the existing juris-
prudence Of the Continent, OF the chancery
system Of England and the United States,
and of the principles of justice adopted by
the Roman Catholic Church. As for world
ly comforts and luxuries, all the remains
which have survived TO us show that they
were enjoyed by the heather ancients
quite as fully ms by the Christians of the
last century. In fact. the first change
after the establishment Of Christianity was
for the worse rather than for the better;
there was relapse rather than an i'm
prcvcmcrt in mons social condition. At
the end Of few centuries the inhdel
Baracens were more civilized than their
Christian foes, and il was their love for
letters which preserved the intellectual
life of Europe through the winter Of the
middle ages. From the overthrow of Rome
aowu to the invention of printing, an inter
val of nearly thousand years, the wretch
sdness aud barbarism of the Christian
world were iudescribable Poor people lived
n novels like pigsties; their persons and
property were without protection except
that Of their own special tyrants against
sther tyTants; justice was administered by
The aid OF the most horrid instruments of
torture, some Of which are still preserved
and exhibited as curiosities; and only
monks aud priests knew how to read ana
write.
The elevation OF the condition OF women,
which many suppose to be due to the influ-
nce Of Christianity, is in reality the re-
suit OF other causes. A greater refinement
Of manners brings with II a recognition OF
woman's value as an element OF society.
The spread of education has better fitted
her TO be mans companion, and the arts
Of dress and personal adornment give her
D greater hold upon his affections. But
abe occupies no more honorable place in
The State than she did In the Roman Re-
public, is no more respected than she was
by the ancient Germans, and is no more nc
eomplished than were many OF the women
Of Greece As TO extinguishing polyRamy
Christianity, being the offspring Of Juda-
hm, was itself polygamous, and adopted
monogamy from Its European converts
There ls not word ia the New Testament
forbiddng man TO have as many wives as
SOLOMON, and modern Christian mission
aries TO polygamous heather have been
compelled TO admit the fact.
Political liberty is another blessing at
Tibuted TO Christianity but the truth IT,
that from the first, Christian teachers
hudiously refused TO NEEDLE with politics
CHRIST himself would not contend with
O6sAR, PAUL counselled ONEsIMUs 70
mbmit to personal slavery, and following
thelr example, the dignitaries Of the Church
Acquiesced for ages in the tyranny of
kings and emperors. Within its own Or
Eanzation. the Church has indeed ALWAYS
been a democracy, and its humblest priest
has been eligible to its highest Offices but
never propagated the application of the
system TO civil affairs. On the contrary.
down 10 within few years the great ma
}ority OF ecclesiastics have opposed giving
the right Of self-government Of the people,
and have preached up the divine right Of
hereditary rulers.
But while Christianity has not civilized
the world, nor improved its social and
political condition, II has rendered II
another and a better service. II has SUD.
planted polytheism with the worship OF
The one true Con; II has set up in place OF
the vague morality OF the heather poets
ana philosophers, the clear teachings of the
ven commandments; and It has created @
positive faith in the life beyond the grave
where before there was only doubt and
uncertainty. Thus Il has renewed tina,
Ealing spiritual We Of mep which was Of