Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-03-08
HLUSTRA7 TING OUR RELIC
IOU,S CONDITION.

j
There was an exceptional degree o
practical force in the resolutions adopt
ed by the National Evangelical ALI
f ance last Monday evening. The Phil
adclphia branch was requested to tax,
measure to acquaint visitors to the cx
position with our Christian and phian
thropic institutions, and IL was urged
that Especial religious services should
be held at that timo, to illustrate the
\ unity and power of our Christianity,
and the relation of religious thonght
TO the progress, perpetuity and true
glory Of tho republic and the worlds
civilization" Possibly the duties here
enjoincd on the Philadelphians take too
wide q range. Intelligent foreigners
can judge Of the effect Of religious
thought upon the worlds civilization
without our help, and we shall proba-
bly, find the task Of showing its effect
in the republic quito sufficient for us.
1t undoubtedly is necessary that
some effort TO show that effect should
be made. The true idea of our cen
tenary celebration is to illustrate the
growth of the nation in the highest
and fullest sense; though there is now
some danger that that idea may be
lost sight OF in consideration of Eu-
ropean stuffs and japanese pottery.
Any illustration Of the present status
Of the nation must be partial and fee
bic which fails torepresent the under
forces ofreligious or irreligious thought.
There is good reason to suppose, too,
that we shall not be credited by our
guests with the just degree of pre-; o;,ress
in religious truth American virtue
abroad is rated by Credit Mobllier, the
Whisky Rings, swindling ministers,
the murders and other capital crimes
which are patent to the world. How
are we going to help this matter? Not
by exhibition Of our generosity in cost
ly churches or magnificent prisons,
hospitals or buildings for the Y. NJ. G. |
Association. England and France prov
ed long ago TO themselves that reform
is not the erection of vast caravansa-
ries for convicts, or stately temples, |
but in the management of the individ-
ual prisoner and the appeal to the in.
dividual soul. The outdoor works of
Lusk and Mettray have taken the place
of costly jails cheap cottage hospitals
are pushing the large ones aside, and
the great machinery Omission chapels,
itinerant preaching Bible readers and
church clubs, are doing the work which
the Cathedrals, with their royal en-
dowments, left undone. We have not
yet passed the stage when beautiful
temple means Christianity. 1t was
scarcely step in the right direction,
in our Judgement, when the long fer
yer Of religious zeal in Philadelphia
was utilized merely to erect costly
The sums expended in piles
Of granite and brown stone would have
sent out living men into every hovel
Or byway to preach Christ and Him
Nothing probably would better illus
trate our true religious condition than
tho holding of general meetines with.
out regard to sect provided the mo-
tive was sincere and genuine, as in the
Moody and Sankey revival, and there
was no temptation to individual dis
play. Religious newspapers, confer
ences, conventions or synods, are apt
10 show the narrow sectarian side of
faith petty dogmas, petty acerbities
come to light, and outsiders sneer at
Lhe lack OF true Christianity in these,
is teachers. The fact Is that each Of i
Lhese men in his village or city field is,
rs a rule, well-meaning, faithful la
,orer to bring the world up to his
standard of right, whatever that may
DC. 1t may be small or bigoted, but Il
$ usually more pure, honest, and high
han thatof the people abouthim. The
fleet of this great body of workers is !
hown not by the exceptional crimes
md follies which thrust themselves in
o notice, but by the condition of the I
,roat mass Of the American people
heir clean, chas.e, honest domestic
lfe their prompt, inexorable verdict
gains. the swindler or criminal, no !,
natter how high his office; the place =
hey have held amongother nations as =
offenders of liberty, knowledge, and of :
he right of each man to all the chances :
or developing manhood. The visitors a
o the exposition will not gain as true !,
n idea Of our religious or social condi- I
ion by any religious meetings, how y
yer effective they may be, as by tho y
tudy of the people themselves, their i
very-day conduct, bearing, speech, \
Vhen they come up from their obscure h
zones to the celebration. We shall be :
atisfied with verdict based on that =
vidence.--New York Tribune. y