The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-25
Religious DRIFT and DISCUSSION

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These are things to be remembered.
Religious Drift and Discussion
Rev. Henry G. spaulding reviews "a
century Of religious progress in Ameri.
ca" for the Chriaian RegiStrr, less in the
statistical than in the spiritual sense. In
the facts that, while the population has
increased l1-fold, the churches have mul.
tiplied nearly Skiold, he sees how utterly
groundless is the assertion that religious
institutions are falling into decay. The
tables show also that religious fervor has
spent itself, not in building up great
number Of small sects, but in extending
the numbers and influence Of few lead
ing ones. America has contributed little
in this century to the advancement OF
theological science, but all the thought
currents Of the age have had their effect
here; there is more thorough study OF
the Bible, and there has been distinct
gain "in the thought OF the perennial in.
dwelling Of God in man and in the uni
verse; 80 that the Scriptures are now re-.
garded as. products OF religious con-
seriousness which depends upon no Scrip
lures for lis first impulse or its sole guild.
ancc, but is kindled and kept alive
from age to age by the Word made
Hesh, through individual example and
personal influence and a historicchurch."
Creeds and confessions have gone down;
religion has developed on its ethical and
practical side; n liberality and catholici-
ty Of spirit has grown;bigotry is under the
ban, as heresy used to be. "rhe man who
cannot jump the fences OF his sect to help
others in the great common tasks Of
philanthropy and reform is not merely
behind the time, but is accounted Us
lacking the Christian spirit altogether"
And here, especially, has Christianity
had free course, "set itself 10 solve the
immediate problems Of social well-being
and national prosperity, applied the gold.
en- rule 10 customs, laws and institutions,
and abandoned the role Of priest and
Levite for that Of the Good Samaritan,
We may properly say here that tho
Unitarian Review paper, mentioned and
quoted from in these columns, last week,
was by Mr.. SpauIding, though accidental.
ly credited TO mythical Carpenter"
A Chinese laundry-man. who had to
barricade his house and invest III arms and
ammunition during the recent demon
STATIONS in San FranciscO, remarked to a
lady who had shown him some Christian
attentions "Now, Mis- Cooper, Mclean
man he build big houses, an he want
Chinaman to come an learn all bout
Jesus and the doctrines, all belly good, bel
ly good; but what for he no get 'hoodlum'
to come and learn bout Jesus, an tell lie
TO stop stoniug Chinaman Chinaman no
touch he! Me like mission Sunday
school belly much for hoodlum when il
make he let Chinaman lone" A lady,
who writes about ii to the Sunday SehOO!
Times, adds that a Chinese scholar, n SO.
called heather, repeated, apropoS to This
matter, some Ofthe maxims Of Contucius,
such as, "The advantages OF wise institu-
tons can be sought for only in an intlex-
ible Observance OF them" Throughout
life beware Of performing acts Of animosi.
IT," '"What you do not like, when done
to yourself, do not do 10 others" The
lady adds: There was great Significance
in the emphatic 'utterance oil dear Mrs.
Morrison, a missionary who staid with
us few days, while ensroute East, when
she said: "There are,' after all, advan-
tages in foreign field; those whom we
teach see lea OF tho disparity between our
national belief and our national life"
The American Baptist Publication So.
ciety offers nine prizes Of $50 each for
the best tracts on these subjects: l. The
relation OF the New Testament Church to
the preceding dispensation; .. The rela.
ton Of the New Testament Church to the
world; 8. A credible confession Of faith
in Christ prerequisite for admission to
a New Testament Church; 4. The New
Testament reveals permanent and OBJ
Iigatory church organization; 8. What
ARE the features in which Baptist Church
differs radically from Pedobaptist
Church? 6. The design Of Christian
baptism; 7. The design OF the communioni
s. What is the testimony Of experience
and history as TO the workings OF the
church poIity contained IN the New Tes.
lament? Q. What are the teachings OF
history as to the Influences and effects oil
the practice Of infant baptism?
Bishop Gilbert Ravens dispatch to
Liberia, TO hold conference there in
January, arouses a fraternal interest in
Rev. Potter OF the Boston State street
Baptist church, who from his Watchman
"Picket" commiscrates him, going ITO a
climate where one night on shore geuer'
ally proves fatal to the unacolimated,
owing to tho malaria. Tho vessel will
remain in the harbor as a night home for
the bishop. No wonder his friends are a
little anxious and inclined to ask why so
many forlorn hopes for the colored race
are assigned to this old abolitionist. We
apprehGnd there was quiet degree oil
satisfaction in the board over this new
designation And rs to Liberia, "in our
Judgment il is now matter OF absolute
inhumanity TO go on with the work OF
colonization. There is no thrift in the
republic, nothing like proSperity,-a gen.
eral desire on the part Of the blacks sent
from this county for the offices, Incidence
and ignorance increasing. To take
negroes from this land into such society
and such 4 climate, expecting them to
rise in civilization and independence, is
absurd. We shall be interested in Bish:
on Haven's report, and we pray to God
lie may live to make one, returning not
having lost heart or hope as TO the future
Of the colored race"