Connecticut western news., 1876-07-07
Sharon.


 That the general diffusion of education, and the consequent higher development of the mind among the masses has largely tended to banish superstition, bigotry and fanatacism is clearly discernable, but that they yet have considerable hold upon us is nevertheless true, and as has always been, they are to be found among the high ly educated as well as among the illiterate. That thoroughly educated man should be narrow-minded, bigoted and utterly devoid of sound common sense, seems 10 be un- reasonable and paradoxical, but you may see such men every day. Book education cannot put brains or sense into mans head It may,if properly applied in prac- tical way, develop sound judgment, en- larged and liberal views mind high above the contemptible, pettifoggying stickler for abstract isms and dogmas (the evidence of whose correctness is more imaginary than reaD, but. how many of our educated men, especially those who are trained for professions that place them in the positions of moral teachers to the masses, do not re- ceive an idea or impression during the whole course of their training outside of the cast iron mould of the sect to which they belong. Their minds are attanuated and cast in a single groove, and when thor oughly hardened they are sent out to in. struct the people that all views or beliefs, outside of that little, slim groove which constitutes the length and breadth of th9r mental faculties, are heresy and schism. Many of this class of men indeed, by con- tact with the world, learn wisdom and are constrained to modify their views and adopt more liberal and charitable position toward those of different opinions but others pass their lives wrapped up within the narrow limits of their own mental wis ion, combating tue beliefs of others with an energy and zeal, which, if applied in the right direction, would make them heroes in the worlds history and pernacously urging their own creed. as alone right and worthy of consideration with eyes blind ed to everything outside of that narrow channel in which they were first set in mo- ton, they move along, learning nothing, forgetting nothing, until they drop out of existence, leaving little behind them to mark their course except smoke and cin- ders. During the time that the great evan gellst, Mir. Moody, was holding services at the hippodrome in New York, and was moving the masses by thousands to forsake their sins and lead lives consistent with Christ's teachings, attended church in a little village in Connecticut, the pastor of which, after the preliminary devotional cx- ercises, arose h his pulpit and preached a sermon in which he lsbored earnestly to impress his few bearers with the belief that there were no true Christians but those who accepted the doctrines and dogmas of the church to whichshe belonged, and then referring in unmistakable terms to the great evangelist. He denounced him as an arrant humbug and impostor, and arraigned his teaching as productive of far greater harm than good; yet this Protestant cler- gyman was earnest and undoubtedly sin. cere, and is deserving of pity rather than censure; his mind has been cast in g mould which he is powerless 10 burst asun. der, and to all teaching, outside of the mar. row limits within which it is confined, is heresy. Although reared under the teach ings of sect that generally looks with dls. favor upon sudden conversions and emo tional preaching, my ideal of true apos tolic preacher is the great evangelist, Moody ! trammeled by no abstract isms ol perplexing dogmas, he has literally obeytd the injunction of his great High Priest, and has gone into all the world and preached the Gospel ID such a plain, earnest, practi cal way that he could not fail to carry con viction into tue hearts of the masses; hi. life needs no encomiums from me it it known to the world as one earnest, enthu siastic struggle for the salvation of souls and for the elevation of his fellow men, an6 what the grand result has been 'tis beyond human calculations to compute, and twill never be know till that day when the great book that contains complete record of the lives of all shall be opened and its contents proclaimed to the assembled world.