Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-08-13
3Eli9iGas department.
WHAT is THE MATTER4

Mohammedanism offers its benefits to
men alone. Is Christianity a CONAN
religion? What is the significance Of
the dispropOrtiOn between the sexes in
our church membership? To talk of the
religious instincts of woman" throws
no light on the question. We belong to
a lost race. Men and women have alike
gone out Of the way. They have to-
gether become Improbable. And for
this great disaster Christianity offers
itself as remedy, promising not Ouly
to rescue individuals, but ultimately to
redeem the race. A religion that pro-
poses such things should be adapted to
the instincts of men and women alike.
We have Plan Of Salvation whose
boast it is that it is able to "save to the
uttermost" 1.-THE chief of Sinners" but
two-thirds Of whose results are achieved
within the limits Of the weaker half of
the race. Either there is radical de-
feet in Christianity, or, somehow, it
forces are not evenly brought to bear.
Those who believe In the suficiency Of
Christianity for the task it has assumed
naturally look for the fault not in it,
but IN its presentation.
The two sexes are divided not by the
existence in each Of traits which are
wanting in tho other, but by the pre-.
ponderance in each Of certain traits
which belong also, but in a less degree,
to the other. To everything along this
whole line of characteristics the religion
of Christ is adapted. 1t appeals to the
manliness Of men as pOtently as to the
womanliness Of women. But unhappily
the present prevailing fashion in relig.
ion gives undue prominence to the fem.
mime elements. A sweet sentimentality
"a clinging tenderness-are accounted
better tokens of spirituality than is a
manly wholesome.
Go into almost any religious meeting
Of men-a meeting of ministers, for in.
stance-tor an illustration of this ten.
dency. The prayers of the more "spir.
itual" brethren will be full of such ex
pressions as these, "Dear Jesus, W,
cling to thee," "We want to keep fast hole
Of thy hand" There is nothing wronJ
about this but its excess. Every mai
should have some sweet womanliness il
his nature, as every woman should hav,
a fiber of manliness. But it is a grea
mistake for any man to suppose that i
is only his feminine side that can reacl
out toward his Maker and Saviour.
Again, look over any popular cOllec
ton Of revival hymns and notice hoy
this same tender, womanly style pre-
walls in a majority of the pieces. O
step into revival meeting and mar
its use. In the Sabbath-schosl tn
children, thank Heaven, delight
"Hold the Fort" and "Pull for til
Shore, Sailor" But the grown peOpl
drop oftener into "0h to be nothing,
81 need Thee every hour" or "Safe in tt
arms of Jesus" And these are good !
their way, only let US have a fair pr
portion Of such as have little virilit
in them. After these soft ditties it
bracing to encounter Cali hail the poy
er of Jesus name"
Not only the praying and singin
but even the preaching is for wome
The sensibilities are appealed to rath
than the conscience. More is made
the sweet sense of pardon than of Il
strength and beauty of holiness. Ev,
in that renovation of character and Ii
which is to follow the redemption of Il
soul, sentiment is substituted for
principle. The ruling motive here
gratitude for sin pardOned, not sturt
aversion to sin itself.
1t is not strange that religion, so pr
sented, should seem thing for won,
and children and be largely left to thel
We shall have o feminine church
long as We offer the world an emascula
ed Christianity.