The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-06-14
THE CHURCH AND CORKUPT
LITER

We are exceedingly glad thot DR..
Philpott has gathered facts showing
that the church is daily gaining
strength and numbers, and that the
devil is losing his hold on mankind.
Not very long ago very remarkable
Individual, who has twice circumnaVi'
gated the globe, addressed vast
throng in q Southern city. He diff
fered widely from DR.. Philpott, who
lives very rigidly within the pale OF his
church and its literature. There were
three thousand persons listening to
the lecturer Of whom we tell. He said,
substantially, that there were perhaps
thirty millions adult church memters
who were capable OF understanding
the significance OF this membership.
OF these he said there were probably
FIVE millions genuine, earnest, devout,
humble followers OF Christ, accepting
his tenets of faith absolutely and with
out doubt. He drew a circle about
these and separated them from the thou
sand millions OF earth inhabitants. lie
then proceeueu TO tell OF ru1 oUuH'ieDs
myriads OF great and good men who
were not OF the blessed ''five millions
Washington, Napoleon, Shakespeare,
\ Webster, Clay and long catalogue
was recited, and each named had gone
down that ''broad road" and through
that gateway whereat camels are new
err baked. The orator pronounced
glowing tribute to the virtues anc
genius and patriotism of these sinners
and pointing up at the little ring con,
tanning the sancti6ed five millions h
suddenly exclaimed "All those in IA
y vor OF going to hell say aye" an'
there was shout "Ayew that rem
the very heavens. The mob was en-
trapped. 1t didn't take time to think
II was misled by the orator. Blu
these are the facts very nearl
as they occurred-as nearly as we ca
recall them. We recur to them sImpl
to show that DIR. Philpott's estimate
and statistics affecting the relativ
number of sinners and genuine, devou
Christians may not be wholly trust
worthy. There may be one professe
Christian to each SIX professed sinners
but when the square and compass {
exact Christian measurement al
applied to faith and practices tn
fifty or thirty millions may dwindle
Eve millions, and the twelve thousan
millions of earth-dwellers hardly recol
nize the little squad that sails ava
with DIR. Philpott. These make niue
roise IN the world and therefore thin
themselves multitudinous, bat whe
we apply the test of numbers and {
Renuineness they may be very, yer
few. That they do great good uobod
denies, but many suspect that they e.
aggerase their triumphs and number
and power. Each denomination boasi
OF its multitud0s, and each world gu
strip the other in the acquisition Q
scolytes, and statistics they furnish al
not always wholly trustworthy. The
rne rcuurr- uuu- -SuvsosvsSA-.,vv
: read, while foul sheet like the Poll
Gazette, sold to one newsboy, lasts
week and is read or listened to by ever
sooty urchIn on the streets. 1t WI
with that Of "AppletOn's and Rarper's
monthlies - AppIetO"'s is now
monthly-that we contrasted the eli
culation OF the Police Gazette and Dag
Doings. The eloquent preacher knew
as we did not, that the latter has bee
suppressed, but it has many childre
very like it. And then, too, whe
Rev. DIR. Philpott went into the new
stands with his severe and solemn as
pect, asking for moral statistics, we ar
much inclined to believe that the deal
ors gave him the best showing O
which the facts were susceptible. Blu
the church is doing great and goo
work and moro and better than W
thought, and DIR. Philpott is one of it
most effective agents.