The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-08-09
A Heathen In Church.

A solemn hush Is IN the air, only
broken by the rustling of silken gar
ments, that an imaginative mind can
readily believe to be the fiuttering of
invisible wings above the devoutly
bowed heads Of worshippers or whis-
peungs of y us aDge.s floating about
this temple SO grand, SO cool, so
dreamiiy pleasant, with its slumber-
ous semi-hght falling softly upon the.
rich carving and elegant architecture.
the artistic mind adds yet little
touch (to complete a typical iigurt) by
adjoining the ceiling with long giided
pendents, from which o mlld-eyed
dove should swing from the frescoed
vault to The altar, hovering, as it were,
over the head Of the holy man who
has the power TO save or condemn, ac-
cording 70 his Interpretation of the
Scripture.
A thrill of reverence creeps through
your being. Ynnr knnl iS nsnti,r rAA Ian
unfairly to the idea suggested
that you are in His holy temple
and in His presence. Beautiful soul
rapture! The organIst begins his la
bors; he makes that guady, glitteriDg
thing ring and quiver, moan and weep,
shout and triumph-he fills the house
with melody and agony. The praises
of God are eXguisitely done by ma
chiDery first, and followed by select
set OF cultivated voices that would do
credit to an opera at five dollars admis-
sion ticket. The minister rises, the
formula of prayer is gone through with.
Your ear Is caught by his earnest ''For
Christ's sake, Amen" You come out
Of your dreamy state and face the real
i of what this nan is teaching. He
tells you it is ''easier for a camel to go
through the eye of q needle than for
rich man to enter the kingdom of God,"
and for the first time you appreciate
your poverty, and endeavor to recon
cile yourself to its Inconvenience by
congratulating yourself upon the
promised eternal benefit. But you
look over the congregation. 1t is u
very rich and prosperous one, and you
wonder they do not turn pale with
fear, or leave their pews and 20 out
into the highways, divide their wealth
among the poor, sick and needy, and
meekly take up the cross that points
to the salvation they pay SO much a
year to have preached to them.
How dare they preach figure and
ignore the letter . Alb, 'JaiM hath
made them whole" They have made
them Redeemer and thrust the letter
upon him; lie has borne the cross,
they have a right to wear the crown.
They merely continue to preach the
! figure for the benefit of those obstinate
human beings who are too sclf-willed
and wicked to least their burden"
upon figure or letter, because they
lack faith in its efficacy. Where shall
they find this desirable faith, this easy
fitting key to the gates Of heaven
Win any being reject Its use il they
can honestly accept it And yet they
will tell you, with complacency and
fortitude perfectly marvellous, that
you will surely suffer everlasting dam
nation If you don't believe.
The most degraded human being on
earth, in his right mind, would risk
his life to save his fellow-man from a
burning building, or from accidental
torture, but this people will calmly
consign oil the "world" to an ever
lasting flame with big devil As engi-
ueer, simply because it cannot believe
in the doctrine that teaches this most
outrageous thing, nor in the followers
OF creed that has become burlesque
upon its humble founder. The ques-
ton arises, do they believe that such
iadeed will be the fate of unbelievers
II they do, then they exhibit hesrt
so cold, selfish and cslloused that it
can only excite pity, even in the soul
of heather. Imagine you were to
see regiment Of blind people m,king
dead break for lake OF burning fire,
feeling assured they would drop in one
by one. could you stand czmly by and
see them falll Would you not tear
your gorgeous steeples down, your
magnificent churches, your grand
homes, your lofty pride and wealth,
and hiDs it into this pit and rush like
, madmsn 10 the rescuel Good God J
Would yoU not forget your own
security in holding on 10 the very
b lir OF those fellow creatures in such
dangeri
Church il oct. Turn from this tenn
pie made by hands. Go into the
woods, take up fallen leaf, press il
70 your lips in alteration, for il is di-
rectly from the hands of God. Lift up
your heart and let harmony enter, for
7ou are in the presence OF your Maker.
WIsIin0ko7i ReUstlIie1r