The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-10
VIII Religious Teachers Awake TO the
Danger of the Crisis

confession would strike like thunderbolt
VIII Religious Teachers Awake to the
Danger of the Crisis
The threatening form which inldelity has
lately put on. and its rapid progress among
educated minds, demand cOunteracting eff
forts from the friends Of religion which they
do not seem to be making. With the ex-
ception of the Rev. JOSEPH Cook, none
OF our divines even attempts to meet in
n popular way the objections OF modern
sclencs to hitherto accepted dogmas OF
faith. The bold challenge OF DR.. TYNDALL
to submit the efficacy Of prayer to the
test Of actual experience was not taken
up as 1t would have been by n prophet
Of old. but was avoided in manner indi-
eating a lack Of confidence in u favorable
result. Recent critical researches tending
TO dscredit the authenticity and inspi-
ration OF the Scriptures call forth only repe-
tltion OF time-worn arguments: the belief in
miracles receives feeble and half-hearted
support. and the eternal punishment of the
wicked is formally denied by numerous min
lsters OF what were once orthodox sects.
Added to these symptoms Of weakness,
decline Is everywhere to be noticed OF that
interest in the spread OF religion which pre-
vailed thirty or forty years ago. The re-
vivals which have invariably followed our
former great business reverses, have been
wanting during the whole Of the present
long-continued season OF financial distress
the meetings OF MOODY and SANKEY form
Ing no real exception to the general state Of
religious Indifference. Preachers and re-
liyious journals constantly complain that the
churches are not gaining in numbers and
influence al home. and that the missionary
work abroad langus shes. We have entered.
In fact, upon n period OF deafness in religion;
and 1t prevails most among the most edu-
ated kind OF people.
The danger of this state of feeling is that
II may end In an extinction Of religion SINH
lar to that which occurred Just previous 70
the deluge; or at least in a prevalence of
lnldelity like the prevalence of idolatry dur
ing the centuries preceding the advent of
the Saviour. We know that the true be-
levers were once reduced in number to the
small family enclosed in the ark, and that
al a later epoch spiritual da rkness over
spread the whole world except the little re-
gion inhabited by the descendants OF ABRA-
HAN. 1t is not impossible that the decay OF
many and France has already emptied the
churches VI male worshippers, and III Eng
land and this country has made such inroads
among the cultivated and Intelligent, may ex-
tend It's bane.ul influence still more widely.
anu end IN a universal rejection Of rclg-
ious principles. Human nature Is as weak
and as liable to error now as it ever was.
The Jews repea teGly forsook JEHOVAH to
follow after idols; and great numbers Of the
early Christians allowed themselves to be-
seduced by heresies. Why should our exist
ing civilization be regarded as absolutely
proof against the far subtler attacks OF
modern unbeliei.
1t will, of course, be said that ms Chris
tanity was established and is still support
ID by divine power, there need be no fears
tor its continuance. But the Jews, up to the
day that the Romans destroyed Jerusalem,
relied just rs confidently upon the arm Of om-
impotence; and 50 also did the Greek Chris
tlans until the very entrance OF the Turks IN
TO Constantinople Notwithstanding its MI
raculou5 origin the Church is composed of
human beings and is liable to all the evil
consequences Of human irailty. II ts APP
pointed advocates and apostles do not
exert themselves to defend and pre-
servo II, we may expect to see it sue
cumb, at least for time, 10 its enc
mics. And, particularly, II it is allowed TO
lose the support oil the men who lead the
world in other respects, it mast necessarily
fall behind IN the esteem of the public. 1t
dominates the world now very much by vir-
tue Of tho Difference of the masses for the
opinions Of learned and pous men, and
4. In,
Its behalf, its ruin will be- impending.
The emergency, therefore, requires that
means be found 10 recommend religion to
the men OF intellect as we'll as to those of
emotional natures Imposing architecture
an Impressive ritual, eloquent sermons, and
sweet music with the train OF associations
which attendance upon worship from in
fancy implants 10 the memory, may keep
the religious sentiment alive among devout
worshippcrs. but this affords, maniiestly,
too feeble and uncertain ground Of per-
manencc. Feelings which are not enforced
by logical reasoning are Iiable to veal out.
The rites and ceremonies which once were
effective gradually lose their attraction.
Tho witchery Of music and the clo-
quence Of exhortaton cannot always
charm. The iull-gruwn man demands
proof ~ the practical benefits oil OBJ
servances, which to the child need no vim
dication; and if, on examination aud in.
qury, they seem 10 him to have ceased to
be useful, lac may not long delay giving
them up Hell has no torrors and heaven
no attractions for one who is not provided
with reasons ior believing that either one or
'he other exists; nor will people listen in
patience to preacher rhapsodizng upon
subjects concerning which they can see no
reason to believe that he knows any more
than they do.
as we said at first, tho advocates Of re-