Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-14

/ letUerS Ill England nave recently QnlteO IN a
| plea for new religion. The practical work
ings of Christianity do not realize their ideas
of what a religion should be, for those to
whom the public look for the exemplifca-
ton of that religion are too often men of
coarse nature, loose and filthy habits. The
refining influences of grace cannot overcome
the natural deprayity of their minds, and in
stead of being bright and SHINING lights to
which religionists can point with pride, they
| are frequently men to be avoided.
On this side of the Atlantic we find much
to object to in the example set by the pro-
fessed followers of the meek and lowly
Master. Instead of humility we find AFRO
gance--a Pharasaic affectation of superiority.
instead of tolerance for the OPT mons Of
others we find bigotry; instead of rigid re-
gard for the property rights of others we find
downright dishonesty. Commercial dishon-
esty has become of late years the most prom
1nent of Americas vices, and bids fair to
ruin our reputation abroad and to have
erations. While those guilty of downright
theft of the Jack Shepard order may be re-
garded as outside of the pale of the church,
it is to be regretted that worse form of dis
honesty thrives among it's members and is
not only tolerated but fawned upon and
battered by those whose duty it is to rebuke
all manner of vice, whether clothed i'll the
garb Of responsibility or openly Haunting
itself beneath the hideous raiment of the
professional thief or road agent.
1t is related that when Constantinople was
first opened to the commerce of the world an
Englishman took cargo of goods to that
city. The valuables were placed
upon the wharf, and as night APP
preached he asked Moslem who
happened to be there how he should protect
them from thieves during the night. ''Leaye
them there,'' said the Mussulman. 'sThey
will be perfectly safe there are no Chris
tians in Constantinople, Though ironically
oxen, this was the truth. Among the
Mohammedans, up to the time of the intro
duction of Christian civilization, theft was
unknown; the property of all men was
sacred 1t was unnecessary to lock and bar
the door at nightfall, for there was absolute
security-if not for life, at least for proper
ty. And SO among the wild Arabs of the
desert to-day. Whoever shall eat of the salt
of his neighbor is bound by tie stronger
than an oath to jealousy guard his life, his
family and his property. Such thing as
dishonesty under such circumstances is alb
solutely unknown. And yet we call these
men barbaric, and seek to convert them to
religion that knows no such ties; which
treats with the greatest honor the man who
succeeds in plundering his neighbor to the
largest degree, provided he does so by
treachery and escapes the penitentiary.
The SUNDAY GLOBE points out these facts
institutes these comparisons with
view to bringing religion into disrepute, but
for the purpose of calling attention to the
gross insincerity of those who profess Chris
tianity, and demanding a more strict adj
herence to The tenets of that faith. We be-
ieve that the religion of Christianity is good
ii lived up to. The scriptures condemn in
no uncertain words all manner of dishonesty,
and enjoin upon the followers of Jesus
strict adherence to the moral law. The sum
OF mans duty to man-'Do unto others as
ye would that they should do to your
although not original with Christ, is urged
by him and his disciples as the only correct
rule of conduct, its observance enforced as
the only means by which to win divine
favor.
Look at the churches to-day and see how
they live up to the rule. Examine the lives
of the most prominent and wealthy members
those who are fawned upon by the minis
tiers and held up as examples worthy of all
imitation to the rest of the congrega-
ton. How did they gain their wealth, their
social standing? Perhaps that illy-clad wild
ow can tell you how her husband
was overreached in business
transactions and despoiled of all he pos
sessed Perhaps that miserable drunkard
you meet on the street can tell you how he
trusted this pillar of the church with the
management of his AFFAIRS and found out
when too late that his property had all disap-
peared. Perhaps score of financial and
moral wrecks you see on every hand ere di-
rectly traceable to ''the business shrewdness
and TACT of this one man. It is no secret
that to gain wealth he has robbed widows
and orphans, and brought ruin, want and
desolation to scores of homes. He has sue
ceeded in conducting his operations in such
a manner as to avoid the condemnation Of
the criminal law, but that he has violated the
moral law over and over again, and is in the
sight of God and man thief of the most
despicable sort, is as patent as the MONDAY
sun. And yet he is a pillar of the church,
and none of those who preach SO loudly Of
moral duty, who dilate SO eloquently upon
the beauties attendant upon an observance
of the golden rule, who so fearless denounce
theft when clad in rags) dare rebuke him.
They rather truckle for his favor, idolize