Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01

nearly so, as tho data OF tine census-takers
were submitted to all cur practising physi-
clans for revision and correction.
For the Free Press and Times.
The Church and War.
IN. R." in the FREE Press AND TINES Of
January 23i, makes an attempt to marry
the Christian church and war in the closest
alliance and cOpartnership, and then at
tacks them both with mighty bludgeo1
and indiscriminate whacks. Most OF US
have had something to do IN supporting the
one or the other or both of these. if not
their marriage and joint work. and we wish
very candidly and Discriminatory to see
if there is any hurt or reason in these blows.
lie says, war seems to aim at setting up
the Kingdom of Satan in the earth" 1T"
(quoting in substance) has caused blood
and groans and pillage and rapine and cruel
waste and oppression, numbering fathers,
mothers sisters, brothers. brutdlly, casting
them into the valley of slang hter to be meat
for the fowls OF heaven and the beasts of the
earth This is a fearful picture, and
especially since it is set before US as the d.
rect object of war, the object OF both parties
to the war. the only object, and the only
result aver sought or ever gained by either
party /; the only result that ever. in any
way, or to any person or people. comes
from national war. For IN. R." does not
make any discrimination of the temper OF
the two parties, the principles governing
them, the objects sought by them; nor does
he even suggest any result ever sought or
obtained by war that is other than loss,
painful. and Satanic.
Then again N, X. says, THE Christian
tka huIW a Of y
this kind OF war that he talks of, of course,
for he doesn't suggest any other. The bite
robes of the bride of Christ have been dragged
in blood" ''polluted with the gore OF the
battlefield, stained with the tears of the
orphan and widow" "these things are the
legitimate fruits of that diabolical custom
which Christians have SO long supported"
And he does not mention any other fruits
or the possibility of any. All this is hor-
rible enough, if there is nothing else
about it. Only We remember that
the Good Book makes the signing
OF the needy bring help from tina Lord, and
safety from their Oppre5sOrs. Ii sets forth
in many ways the purifying. cleansing,
healing, efficacy OF tears, even declaring ::
They that sow in tears shall reap in Joy"
Ii also has a great deal to say of the
atoning, cleansing, purifying, saving power
of blood even that the world and all sim
ners who are saved are to be saved by the
blood, the cruelly-shed blod of one whose in
nOcent blood was more precious than any
ever shed on a battlefield. Paul says that
almost all things are BY the Law purified
with blood. and without shedding Of blood
is no remission"
Then we remember that all the good peo-
pie of the world with great unanimity are
- H., kak al l. ,E
the martyrs is the seed of the Church" But
now the thought comes if it be the seed of
that pagan, satanic church N. R. arraigns,
still in the Bible the martyrs are spoken of
with honor, called faithful, and are to have
the highest seats in heaven. their blood even
being spoken of with blessings.
Then, again, We remember what history
says of the advance of human rights and re-
ligious freedom secured by the religious
zeal of Cromwell and his armed followers in
England of the greater advance secured by
the blood Of our revolutionary fathers in
procuring our independence, and that
through their achievements, this continent
hiss greatly advanced in morals and reli-
gion and influence. We remember also the
blood shed IL our putting down of rebellion.
and that four millions of our fellow men
were set free from Calling slavery by means
of it. Flowing blood is often very shock
ing. So is death. but somehow God has
permitted death to have q large place in
this world, and to perpetnally menace US in
all our enterprises and We cannot hinder it !;
and yet this Is pretty good world alter all.
Even death has its good points and its
bright joyous hopes There are more
shocking sights than flowing blood, e. g..
to see children enslaved, TO see wife and
daughters subjected to vile outrage, TO see
our country overrun by despotlsm and
slavery to see the freedom and Christianity,
imperfect as it is, of our beloved country
go down under the bondage and corruption
of paSanism. Many OF US would part with
blood freely to prevent these.
n. r. says: 81 charge upon the Chris
tian church, so-called, the responsibility for
all the blood, groans, pillage, rarine, cruel
waste and oppression. which war inhicts
upon society" Well, that's bad ! a heavy
charge for he charges war with about all
the evil he can think of upon the Christian
church. But how about the other side,
AGAINST which the church, freedom and the
right, have sometimes battled? Has that
no responsibility Or has the church
always been on the side opposed to right
and to God? If 50. let he- bear this re-
s2onsibility. But We remember reading
how the priest of the Most High God blessed
Abraham, and blessed the Most High God
who had delivered his enemies in battle into
the hand OF Abraham and how God caused
the sun and moon to stand still in the val
ley Of Ajalon until Joshua and the poo
pie with him had avenged themselves upon
their enemies, and even cast down great
hail storms from heaven to help, BY which
Al at n fhaU u hOn. tho ,.hIl1ran nf
Israel slew how Solomon at the dedication
OF the temple prayed for his people in the
battles TO which dod should send them,
that lie should hear them and maintain
their cause; and how :he good king,
Jehoshaphat, prayed God for His help in
the battle against the great multitude of
Moab and Ammon and SER. and how God
set these enemies of His people to fighting
against each other till every one helped to
destroy another, and none escaped. But
IN. R. would charge upon JehOshaphat
and the Church of Jerusalem the RESPONSE
bility for all the blood, groans, pillage,
plumber in that valley OF Engedi We
wonder THAT church he belongs to Has it
no responsibility for war or Tor evils which
resistance might have prevented?
The English and American people have
waged some wars in their day against tyr
amy, savages. and shareholders and cer-
tainly some ciyihz ition, free and moral
government. advancement in arts and
spread of the Bible and its religion have
come of these people and their conquests-
But II the Christian church Is charged with
all the blood and loss of these wars. who is
responsible for the progress in civilization,
arts, free government. morals, schools anu
religion which are so much better than was
ever produced by those who have compelled
the English and American people to tight
them, or not enjoy these blessings? Why
does not an. R." 90 and live in some place
where the people arc not such a. know
their rights and dare maintain them!
The truth is, that all the highest posses
siOns of this world. all the noblest rights
and privileges OF man, must be battleu Tor,
Oft with signs and tears and blood. rms Is
the way of Providence, and 1t Is the way oil
nature Mono OF these Vermont farms nave
been cleared and cultivated none oil orr
comfortable houses have been built none
of our furniture and clothing have been
manufactured for u, without sweat and
groans and blood, and often human lie.
Then we who occupy and ENJOY them are
responsible Tor the suffering and the blJOd.
are we? None of our railroads are built
without loss OF capital, toll sweat
gruans, pillage, cruel waste oioou,
and the tears and signs OF somebody's
sisters, brothers, wives. fathers or mothers.
What then? Shall We say, Let all these pro-
duets OF civilization. these promoters oil re-
llgion be done away Shall we let the
STAKEHOLDER count tho roll of his slaves be
meath the monument of Bunker Hill because
weare afraid OF blood ? Shallwe let the savage
massacre our frontier families because We
fear blood2 Shall We submit to be threat,
encd and hulled into loss and dishonor and
weakness because We love lite too dearly,
ever though it be tho craven life OF destltu
ton, merton, and bondage "o preie
the community. the nation, tho church, the
man that il ready to risk sweat, pain. urea
sure, give lie itself, if must be, In resisting
wrong, and in battling for privilege. and
freedom, and truth, and right, anu i9r the
cause of God on earth. WAR good war
fare Fight the good fight OF latin En-
dure hardness a. good soldier OF Jesus
Christ Paul. T.
Hinesburgh, Jan, %.