The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-07-01
Nansworship.


when the subject Of Heather Gods 10
agitated. When the ihoughtless sin.
ner rccklessly dcscants on the wis
dom Of that religion as compared
with Christianity, the charchman Of
to-day stands aghast and hiding him
self behind the dignifcd cloak OF 81.
lence refuses serious discussion.
This 10 we'll. The Christian religion
Is oftoo unmistakable purity to DO
weighed IN counter scale with
heathern idolatry. The worship Of
golden calves and statues OF stone by
those OF old was indeed tho conso-
quence Of ignorance aud although no
practical law Of any nation has ever
yet excused the committal Of q crime
through any ignorance on the part OF
the actor, yet, charity and philan-
thropy demand a palliaiioh of the
penalty. So much prepares us for
another phase Of the point at issue.
Observe the signs Of our own
times. Do we not find that in reli-
gion certain learned men absolutely
shape the minds IF the less learned 2
| Are not the Biblical interpretati ons
Of Henry Ward Beecher considered
absolutely orthodox by his church
men? Do we not know that what
the leading spirits in each congrega-
ton dictate as right the lesser lights
Of each of those bodies topple to 1t,
as infallible? Do we not know that
In most every Christian sect is some
one man around whose individuality
clusters the very foundation Of every
moral law lived up to, BY others of
his creed ? What If some such man
should crr2 Would not thousands
OF others stray with him, unconscious.
ly? II behooves us to read more
and with minds of our own mould
the bent Of our beliefs. II behoovcs
Us to depend less on the opinions OF
others, however great they may be.
Search for the truth after your own
Understandings and be We every one
fully persuaded In your own minds. "
Be not guilty Of such foolharly man
worship. To accept all that Is taught,
without knowing the authority for
such doctrine as Is adduced 10 to
walk blindfolded, and should one
fnd himself at the bottom ola bot.
tomless pit In the end, there could be
no room for him to excuse himself,
as he could but know that II was q
willful case of the blind having
lead the blind.
But to go further. Not only do
We find these good followers bowling
down to others In point Of religious
faith, but also in moral and politi-
cal sense. Why take the case OF
Roscoe Conkling. What is he2 A
gaudy, sacreligious Senator, con.
ceitcd cowardly man. The peacock OF
the Senate, the dunghill Of courage,
the railer at oil things Cody. And
yet the leader of men. How truly
fitting the remark of the late Judge
Chalmers, of Southern Virginia, who
when being accused Of cowardice, re-
piled, "the fear of God is the begin.
ming OF wisdom, but the fear of man
is the consummation OF human folly
This noted man now sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking, though his
memorable words still live to haunt
Roscoe Conkling to his grave.
In that Mr.. Conkling fcars not God
he Is a fool, in that he fears Lamar he
Is living specimen Of folly consum-
mated. '.la7 ,.i fa4 4 d
But TO draw ourselves closely to
the subject Of man.worship, have we
not seen that certain humans are ora.
cles in religion? Do we not know
that in church courts all things bend
to the majesty of certain learned
ones? In fine, are they not rulers Of
men and disguised recipients of man.
worship? Enough of such, unless II
were born Of less selfish motive on
the part ofthe recipients Of such hon.
ors. d.. ........... f...a,.....I....
| In politics all is considered fair.
To the victor belongs the spoils. But
do not the American people Silly
bow down to men made prominen,
through different causes Is 1t mol
disgusting 10 say the least of it tina,
sensible men of whatever sect, ma.
tionality or ilk should follow blindIy
the dictates Of any one man and thus
be guilty Of as gross folly as was the
heather Of old in devoutly kneeline
ut the feet Of q stone statue? la3-
lI ulH1uuzl1nsnEnEnmD