Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-12
TEMPTATIONS TO UNGODLINEsS.

WQOSO CaUSeCn the righteous TO go az Tray IN
an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own
pit: but the upright shall have coed things in
observation-disclosures xxv11I:l0.
If there was no temptation in this world
there would be no sin. The fact that is
necessary or unavoidable that men should
commit offenses, is no excuse for any per-
son being the instrument or cause of these
offenses. 1t is doubly blameworthy when
protesting Christians lend themselves con
sciously or unconsciously to the propagation
of vice. We do not assert that as rule the
members of churches delight in seeing vice
prosper. On the contrary they mourn its
prevalence sincerely, not seeming to ap-
probate the fact that they themselves are re-
sponsible for acts that would appal them did
they but know the part they played in bring
ing them about.
There are many sins both of ON ission and
commission for which the church members
of the land are directly responsible. In the
first place great majority of men are careless
and negligent of their duty to their creator,
seldom attending upon the services of the
sanctuary and still less frequently entering
into the spirit of divine worship. For this
the protesting Christians are in great de-
gree responsible. They make no effort to
attract the masses to the churches, which
are rendered the reverse of enticing. An
air of gloom pervades the Sabbath gather
ings and the week day prayer meetings that
repels those in search of com fort and per-
haps would have no objections to little re-
ligion mixed in. The theater is luxuriously
fitted up, and rendered attractive to every
sense. The churches, while often elaborate
ly adorned and brilliant with
light, are uncomfortable and disagree
able, with straight backed pews
in which it is torture to the spine to sit for
half an hour. At the theater one sees joy
full faces on every hand; eyes sparkling with
delight; cheerfulness in every tone and look.
At the churches these emotions are repress-
ed, and solemn sombreness pervades the
edifce and all within it. A smile seldom
fits across the face of any, and sigh of re-
lief passes over the congregation when the
benediction is pronounced and an opportu-
nifty is once moro afforded to breathe the
fresh air outside. STRAIGHTFORWARD pews and
solemn visages are great hindrances to the
spread of the gospel.
In another respect protesting Christians
sometimes throw stumbling blocks in the
way of those seeking better life. Feeling
themselves safe they set an example before
others that may lead to their ruin.
We do not regard it great crime for a
Christian to partake of glass of wine if his
physical system requires it, but his example
may be fatal to some young man who is not
as strong to resist temptation as he. 1t is
natural for some, when they see leading
church member INDUCING in drink to look
upon the practice with less horror than
previously, and perhaps from that moment
his downward career dates. Paul showed an
example of self-denial under such circum-
stances which is worthy of all imitation
when he said: IF meat make my brother
to offend, will eat no flesh while the world
standeth.''
light word spoken of religion by one
who processes Christianity will do more to
encourage the scoffer than all the ratings of
the infdel world. Reverence for sacred
things ought to be the governing motive of
all Christians, and no careless word whereby
the cause may be brought into ridi-
cule should be dropped under
any circumstances. But it is not
necessary that reverence should be confound.
ed with gloom-for the two have nothing in
common though too often going hand in
hand. A cheerful disposition and quiet, un-
obtrusive piey will 60 far towards attract
ing people to the church, provided the pews
are reconstructed in such manner as to be
fit for the occupancy of vertebrate animal
like man.
Lack of zeal is another fault that tends to
keep men away from sacred places and
themes. People naturally think that religion
is not such an important thing as it is repre-
sented to be when they witness the apathy
of those who profess to follow the master.
One would suppose that men who believe
the human race will suffer throughout eter-
nifty If they fail to embrace Christianity would
labor without ceasing to convince their fel-
low mortals of it's truths. Their Indifference
is regarded as an evidence of their dis belief
in the doctrines they profess. A little more
earnestness in the Icause, added to an in
creased slope in the backs of the church pews
would add largely to the efficiency of the