The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-23
us Christianity "a Failure 3"

| s.Is Christianity a. Failure: ."
Under this heading we commented in
last Sundays HERALD on two remarkable
communications which appeared in that
days paper the one casting out in light
vein thoughts that seemed TO imply a
doubt at least of Christianity's success, and
the other limiting at special cases OF back
sliding in the Church and arguing that the
indifference, restlessness and rebellious
spirit manifested by the followers Of
all religious denominations at this
time are the result of faults within
the ministry. The interest excited
by this discussion is shown in the number
and character of the letters we have since
received on the subject, only few OF which
we are enabled to publish to-day. Both
our correspondents of last week favor us
with second communications The one re-
pudiates the idea that he fears the failure of
Christianity, and avows the belief that
religion will triumph over it's natural
enemy, 'ultra civilization" But it must
be saved by the avoidance of ''modern free
thought" by the disintegration of secta-
rianism and the attraction of all the
atoms to the zone and indivisible
Church Of Clement VII and the Apostles. F"
The other invites the aid Of the secular
press, whose influence is more extensive
and whose views are more independent
than those of the religious press, in the
labor of exhorting the publication Of all
the churches, and repeats his appeal to the
rulers Of church organizations to do the
duty set them by the Saviour in driving out
evil doors from the Temple of God.
The point of divergence between these
two correspondents is marked. The one
traces to ''ultra civilization" the evils COM
planned of by the religious world, and be-
lieves in the zone Church" The other in
sists that enlarged intelligence and freedom
of thought are not INCONSISTENT with, but aids
to, religious faith, and believes that all sects
and denominations of Christians are accept
able and useful disciples o. trle religion,
provided that in their churches they follow
the Saviour's teachings in meekness, humil-
ity, purity and love. The one despairs that
Dean Stanley and Cardinal Manning can
sever hope to dovetail or square their
theological differences intellectually, while
the other does not regard those differences
rs of a feathers weight. While we leave this
part Of the discussion to those who may
choose to enlist in it we must assure can
Old-Fashioned Christian" that we have no
intention to counsel church to cover up
or condone any improper or ungodly acts
on the part Of its ministers. When an
offender against morality is discovered in
the fold he must be cast forth to pre-
vent the contamination Of the flock. If
Satan came as n tempter in all his
hideousness and deformity he would find
but few victims. He is most to be feared
when he approaches in an attractive and
seemingly innocent character. immortality
and all sorts of vice are more dangerous, as
they are more revolving, when found con-
cealed beneath q clerical robe and the
Church cannot exercise too strict q watch
fulness over the lives and actions of her
trusted servants. At the same time SLAM
ders against ministers of religion should
never be lightly uttered or treated with
levity, as they too frequently are.
When the breath of SANDER furnishes
church it dims the lustre of religion every
where, and affords an opportunity to
scoffers to sheer ut the Christianity by
which their own hearts have never been
touched. The purity of the Church is
sacred trust and should be sacredy
guarded, but it is sinful to discredit rel-
gon by parading before the eyes of too
censorous world the sins of pretended
Christians in false evidence of the hollow
ness of all Christian professions.