Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-24
CHATS and CIMELS.

Ye blind guides, which strain at gnat and
swallow acamel.-MATTHEW XIII: "a.
1t is recorded as among one of the Incl
dents of the late Gilmorean gatherings at
Lake Park, that young lady, who was en-
gagged to deliver some rotations, greatly
sea ndalized the cody people there assem-
bl ed by her 'staginess.' They could not
tolerate anything that smacked of the stage
in the slightest degree, although recitation
without dramatic action would be very much
like soup without seasoning-a very unpal-
atable dish indeed. And yet these same
people, after strainlng 80 violently at this
small stage gnat, proceeded to swallow a
full drove of large-sized camels without the
slightest compunctions of conscience. They
INDUCED to conspicuous degree in quar-
relling among themselves, in jealousies,
which made themselves notable by the vari-
GUS sets into which the sojourners
at the park were divided, and in general un-
charitableness to all outsiders unable to pay
the regulation price for hearing the gospel
preached.
The Christians at Lake Park are by no
means an exception to the rule. It is nota-
BILE everywhere that little offenses receive the
most attention and the severest censure from
the churches, while many graver ones are
passed over in silence to save the church
from scandal or because of the standing and
influence of the perpetrators. It sometimes
happens that church members who attend a
theater or the opera are called to account for
it while others openly frequent saloons and
other questionable places and nothing is
said about it. But a few years ago q pro-
Tossing Christian attending a horse race
would have been instantly excommuni-
Gated, yet it was no unoorn-
mon thing to see other church
members in a state of beastly inebriety.
Now nothing is thought if an entire con-
gregation, from the minister down, 90 to
sec horse race, while other ofenses against
propriety are become so numerous as to
scarcely excite comment. Lying and deceit
have become almost as common among
church people as they are supposed to be in
CHE world.'' Hypocrisy fourishes like
green bay tree among the elect, and those
who appear to be the most devout in the
sanctuary and at the communion table are
notorious as those who drive the sharpest
bargains during the week, ready to take
every advantage that the law allows. The
Pharisee of to-day is quite as odious to the
moral sense of the community as the Phari-
see of Jesus time was to him. They make
long prayers, yet they devour widows
houses. They maintain an exterior of sane
tity, yet their acts convict them of unsanc-
tity. .-... ..... .,..
We take pleasure in saying that the ma
jority of those who profess Christianity
eudeavcr honestly to live up to its precepts.
They sometimes err, but to err is human,
and he who expects to find perfect man
will have to travel a long way. But there
are many of whom this cannot be said.
These make of religion merely means to
an end, and use the church as they do the
advertising columns of q newspaper, to an
nounce to the community the business in
which they are engaged and solicit custom.
Such men have none of the true elements of
Christianity in their composition, and it is
unfair to lay their misdemeanors upon re-
ligion. But as the church tolerates them
and encourages their adhesion, it is not only
for their continuance
in the church, but is Indirectly re-
sponsible for their conduct. This is one
Of the camels that the Pharisees of TO-DAY
swallo " with such great gusto. No matter
how reprehensible the daily life and CONVEX
sation of a man may be, he can find refuge
in the churches provided he is able to nav
for their support.
1t is about time that the churches were