Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-04


find out that the insolvent institution
has nothing to pay; they become alarm
ed. and they crowd the doors and clam
or to be heard; and conspicuous among
the host of applicants are to be seen the
poorer class, who have frugally and IN
dustriouslv gsrnered their few mites IN
order to deposit them in the bank OF
the church. How eagerly do they
watch at the doors, only TO be sent away
empty-handed and disappointed; for
the bank is broken, the doors are closed,
the are gone, the investment has
PROVED FAILURE.
A religion that is only holiday affair
is worse than no religion at all. We
must make up our minds to have that
sort which we can trust for every mo-
ment of our lives. Where shall We find
1t? You have heard OF the young man
in New York who a few years ago tried
to establish new religion. He called 1t
Ethical Culture" 1t was like patent
medicine, something new, which prom
Used to cure all manner OF diseases.
That young man said, "All We need is
10 follow the great accumulated facts OF
arts and science" But that idea was
not so very new after all, for Goethe
said much the same thing. lie SAID:
ANY one who has neither arts nor
science must have a religion, but he who
has arts and science needs no religion
With Goethe, a great many. thinkers
later than he have considered 1t pam
truism that religion is only for the un-
educated and ignorant masses. but that
men and women of cultivation and re-
finement need no religion, other than
the essence they find in arts and science.
But the outcome of that false doctrine
we have seen in the last hundred years;
and the outcome OF the folly OF such
ideas as were advanced by the young
man referred to is found in his own con-
tradiction of himself in his own recanta-
ton. 4 few months ago he went as
the newly elected president OF the
Free Religious Association OF America
To make, at their annual meeting, the
opening address; and | give him all
credit for his irankness in declaring and
partly correcting his views. He says:
"Science and art are not able TO take
the place of religion. Religion is some
thing more emphatic and more crafty
ing than art and science combined; true
perfection can be reached only by true
religion"
Now here we have a key to the treas
ures Of the so much needed every day
religion. Thus the young man, who
was considered by many OF our young
people "a new prophet and leader IN
the field of progress, has ultimately adj
mitted the weakness Of platform, and Is
ready to rctract, to go one step backward;
only one, and no more, because 1t IS on
" one step from superstition to atheism;
the separation is very narrow one.
Life is but a narrow space
FROM THE CRADLE To THE GRAVE.
1t takes but a few missteps
to overthrow our bodily health, and so
if we wander in the fields of atheism, 1t
requires but a very few steps backward
10 plunge us anew into the dark shades
of old-time superstition. Let us there
fore stand in the broad light OF the
words OF our text. Science will discover
what is true in part; art will beautiiy the
different emotions and lOnglngs OF the
mind and heart; but both will very Of
ten err, while only religion will keep
YOU constantly within the narrow but
secured domain OF faith. Every day re-
liyion ought 10 be followed up and cul-
tiyated with the same pleasure and alac-
ritv AS the school child OF this favored
land ought to avail himself OF the adj
vantayes of our American public school
system. Oh, how / love it. In my
school days vacation was indeed hoI-
dav. and school days were like lmprlS-
onment, but in this country the order Is
reversed, rs every school day Is made
a pleasure. When it is So every menu
Der of this congregation will enter the
Coates Of Truth" and will fulfill the
words, Blessed is the man who Obeys
NV law, who is watching at my gates
and at the posts OF my doors There
will be no break in the steady employ
mcnt OF ethics. Every day
religion is a safe bank in which To de
post; there can bc no failure, no alb
sconding cashier; you can draw on 1t at
any time and find your check accepted.
Nv friends, let us believe in God
whom We can worship at all times.
Then the churches will not be open
only on holidays, but will be open
dav and night to receive the countless
host of worshippers, and differences in
religion will be no more than differences
i'm the cut Of the bodily appearal, with
which we clothe 0urselyes-no more
than the mere difference in taste and
skill.