The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-15

4
sun in the planetary system. The Chris
tian religion had an authority and sancti
~ which it was regarded as criminal ant
even blasphemous to question. Systems o
divinity, with important shades Of differ
ence, but with still tirmUr and more lunda
mental forms Of likeness and agreement
expressed certain definite and stable arti
Cles Of belief, around which tho churche
were gathered as about the priceless re
gala Of faith. The great symbols Of bap
tism and the lords Supper were cherish
ed and maintained as sacred mysteries
on the observance oil which hung the ilua
title to admission to the Joys oil the heaven
ly paradise. Towns Of several thousand
Of inhabitants, had often or usual
ly, but one place oil worship, YER,
large and plain aud lined will
broad galleries, but on the Lords da,
d. led with that greatest OF ornaments,
great proportion Of the whole adult popu
l0tion, whom winter cold, and snow, AM
storm, and the sleeveless and comiOrtles
house Of prayer could not keep away from
the public worship OF God and the bless
ings Of the sanctuary. Children wer,
catechized; unsoundness in faith or irreS
ularities and lRpses In Christian conduct
were brought to trial and punished will
exclusion from the communion, or expul
sion from the church. The indifference
or GOODNESS, which prevented the opel
acceptance OF the conditions Of salvation
were matters OF domestic, social and eccle
Biastical notice and soliCitudG. ScoGers
open offenders against the moral law, do
lists, iniidels, lIeretiCs, were dealt with II
frank and courageous way. Family
prayers, ministerial or pastoral visits, dia
ries OF religious experience, evidences o
conversion, were all matters OF acknuyl
edged gravity and common concern. NJ
man or woman died unCOnverted withou
being bitterly mOurned over as lost 10 thu
mercy Of God and the hope OF heaven
There was IN intimate practical conneC
ton between family life and habits ant
the creed and public worship OF the PEG
pie. The state was regarded as being I'm
der the protection oil the head OF tn
church, and tho church as entitled aboy
all things 10 the reverence and protection
OF the state.
We all know what restraints on III,
liberty Of private Judgment and on III,
growth Of broad and genial views Of God
character, mans prospects, and LIES or
portunities, this era OF implicit publ
laith in the settled truth Of Christian
creeds, and the efficacy OF systems OF iaitl
and the dominance Of the ministry, oC
casioned. But, in spite Of these evils
none can deny the priceless blessing
which flowed from the faith and piety tina
made public worship so important AMI
commanding, and public religion so ven
cradle and influential. OF course, NOR,
or less OF hypocrisy, seli.righteousness
Formally, harshness andsupeTstition grew
up in this fat soil OF implicit public iaitt
and overawinR religious institutions. Blu
what d growth Of sturdy selireSpect, sell
denial, seriousness and purity oil life, rorc,
OF will discipline oil temper and elevation
OF soul marked tho aye when religion
constrained, grim and fearful as it was
yet had this strong, firm grasp OF
tho state, the several communities, III,
whole people! When men wero with
out doubt as to tho existence ant
providence Of holy Sovereign and Judgt
OF all the earth; when the souls salvation
had general precedence OF all other con
Germs; when the Sunday was a da,
solemnly conseCrated to public worship
and the best portion oil the commuuit,
had an acknowledged right 10 watch over
and even interpose for tho warning AM
conversion Of the slack, the careless an,
the worldly.minded! The errors Of doc
trine, the laurpations Of ecclesiastica
power, the restraints OF opinion involve,
in this state OF things were evils grea
enough 10 make certain the protest ant
the reaction, under which this old system
Of public religion fell from itS high estate
But It's blessings, II not s0parable from
these evils, were not duo to them, but wha
was true and good In a general sense O
the paramount Importance OF religion, o
Christian faith, and their dependence OF
public worship and the maintenance o
external institutes oi,religion.
We are well rid Of all the evils connect
cd with the old state Of religion In New
England and in most other parts tho o
country with the castiron inllexiblenesso
systems OF doctrine; tho gloom OF a terri
BILE conception OF the dire embarrassment
in Gods relations with his human of
springs; OF clerical arrogance and GCclesi
Rstical interference with personal aud do
nestle rights; Of compulsory church rates
Of inIulsitoriNl search into private con
sciences, and tho substitution OF churcl
standards Of character for those raised b.
universal morality. Wa have escaped
from subscription TO doubtful articles o
faith; and undenIRbly, In all Protestan
churches, have as much liberty OF drink
ing rs We like, and only rs much anxIet,
about our souls as rational and genera
public sentiIGORt Commends tOour free &c
ccptance. No man IC socially injured b,
mere ecclesiastical CenAur5, RllC9 tho pub
lie indorses no form Oichurch persecution
or even narrOwncss Of Judgment. For al
this let us 10 unteignelly thankful. Bu
there Is another side 10 the account, no
often duly recognized by those who wer
most sensitivs 10 the evils OF the old systelT
and most active in breaking 1t up. Tn
estimate OF what has been lost Of real fail
and godlinGss in this work Of Ronorl
emancipation from church and cree
tyrannieS, Is what remains for our ConsIl
Grafton.
Clearly whatever hus been gained, some
thing, nay, much, has been lost-perhap
for tho time inevitably lost-not vllfIlly
not without much compensation, but los
10 our generation and, fear. to tue nexl
We have lost much OF the habit Of church
goingi wo have consPicuously lost III
leadership OF the moro advanced and cul
tivatOd minds in our religious affairs O.
even their sympathy with church Institu
tons; we have almost wholly lost tn
direction aud c0uIEol Of an organized reli
gious life and faith over our towns ant
Citsesi we have lost the spirit Of r0Rt ant
contidenca in any articles Of faith; ",
have lost the decisive influence OF q largl
class OF men, tho ministry, once pre.emi
nently reYered and respected Tor thei
office and drawing Into their ranks, by tn
security aud BtBbleness their profession
then afforded, a fair share Of the best ma
tive and best trained ability Of each gene
ration. We have lost the charm and dIg
nifty which belonged to public worship
when a common faith united great congre
CATIONS In common worship, and thI
charm Of numbcrs and the presence o
q variety OF stations In lilo In on
assembly made the Sunday services rlrl
Ia suggestion and powerful In influence
Certainly nothing can DO more dIscourag
Ing than 70 SEQ 4 town Of two or tire
thousand Inhabitants divided up, OH thl
score Of unimportant DISTINCTIONS in artl
cles Of faith, Of which nine.tonthS Of III
people kpow and care nothing, into four
nve, six separate churches or congrcga
tions, with "a many ill.pNid, anxious an
discouraged ministers over or under thOu
with small, uncertain attendance on Ii
Sunday services, with a brief tenure Z