The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-02-23

hlgh Cnllrch dlgnltaiY, was nOt encOurdg- |
/ ing 10 n gentlman who, in the conscientious |
diochartG Of his, duty asa christian, was
/ mpcied to bring to the notice Of the
/ church the immortality Of minister to
whom is inirustcd the responsibilities OF
/ the religious traningand guidance ofyoung
people, The poor fellow remains undis
/ turbed in his calling to this day, and no
acton has been take on the charges brought
against him on the plea that an expose
would scandalizc the church, As if a
church could bear any deeper or more dis
graceful scandal thanattaChcs to the con
donation Of gross immortality on the part
Of one of its ministers at whose feet
young knees are bent to seek enlightenment
and guidance in their religious duties
Upon which the Herald comments as
follows:
1--WE do not doubt that clerical immorali-
ties are sometimes hushcd up in all denomi-
nations, from mistaken notion that the
church should be protected against scan
dals whenever conccalment is practicable.
but the exposures of similar clerical i'm
moraitcs are so frequent and make so
large figure in the current news from year
to year as tomakc 1t entirely creditable that
there Is II residue of such classes which are
never brought to light, The numerous and
scandalous offences Of clergymen against
sexual morality are but symptoms Of dis
ease which has seized upon all the churches
The undisguised symptoms are similar to
those which are carefully hidden
when concealment is possible.
Our principal churches are mere
temples of fashion. Seats Of these sump-
tuous cdiiccs cost thrice and in many cases
tcnfold the price Of seats at the opera, and
! the display of dress would humliate the
poor even if the sittings were free The
declaration of the Savior that the pool
j. have the gospel preached unto them ha
o become obsolete in most American cities
s. Even in the Catholic communion, whic!
II has heretofore been regarded AS the rciug
VI luNiI'Nt NNlohiPPUlH' " i'"N'''N ''
arisen ofcXaclirg an admission fee, as
e' Drvinc service were amrrc popular entc
III tainmcnt, standing on the same level as
y theatre or musical entertainment. !
" the dread realities Of religion seem to hay
Fl" cyaporated from these fashionable cntc
J." tainmants, with their display OF dress an
IL pride, which Lave been substituted for d'
&c vout and humble worship of the commo
rs Father OF all Christians
ct But while recognizing. as truth compe
% US to do, the substantial truth Of the repr
rentations made 10y our correspondents '
must he permitted to doubt whether me
exposures OF the dilapidated state of o
~ existing christianity are calculated to {
F much good. Are not such eXposur
~ rather fitted to discrcdit religion and
~ confirm that religious professions are a d
w. ccitfUl cloak! Vital christianity will nev
'u' be revived by holding up false christians
sCorn.
" II may not become secular journal
Ia speak with much confidence on such a su
=" iect, but the broad field Of history
- equally open to all inquiries and some
its lessons are so plain that there can be
presumption in attempting to state the
y We therefore venture to affirm, as PROF
- sition which all history conoborates, III
" no people was ever recovered from
ligious langor or scepticism by invecti,
'' against the irreligion Of the age. Zeal
W religion docs not essentially differ frC
'N zeal for any other thing which appeals
~ the emotional side of human nature.
- periods when there is decay Of the STAG
'' and when mere buresquc and show usu
wv the place of appeals to great passion
Ia nothing is gained by dccamatory invc
tives against the degradation of the theat
But let great actor arsc-a Garrick
ic' Saddons, Rachel and the theatre is
'rc once lifted out of the degradation of sta
.''c tricks and triviality, and there is Great
ne not merely an enthusiasm for gre
Id acting, but an intense appreciate
of the great masterpieces
the drama, which only actors Of the fiji
order of genius can adequately rendc
l., The stage can be rescued from ignoblc
-, cay only by the appearance of actors wi
-, are consumatc masters of every phrase
- human passion. If we turn to the kindrc
:, department of musc--that divine and so
-, subduing art--we are led to a similar co
u, clusion. A truly gifted singer like Jenr
ou Lind, for example, rcdcems music from II
Vitality, and takes VIGOROUSLY captive
No. multitude Of souls that would have bee
ed Indifferent to inferior performances. NOV
ny intense religious emotion follows the san
~ law. No matter how deeply an age may
'os sunk in soothing sccpticism and indifference
bn lie. u man Of genius and truly apostolet
d. icrvor appear, and he will kindle relig
nd Gus scnsibilities akin to his own.
4, Ia AZ, 30 an a.