The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-02-08

what early training, and strange AZ it
may sound, what geographical posi-
ton make them. Had We been born
in Turkey, We should almost certain>
ly have been Mahomedans, aud like
true children of the crescent, have
shouted, "God IL God, and Mahomet
10 his Prophet st. Paul says, whom
speaking of his persecution of the
Christians, II verify thought I was
doing Gods SERVICE d
We look naturally upon the errors
and crimes, which = wrong belief en-
tails with pain, but it should be a
feeling closely allied to pity. The
Hindoo mother, who to propitiate an
angry Deity throws her Child into the
Gauges, while every fibre of her be.
ing must cry for its salvation, does
SO, impelled by q deed, but mistaken
sense Of duty. How far is she gail.
ty! She thinks she is performing a
virtuous action. What is virtue in
one country is called vice 10 another.
Are they then relative terms /! have
they no fixed meaning? IL not virtue
in every heart, and in every place the
effort which the soul makes to do
what it verify believes to DO right
and true.
The great Ruler and Redeemer,
came while the world was lying 10
wickedness, and moved with infinite
pity for all these souls wandering 10
darkness, be babe bis followers 60
out and preach the gospel of peace
and love, deliver the message which
the angel of the Lord had given to
the Shepherds upon the Syrian plains,
''good tidings Of great joy. which
should be to all people," How has
the Church fulfilled it's high and
holy mission :! As We look back upon
the ages which have flown, the bare
and cruel facts Of history must an.
swer us. The longest, most desola.
ting and terrible wars which have
ever cursed humanity have been re
ligious wars. With the Mary's and
Elizabeth of England, the Charles
and Philips of Spain, the DeMedicis
of France, with st. Bartholomew and
1njuistions, and Anto DaFe's, che has
90 tioged her garments with blood,
che has % made tho earth groan With
anguish that the angels 10 Heaven
must have yelled their faces in cad.
ness. Even now, across the waters
for months has come to us the din of
battle. The crescent and the cross
have floated together over fields dyed
with blood, aud the most horrible
crimes have been perpetrated in the
name Of religion. Oh, tender and
loving Saviour, author of peace, and
love of concord, how far have thy
children strayed from tho path thy
feet have trod! Not content with
reigning over the souls Of men, she
has placed her iron grasp upon their
bedies. She has loved power tempo
ral aud spiritual, and hes never 70.
leased her hold until it WAS shaken
| from her BY the convulsions Of reason
| and humanity, which would no lon.
|eer bel controlled. For long aees
locking up tho Treasures Of learning,
sho has been at war with science.
Since Gallileo, the revelation Of God
in nature has fought with the letter
Of HE word, ~ they interpreted it.
Slowly a. the light brightens, step BY
step she recedes, and what We have
been told is giving way to what we
see aud know. The written word il
addressed simply to mana moral and
Intellectual nature, and was intended,
1t is evident, to enlighten him az Ia
bis origin, his destination; aud biz
relations to bic maker and his fellow
men, not to teach him of the materi.
al world AROUND him. The t9o reve.
lations whom read Alright, can never
conflict. .'S'at i,.'' Wv 'ssN'
With Oh THE evil, this "bindiug ol
burdens too heavy to be borne )" thil
teaching for doctrines The command.
ments Of men, THE arrogance Of Pope
Patriarch, Bishop and clergy, march.
ing each under bic own narrow flag,
| instsed, Of tho broad banser Of the
cross, tho benefits tho Church ha,
conferred upon humanity, can not bt
numbered. Its great founder has al,
ways been With 1t, and no human
power can prevail against it. But the
second coming which he foretold, may
be near at hand, nay, may have, al
ready been accomplished. ''1n I'll.
clouds Of Heaven with ten tbousaud
angels round him !" Through th(
dark mists Of infidelity which over
spread the earth, . new light il break
i0g-the church 10 returning to he1
first love-" What the angel Of th,
church Of Epbesus said, he has saii
again to her-''remember therefor,
from whence thou art fallen, and 70
pent and do thy first work." She 4
disentangliog herself from the tram
mels Of nero temporAlity, to Civ,
herself . new victory 10 tho human
heart. She is not weakening, bu
getting strongerin that spiritual pow
er which alone is life aud health
Tho angel world, the noble army o
martyrs who have passed on to thei
reward, are doubtless battling for th'
truth In that spiritual warfare will