The New York herald., 1879-03-16


thanks of all its intelligent readers, who number by
the hundred thousand for its patience in keeping It's
columns open for its discussion. 1t is in this way
doing good to its fellow men. Len.
Is IT AN IMPROPER QUESTION?
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
Christianity can never be failure, though many
so-called Christians are trying make it appear
they being. Christians. o failure themselves.
Your question reminds me that asking improper
questions is much easier than giving proper an
swers. When Luther was once asked by naughty
mocker "what God the Almighty was doing before
He created heaven and earth." he answered quickly.
in his peculiar style. that "the Lord was cutting
rods in a birch wood to punish such impudent
quersts with.
There are unfortunately many people in our days
who consider the Gospel obsolete and not fit any
more for the progress of the present century They
raising Themselves far beyond 1t, thinking that it
ought to be in,prcyed; but those who think 50. do
they know something better to be put in the place
which Chris.ianity now firmly holds? During
1000 years the arts and sciences have progressed.
and yet do not know more of God than
Christ told us-that God is the most perfect
spirit and the Father of all mankind:
do not know of anything more sublime about the
destination of man than what Jesus taught us-that
and more. God, the Original of perfection; and
We do not know of anything more comforting about
eternity than what Christ has announced-namely,
that 1t is the hand OF salvation. gloriousness per-
lection. rest and peace-the place of just reward
Is it strange that if Christianity actually be
surpassed, it has not been done in 1,SO0 years?
Everything human is improbable and in want of i'm
provement. In that long course of time everything
has been improved except Christianity. because 1t is
not human but something divine. According
to Chrlst's doctrine there is only one improvement
possibie-that OF mans inner life-which can and
shall continually grow and increase Everything on
this earth that has been and will be did pass and will
pass away Even the earth itself had to undergo
great revolutions and changes on its surface and in
terror and is not the same now it was after coming
out of the hands of its Almighty Creator. Yet the
words of Christ did not pass they did not
grow old; they are without change or alteration
the only thing on earth which is not subject
to the law OF transientness. There is no
book in this world which has been so
often attacked, abused, Knocked, misused and pro-
famed, but also none which has overcome SO power
fully all attacks; none from which the arrows of wit
has brought to shame and disgrace all weapons of
mockery irony, frivoiity and impudence, aud none
which after every dark night did rise again like the
sun only to shine more brilliantly than before
cept the Gospel OF our Lord and Master.
Either Christ or despair! Either He is the one
He says He is; and then His word is the word OF
God and we are inexpressibly honored blessed and
saved through Him; He is not the one and then
Christianity lie and deceit, and may take the
Bible and throw it into the fire, pull down the
churches and curse the name of all names. But
never fear OF that. May every true and good Chris
tian live on, remaining quiet, firm and true in the
right Christian belief until deatha belief which is
containing already that which science and wisdom
queries about Christianity around us will neither
endanger it nor have any disadvantageous conse
quences whatsoever. c. H.
FAILURE BECAUSE FINALITY IN A WORLD
OF CHANGE.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
Christianity has undoubtedly done some good in
the way of restraining vicious character. The ave.
and honor with which it has filled great
many Of it's believers have kept them from doing
the harm that they would otherwise have done.
Probably less henroosts have been robbed in conse-
quence. But it may be doubted that the religion
has done much to directly improve the Christian
part of the world We have evidently reached
stage in our development when q religion founded
on primitive ghost theory. the Christian religion
is finds itself losing its restraining influence and IN
adequate to answer the demands of the time Chris
tianity is failure in its main purpose The exag-
gerated human being whom Christians believe to
have been the author of the plan to
them had promised it to the Jews,
upon whom He looked with special favor
He watched them. guided their footsteps and
selected them the only people upon the the
earth whom He would deliver from persecution and
to whom he would give instruction. The promised
Saviour came and the Jews are not saved. Christi
apity, from the very stand IL takes, is failure. 1t
claims to be nality. IT, as 1t represents, it is the
gift of God. it must be absolutely perfect and hence
can admit of no improvement. Any system that sets
out with being fnality must fail. In stationary
environment. If that possible the system might
succeed, but the environment constantly changes
such system of religion must cease to be or must
fail in its purpose to be stationary. Though Chris
tanity has opposed every change for the better it
has been rcmodeed from year to year to keep within
haiing distance OF the progress OF the time and thus
preserved its existence 1t is failure from another
view. In spite of its intention to always remain a
inslity it. ought by its high t;SSmprehen, ,a,
cause OF present civilization. That it
has always opposed every step in progress every
student Of history knows The part that Christianity
has taken i'll civilization is the conservative one-a
valuable part, indeed, but which it assumed not
Christianity has boasted that it was the chief cause
of modern civilization it has ut the time de-
MED the boast by maintaining its own participation
in the progress. II = had not been for the applica
ton of steam to machinery, the printing press and
thousand other inventions. and IL Christianity had
not taken root among the descendants OF the Aryan
race we may well believe that it would have been
productive of no civilization. Take for example the
HISTORIAN and Abyssinian Christians. The latter
have been Christians for 1000 We lrs and in just
about the same condition that they then.
Christianity is failure because 1t does not accom-
psh what IT would If IL of divine origin, 1t
claims to be. Instead of finding ready acceptance
il is having hard fight with the increasing intel
lgence OF the word. and the nvinber OF it's
believers relative to the population is the de-
crease Its missionary work is failure. The hcathen
converts have most material conception of the
lgon. and not benefited by 1t except II brings
them in contact with more intelligent people. II
remember the figures correctly, IL takes about 5000
TO eacn an African savage To believe III literal ever
lasting hell 1t is growing belief among thinking
and unprejudccd people that any religion that is
based ON an atonemcnt must prove failure. 1t may
r its carly stages be of great service in coordinatng
antagonistic tribes but eventually its supernaura
ism will be its ruin. q. X. ii.
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SOME DIFFICULT INTERVIEWING PROPOSED.
To THE EDrron or THE HERALD
Christianity is not merely name. il is vital prin-
ciple In the SOUL placed there in supernatural way
Il superscdcs the natural in all things. 1t is free
grace bought with great price; too great to be pur
chased by anything that man do. All he has to
do is to accept it on the conditions offered II was
bought by the sacrhcia death of it's Founder. 1t s
the only remedy tor sin, of which all mankind
have been partskers. Its congregated numbers who
believe and accept are the holy catholic church of
christ militant earth, and in heaven the church
triumphant. These indsputablc facts; not pri-
vate or personal opinion. Thousands on earth and
In heaven bear testimony. John, the divine revela-
tor has left the written testimony. Revelation
vii a. IA. IA. The Jewish nation failed A. n mower.