The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-17
rHE DALLAs HERALD, SUNDAY NoRNINa, APRIL " lss1

nH In
the dawning Of the. day of better things.
But although |. would seem that there
should be but one Interpretation as to the
Christian. religion. we fad views on its scope,
intent and processes as diverse as the waves
Of the sea, and contentious creeds separated
BY mere wall Of paper, that lend but poor
addition to the power of truth. Genoraized,
we may say there are two views or ways Of
looking at Christianity; the one the spirit
ual, the other the mechanical. Tha former
is reg ,rdless of signs, set ceremonies, etc,
underline theory that a change in man had
been and is being constantly effected by the
power of Chrisl's presence in the heart, and
that this Of itself is sufficient unto salvation
the latter requires more exact observance OF
other things, such as prescribed forms, the
sacrament, etc, and tina. the persistency and
successful spread Of Christianity is subject
to these. SO, too, there be those among the
classes just named..wh insist that Christianity
and the Bible cannot be separated, that the
latter is the formative power in the church.
tho presence Of God speaking to His people
while others urge that 1t is a compilation, a
mere quarry of abstract truths, teachings,
ETC., the productions Of good and able men,
but not necessarily the emsnations from di,
vine source. Be this as it may, all parties, of
tho Hebrew faith at least, believed in the
accuracy of those records, and the coming of
Christ, as prophecied, evidenced the fact
But despite all these questions and others
that threatened to stiae, if not suppress, the
new religion, it struck deep root into
the intellectual, moral and religious sides OF
mons nature, aud grew and hourishsd in the
midst of rising oppositions, and all the
wealth.. Influence, 6rision. wit and learning
that were arrayeT against it. And this
in the face of tho very humble and
lowly instruments who we're selected
by the Savior to spread his teachings,
until to-day |! glows with resplendent
etlalgence in the palace of the rich and tho
howell Of the poor, in the centres of civiliza-
ton, and in the missionary sought jungles of
barbarc homes Its presence has onnobled
humanity, which was previously so debased,
its influence elevated the mind which WAS
before so cramped and blinded. its doctrines
proclaimed freedom where tyranny otherwise
prevailed, while in the pure atmosphere of
these conditions, philosophy and the sciences,
politics, .and the professions, all morality and
the arts, have gone on in vast Improvement
to make man worthier of his Creator and his
destiny. That under its name institutions
have sprung up that were disgraces to their
time; that tyrannies have been practiced that
were scandalous in their nature and extent;
that quarrels and violence and murders have
been perpetrated that would hare
Swallowed even paganism itself, arc facts not
to be denied nor concealed. They are
solemn and mournful spectacles which
though to tho exacting mind are more than
regrettable, are to the thoughtful only those
temporary storms, those evanescent waves of
feeling that agtate the great deep on its
surface without disturbing its integrity as a
whole. which becloud the atmosphere with.
out depriving it Of its life and health-g giving
properties. In the midst of all this, tho one
central fact romans, the birth. the life, the
death of Him, tho poor, derided, desoate
Jesus, to whom Christianity to-day bends
obelsance, opened up to this world, code
of moral grandeur, not to insist on the term
religious, and inauguratod reign of benevo.
lence and philanthropy ION which hangs all
tho law and tho gospel" that no military
hero, no learned statesman, no profound
philosopher ever approached in tho mag
niilcence of its conception, the inhnity of its
extent and the eternity of its duration.