Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-08

The effect produced BY the advance of
free thought in the last twenty years has
never been made 30 apparent as in the oppo-
sition that is offered in all parts OF the three
Kingdoms by churchmen themselves to the
PRONUNCIATION of a set form of Thanksgiving
| to Almighty God" for the battle and murder
and sudden death which in the litany, every
day, Episcopaliaus all over the world pray
to be delivered from. The few who years
ago believed in the reign of law have been
multiplied, thanks 10 the irresistible logic
of science, and bishops like him of Mel
bourne, Australis, refuse to pray for rain,
refuse 10 insult intelligence and 10 stultify
the earnest Christians whose faith is that of
an immutable, unchsnging God, who does
not delight in destruction. The sensible and
cultured people of England see that 10 coun-
tenance a Thanksgiving service like that
proposed by the Archbishop of York, is to
bring religion into contempt. The highway
man might Just as well put on a sanctimo-
NOUS air and sing Ie Deum to the Most
High because he had the strength to ply
his trade of garroting and robbing. as for
its well-disciplined and brave army, com
manded by great colder, has whipped
Arab Pasha and his army and fastened the
yoke of public debt around the necks of the
poor tsx-ridden fellaheen of Egypt. The
riuzpfo TRUTH rs that tho Egyptian war grew
out of years of robbery of these poor fella-
heen by the British and French bondholders.
It was 20 enforce the exactions of this
usurious class, whose god is money, that
Alexandria was destroyed and Cairo was
and all the land of Egypt has been
once more subjected to the yoke of the
stranger. The pure, immaculate God we
worship is surely above connivance or con-
sent to this arson, robbery, spoliation and
murder. The Archbishop of York, in di- |
recting the proposed national ceremonial,
says it is to take place Gin order to express
gratitude to the Almighty for the removal of
the danger to the British empire caused by
anarchy in Egypt" This is simply absurd.
Egyptian anarchy was no menace either |
to the peace or permanency of England.
The archbishop knows that, but he supplies
the place of reason with the coinage of some
loose tongued diplomat. If he means that |
anarchy in Egypt threatened the peaceful
use of the Suez canal, which is at the best |
doubtful, he is wrong. Many good people |
believe British rule in India to be a mon |
strous iniquity and injustice, and if they are
right the Almighty cannot be pleased by the
Euglish possession of it, especially by murder |
,us means. The suggestion of thanksgiving |
n the name of the Prince of Peace for hours |
If slaughter that brought loss and agony to |
peaceful homes in England as in Egypt, is |
imply shocking. If Christianity means
it means peace and not bloodshed;
t means fair dealing by nations as by men;
means the enforcement of the golden rule |
It all times and under all conditions even of |
To thank God, through Christ,
or war, tumult, arson and robbery, and the
'ower to continue 10 do wrong, is TO put
way the law OF the Prince of Peace and
ubstitute that of the prince of darkness,
nd insult the Almighty, whose law is love.