Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-26

commenced a series OF meetings in Memphis,
and if he should be as successful in his Ia
bors here as be has cen elsewhere his visit
to our city will occasion much congratula-
don. DR.. Hammond is a man of great
ability and piety. No breath of suspicion
clouds his name, and it is to be regretted
that any effort has been made to dirparage
1im as a man and 10 impair his usefulness.
Even conce ding that his plans are out of the
usual order and not in keeping with the
judgment Of others as to the proprieties Of
things, he should be judged solely and entire
ly by the results of his work. Measured by
this standard, DR.. Hammond has nothing to
fear, for his labors are always followed by an
increase of religious fervor and large Access
.ions TO the churches. No man who has
true desire for the moral uplifting of society
can afford to place himself across the track
Of one who, like this distinguished evangel-
ist, has given himself wholly and entirely to
the work Of going about and doing good.
Religion is essential TO the well-being of the
State itself. The very existence of civil So
ciety requires social order; and social order
is impossible without the sanction OF reli-
glen. Even the Affections, to which flesh is
always heir, are alIeviated by its tender
cares. Hence a skeptic was forced to say,
allow strange that religion, which seems to
have no other object than the felicity of the
other life, should, nevertheless, contribute to
our happiness in this life" This being true,
every good citizen will rejoice at the success
& n Ho,op,a,I1, 1ah Rut real
lasting good can be accomplished without
appealing to the judgments OF men. Reli-
gion should abjure passion and sensational
appeals. When founded on reason il is
deeper, intenser and more glowing than the
blind enthusiast ever felt. Appeal
ing to weak minds and exciting them into
state of frenzy is sinful and silly. All the
emotions lie close together. High religious
sentiment is of a brittle edge, and easily
crumbles into silly sentimentality. Faith
lies very close to superstition; it is but
step from trustiulness 70 blind eredulity.
There are well-marked metes and bounds
which cannot be disregarded in the presenta-
ton of religious truths and the expression OF
religious sentiments and emotions. Within
these limits the advocate or exhorter is in
vested with grandeur of personal dignity
which belongs to the man who is saturated
with his belief, and who in utter unconscious
ness of self is wrapped in the contemplation
of what he conceives to be the absolute
and awful truth. These limits overstepped
for an instant or by word, and
his power is gone. Between pathos and
bathos the difference is less than of letter;
it is the enc step from the sublime TO the
ridiculous. That religion should bring JOY
and contentment to the heart, there can be no
doubt. But noisy demonstrations excite
doubts instead of removing them; they con-
firm skepticism and awaken no convictions;
they do not attract, but repel the sincere
seeker after truth. The work in hand is of
too great moment to be handled without the
profoundesI care and the most thoughtful
consideration of every good word spoken and
every act done. Men feel and act more cor
rectly as they think dispassionately. The
world has drifted away from the sensational
nonsense, the shrieks and shouts which gave
a eligious revival the appearance of
lunatic asylum. Passion, unrestrained
by reason and intelligence, is
blind guide. Nowhere is this fact more az
parent than in theology and in the religious
life. Ii has led men to mistake the frenzied
utterances of half crazed zealots for the re-
violation of the Holy Ghost. Religion be-
comes what is popularity known as the re-
ligion of gush and sentiment. The natural
tendencies of mental culture Is to check
these mental excuses. The soul becomes
like a well-organized government, instead of
a mob; each capacity fulfilling its appointed
work and harmoniously working for the
glory OF its Creator. The effect of increased
intelligence on the heart in matters of re-
Iigion was shown through the comparison of
the medieval crusaders with modern mission
ary operations. What the heart moved SIM
NV by religious emotion viii do, when unen-
lightened by reason, may be seen when the
Hindoo blindly throws himself under the
car OF the Juggernaut; what the same heart,
enlightened by sound judgment, will accom-
pIish may be seen in lives OF Intelligent
eyapgelists like DR.. Hammond, carrying
forward far-reaching plans for the elevationo oil
human society, and putting in motion forces
that operate for good as long as human his
tory lasts. Intellectual culture, however,
does more than keep one from becoming
religious sentimentalist and bigot. Ii is to
bring to us a clearer knowledge OF God than
uuaided faith could ever obtain. 1t viii
check credulity, but it will give to faith
strength which superstition vainly longs Tor;
1t will restrain the tumult of ungoverned
e e, but 1t will give to love depth and
iorcse Wien no frenzy of blind passion could