Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-15
Religion and 44tI.eis''a.
fnr of tho G$lnha,

10 the Editor OF the Giobel
In the present advanced age, mid the
great and peculiar changes in the beliefs
and faiths of the people; mid the variance
in public opinions and the progress of a
world constituted from combination of
science. literature and art, the old and un-
dying faith of our fathers remains stead
fast to the last. In past generations
superstitions ranked high, and the mys-
ferrous workings of Providence were at
tributed to be the elimination of some
great act of sorcery, witchcraft, or the
spontaneous outcome of nature itself. Ma
tions who were masters of arts, some OF
them of finer quality and greater magni-
tude than those of the present day, then
bowed down and worshiped gods OF
mechanical construction, and the worship
of the true creator and ruler was thing
of little moment. Generations devoted
their praise for all things good to their
favorite idols, and hearts of men were
given in superstitious terror to the idola-
trous worship which had become part of
their ancestors lives and characters,
and descended to every tribe, class and
clan as years rolled by. Mothers of saints
and grayhaired patriarchs we're among the
VOL shippers. and Hindoo mothers without
tremor sacrificed their babes to the cruel,
dark waters of the Ganges and the
gaping mouths of the sluggish
reptiles as they crept along the banks
anxiously awaiting their prey, and all to
crafty and appease the wrath of sup
posed angry deity. But as the food of
years rolled back the fimsy clouds of
ignorance and superstition, and the bright
light of knowledge and learning shone up
on the gathered mists. they vanished like
an empty dream, like the mythical spectres
of old, leaving world unembarrassed
by mysteries of the olden times, but beau
tiful in all its phases and scenes. But
over this bright picture
portrait of all that was beautiful, good
and true,-a shadow was soon cast. Creep
ing slowly up the horizon the dark cloud
of infidelity grew larger and became of
| such magnitude as to encompass a greater
portion of the earth, leaving, however, in
its course little openings in the rift of
clouds, through which bright rays of the
gentle, warming sun of righteousness were
| seen to glimmer and grow brighter in their
| condensed and solidifed form. Effort
upon effort has been made to Overturn re-
ligion and the truth-to dash down the
hope of heaven in many who have, in all
ages and chimes, chung steadfastly to the
faith of the prophets-to destroy the beau
ties of the cross and crown, and turn all
| dark and drear with the cold chilling
breath of atheism. Even now, after it has
withstood the shock and woathered the
storms of countless ages-withstood the
powers of the evil minded and the slurs
myriads of scoffers, still there
exist men and human beings who can
look upon the beauties of nature as
wrought out by an allpowerful hand: can
watch the ever varying and changing
seasons and their regularity; can look
upon the wonders of earth and air; can
cen look upon the pure, high
minded beings of earth, and
while acknowledging their wonders at the
mystery in all these things, still undertake
to explain away the teachings of years by
the theory that it may be ascribed to
chance, nature. What is nature but the
works of divine and overruling power
Did man spring from the ground like
blade of grass? or was life brought
| forth through atmospheric changes
Neither, and these scOffers and hoodeums
who claim to represent sensible views can
bring not one good, substantial reason for
| the advancement of their theories, and have
only succeeded in making themselves
obnoxious to the better class of people.
who have always lived upright, respectable
lives, and are among society's best cit
| liens.
Out upon these canting. scoffing atheists
these rediculers of all that is sacred and
good-that which has heretofore been part
and parcel of good society, and is to-day a
prominent and characteristic feature.
Brand them as they should be branded, for
they wish to destroy all that gives comfort
and peace to the soul, and makes earth
| beautiful and pleasant to the mind, giving
nothing in return only odious speech. over
| running with bombastic, egotistical words,
meaning nothing that is elevating and en-
| nobling, and fit only for the bar room and
the street buffoon, whose only idea is to
make life miserable and truth and virtue
| contemplate amid the reeking fumes of
cOmbin ed whisky and tobacco. Few men
there are, who are capable or competent to
form an opinion, or even theory, about a
subject of which they know so little. None
are there who have the right to
claim that they are possessed
of sense of discrimination fine enough
to sift the true from the false, to lead the
blind out of darkness, remove all obstruc-
tions from the pathway of the young, and
thus cement society on a strong and sure
basis.
In all times and in all societies
unbelievers have lived, moved and had
their being; died and had melted out to them
just reward; yet the ripple on the wave
Of time has not flowed on less smoothly
the mite cast in was too small to be noticed
or cared for. Every dog has his day.
every day has its dawning; and like other
mists and vapors this mythical doubt shall
be dried up before the glorious sun of
righteousness and truth, which although
attempted to be crushed to earth shall have
arisen to its full stature of prime manhood,
and one more shall be added to the follies
of the fool who hath said in his heart,
''there is no God.'' Heaven shall yet look
upon its people with brighter and more
benefcent smile than ever before, and
nations shall yet rejoice and glorify the
God of the Christian, the giver of life
and the creator and ruler of the uni
verse. VICTOR.
st. Paul, Nov. IA. 1882.
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