New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-29
CTRRENT RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION

There can be no doubt that in nine cases out Of
ten where sin and crime would hide Itself under
hugh and genteel sounding names, ana would excuse
itself on the ground OF the yariou- forms OF moral
insanity" this j. but a thin and worthless cover
ING which ought 10 be torn or Inc name Oh KEEP,
tOmaula has too frequently cheated justice ana
piveu undeseryed immunity ID the common thief
md rcbber. Under his Greek title OF pyrOmanlao
too many vile Incendary has escaped Ia, righteous
punishment Aud a. dip~Omauia drunkenness II
ShOru of half ~, horrors lOathc-OmeDe> and guilt
Ii was therefore. well that Or. Gray az the
Guiteau trial. bluntly called these '-manl9s by
their honest AnglO-SaXon names winch do not
dIve~t them OF their sniulness anu guilt no
MOravlan.
The general estimate of a church, spiritual pros
pcrty Is found by the addition, To ~ membership
Ii these are numerous It ], taken tor granted that
they indicate a good spiritual state. In some re-
spects tn may be true. Tor church destitute Oh
active pTayerlUl pcty Is not likely 10 receive many
accessories. Nevertheless. It i possible TO err III
thi, matter Mere numbers are not lniaIIlDe mat
cations of prosperity, and some churches would be
more prosperous If they counted fewer members
than they do. Every worldly, lnconsstent member
i, one too many for the churchs good and hinders
It's real prosperity mu, cal society gains nothing
for it, great purpose by members VINO nave no
music In their sous aud 30 a church must have
members who really add 10 Is spiritual lie II they
cOuduce TO 1t, prosperity. The great Waht OF our
churches to-day Is more real religion III the mehi-
ber,hip. III men cannot discern between nm that
seryeth God and him that seryeth Him not II our
aims are as worldly n those OF Ihe "Orlu' anu II
our pleasures are derived from the same sources,
can we hope 10 have power with them mere aIo
1n1n, churches that need as much a gracious work
within them a. those ithOut" II pIoteSoed
Christians who are now bringing forth nothing
could be brought up to bring iorth thirtyioId ana
those who are bringing forth thrtyio!H c0uid 70
made 10 bring forth sixty or a hundredi2lI' 10
wouLi be better tor the ultimate honor OF Chrlst
cause than large number Of new convertS--llne
Baptist Weekly.
The oues.ion often Is asked By those who nave
INST be,liu 10 be Christians whether Jhey heeu 10
mako any change in the outward form anu course
of their lives l. e., whether they may continue III
the same business rs before. We ohouiu say 'nde
d,U.rds On what YOU have been dong. Mess
I ccrration has been wrong N itself. you need
NOT alter IT, You need only % engage ~ II Win
new spirit and 10 correct anything evil IN your
,n.tbod4 For instance. II you are gambler. you
st change your business You cannot. as a
Cbri,tian continue in IT, Bat, If you are a grocer
,,ou need to make no change, except whatever may
be needed 70 render you Christian grocer. There
must be no more tricks IN your trade, no more
petty dlshOnestIes or misrepresentation, II there
ever have been such. bui YOU must picture to your
self Christ behind your counter and behave there
as He would. So whatever your line OF life may
be- II II be not wrong itself. you need not alter
it; but you must cOnsecrate It. COngrega-
tIOna!Ist.
It's against the law now for a man to have more
than one wife at a time, but the law cannot be- en-
forced fer want of evidence, and perhaps also Tor
want of a definition. In any other than Mormon
or Nohammedan or other poly gamOus community.
the taking OF a second wife while the hrsL Is living
would be proved by the marriage ceremony, by
witnesses By the certificate, and by che parties
acknowledging the relation But no such proof Is
available an Utah. The mysteries or that vast
house of pollution and shame are secret as thost
OF Eeusis and probably Just about as pure.--lTht
Observer.