Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-23
Old Times and New.

1t is very hard for the men who are we'd
ded to the belief that the old times were
better than these to admit the possibility OF
their error. They are so sure that they are
right, and that the times are wrong, that a
favorite mode of argument with them is
to ask sweeping questions which they seem
to think will take a mans breath away be-
fore he can answer them in the affirmative.
A well known clergyman of New England
has been reused by some statements on this
subject recently given in the Sunddy-School
Times and copied into other journals; and
he plies the Hartford Courdm with ques-
tions about the historical facts and infer
ences involved. He asks if the claim is
really put forward that the world has made
steady progress from the beginning. He
says-and rightly in the sense in which he
evidently means it-"that the true test OF
progress in any country or age is its attitude
toward the Christian religion, and the
power which this has in moulding the nat.
ural character" Then he asks series OF
questions about New England, " In respect
to its reception of Christianity "-questions
which he probably thinks can be answered
only in the negative. "Do men hold more
strongly than they did to the inspiration of
the Bible, and great mysteries of the Chris
tian faith DO they give higher honor to
the Lords Day Do they set greater
value upon the Christian ministry and sac
raments. Are the marriage ties held more
sacred Is divorce less frequent Does a
higher standard of integrity prevail Are
the materialistic tendencies of our times
weaker Is the spirit of obedience to par
ents stronger 2" Now, for our part we do
not claim that the world has made steady
progress from the beginnings but we do
claim that it has been while the world was
at the higher, rather than while it was at
lower, levels of attainment, that the croak-
ing over the good old days of the past was
most prominent. We do claim, also, that
the facts of history will show that no golden
day of the psst-not excluding the apostolic
age of early Christianity-has equaled the
present day in the very lines which this
good man brings up for comparison. 1t is
hardly fair to make a comparison of New
England of now with the New England of
two centuries ago; for that region was then
largely populated with religious refugees
and their children-a better set of people
than the average population of any country
But it is fair to compare the New England
of now with the New England of century
ago. and in that comparison we claim that
New England has made progress at every
poiub ouSScopcu ny thO PuhbchV iuoopioi,
above noted, with the solitary exception Of
the frequency of divorces. The marriage
tie is now far oftener broken than formerly
by civil process; but it was not so well
observed in letter and in spirit century
ago as now. And we go farther in saying
that, at every point thus indicated, the
United States is now in advance of the
standard in New England a century ago.
The facts of history will bear us out in
this declaration. DIR. Dorchester's COM
pilations of figures on the facts of religious
progress are sufficient to start any fair
minded student on track of inquiry which
will be overwhelmingly convincing in this
line 1t is not that the present day is what
it should be- but it is that the day of a
century ago was far behind this, in posi-
tiveness of Christian faith, in love of Gods
word and day and house and ministry in
social morals; in political and commercial
integrity, and in family love and reverence.
The New England clergyman referred to
says that it is plainly foretold in the New
Testament that the last days of the Chris
tian dispensation shall be the worst" Well
if that be so, then it is evident that these
are not 4" the last days of the Christian dis
pensation |" 1t is of no use to deny the
facts of history even to show the fulfillment
of prophecy as we interpret it.-Smday
school Times.