Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-24


g zen, republic rests on volcano. "
Here we are told that nothing but the
churches and Sunday schools preserves us
from an eruption, and we are also told
that, thanks to the churches and Sunday
schools, the American people are very
much more virtuous and moral than any
other people. If these statements and
implications are true. they are matter for
general rejoicing, but before accepting
them it is desirable that some inquiry
should be made into the evidence upon
which they rest, because they do unques-
tiouabiy seem to conflict with a good many
previously. established facts.
In order to establish the truth OF theee
assumptions it is necessary to show ~ that
the American people really are more vir-
tuous and moral than any other people ;
(2l that the American people owe their su-
perior virtue IF they possess it, to churches
and Sunday. schools. Now as to the alleged
superior virtue of the American people, it
will have to be admitted at once that 1t
cannot be established by statistics. OF
course there are nations which are below
US in average morality, but when we COM
pare ourselves with the leading nations OF
Europe, or even with some Oriental races,
we cannot prove any superiority in these
respects. AS regards virtue and morality
it is highly probable that the Japanese
very far excel us, while it is certain that
we are not in any way superior to the peo-
pie of England, France and Germany in
virtue and morality. France, and even
Germany, exceed US greatly in temperance ;
England alone surpasses us in intemper-
ance. The average of crime is higher with
us than in France and Germany, and the
percentage of convictions is lower than in
any European country. Where, then, do
we get our superior virtue and morality ?
But we must go further, and try to ascer.
tain what proportion of the American peo-
pie are nodded and influenced by churches
and Sunday.schools, so that we can obtain
clearer idea as to the extent and signiti-
canoe of these agencies upon our morals.
Statistics show that less than one.fourth Of
the whole population attend churches. 1t
follows from this that three-fourths of
the population must be uninhuenced by
that agency. Yet it is after all the ma
jority which determines the morals of a
nation. For it is perfectly clear that if
the stability of this republic depended
upon the churches, it could not be main
tanned, since the greater part of the people
do not have anything to do with these
institutions, but follow their own courses.
The assumption that the moral train.
''ing" Of the community depends upon
the churches is consequently not demon
strable, but on the contrary it Is demon
strable that the majority of the American
people derive their moral training from
other sources, and, which is more to the
purpose, it is demonstrable that the moral
training derived from other sources is
amply sufficient to do what the churches,
in the nature of the case, obviously do not
assumption in this very curious letter,
which calls for some inquiry. 1t is taken
for granted that the influence of churches
is wholly and of necessity moral and vir-
tuous. But before this can be accepted it
is necessary to ascertain whether the
teaching of the churches really does have
the effect of distinguishing those who affect
to follow it, by special virtue and morality,
and, second, whether the nature of the
teaching is in any way calculated to pro-
duce such effects. Now of course there
are no statistics available in regard
to the relative morality of those who
do and those who do not attend
church. But there is widespread popu-
lar belief to the effect that the profession
of religion is very often employed as a
cloak for immortality, and there certainly
does not exist that common respect for
protesting Christians which would be the
natural product of demonstrative superb
ority in the religious life and conduct. And
when the character of the teachings of the
churches is examined it does not appear
reasonable that any peculiarly felicitous
results should be expected from them.
For it is seen that they consist mainly in
statements and doctrines which are against
reason, against commonsense, against ex
perience, and against evidence that in
order to secure acceptance for these equally
incredible and unintelligible propositions,
an egregious credulity is digniied with the
name of Faith ;" and that the Judgment
and the moral sense of the disciples is
warped and confused by being required
to accept as attributes of divinity DISPOSE
tions which in human beings indicate the
most evil and malignant qualities.
How such teachings can be expected to
improve virtue and morality is a mystery
which we fear the writers of the "open
letter would find it difficult to explain.
As matter of fact it cannot be shown that
they have any such effect. The truth is
that the virtue and morality which give
American society its stability derive far
more of their sustenance from without than
from within the churches. The great body
of the American people do not go near the
churches, but there are hundreds of thou
sands of intelligent men and women who
have thought out for themselves the lead
ing problems of life, and who lead moral
and virtuous lives themselves, and inAu-
enee other thousands around them to do
the came, without receiving any aid from