The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-25
THE CHRISTIAN WORLD,

AAS PAOSShI oSpSCI Vi visible OnrlStlan-
ity, on birds-eye view, is worthy of
much attention on the part of all who
aim, as they ought, to be intelligent
Christians. We are ashamed to say it,
but candor must confess that the great
mass of those who bear the name know
little or nothing of the spiritual kingdom
they inhabit. 1t is Notifying to know
In what profound darkness of mind many
who are prominent in the Church, as Of
fce-bearers, are content to remain in re-
ference to the affairs of that Church on
the theatre of the world. For it operates
in our day in every part of the globe,
and the destinies of all nations are in its
hands.
We cannot, of course, in these columns
undertake anything like detailed state
ment; but we may be able to present an
outline of the nominal Church, which
will stimulate the reader to further in
quiry. And first, in regard to our own
country, we find all the leading denomi-
nations making a wonderful external
progress. Never before has SO much &C.
tivity been displayed in the work of ex-
tension. The universal watch word is
"onward" On the other hand, it is con-
coded that in many parts of the Union
the practical has supplanted the specula-
tive to such an extent that the enemies of
Christian dogma manifest much more
zeal than its friends The questions that
once agitated whole denominations can
do so no longer If this argues the prev
alence of a better spirit we have reason
to rejoice, but it may be understood to
indicate a growing indifference to the
fundamental principles of religion, and
in this aspect it must be deplored.
On the whole we are disposed to find
encouragement in the present attitude of
the Church in the United States, and to
recognize in it the most efficient factor in
our advancing civilization. There are
unfavorable signs, but they do not out
weigh the great fact of progress and the
proofs we have that Christian institutions
and influences are demanded wherever
our people establish themselves on the
continent. The Dominion of Canada
presents the same picture. The princi-
pal obstacle there is the presence of a
considerable population of French Papists
who adhere with blind tenacity to their
ancient superstitions and medieval
usages. In Mexico, great change has
followed the suppression of the exclusive
power of the Romish Church, and now,
in spite of much popular prejudice and
occasionally violent persecution, several
Protestant bodies in the United States,
Presbyterian, Methodists, and Episcopal,
are under the countenance of law, diffus-
ing the light of a free gospel in various
communities. Little success can be ex-
pected among the educated few who have
exchanged the superstitions of Rome for
the Indifference of unbelief; but the pros
pect of evangelizing large proportion
OF the rest of the population is increasing
daily, and the time is not distant when
even Mexico will stretch out her hands
unto God. In Spanish South America
an almost heathenish darkness remains
unbroken. The educated. classes are, in
private, skeptics, but public upholders of
the Romish superstition, which is there
little better than Paganism. For the
Church of Rome in those regions is alto
gether different from its purer form in
the United States. The masses of Indians
and mixed races are deplorably debased,
far below the level of our negroes. Pro-
testant efforts among them are so restrict
ed as to accomplish very little good. In
the Portuguese empire of Brazil, under
an enlightened government, much more
liberation exists, and the religious inAu-
ence of our countrymen is exercised with
far brighter promise Of success. Protes-
tant churches in considerable numbers
have been organized, and even Protes-
tant colleges have been founded
Turning our eyes to Europe, we find
Bible Christianity gaining remarkable
foothold in France and Italy under their
free governments. In Spain, Portugal,
Greece, and Turkey, its influence is pro-