The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-01-11

ness. He began to. inquire for his
former associates, intending to revive
the debating club, but found one of
them had been convicted of murder;
another was in prison for forgery,
and some were gamblers and black
legs, living by their wits at the ex.
pense of their neighbors, Most of
them had become vicious and demon
allied, and Franklin began to inquire
why those young men, of good educa-
ton and antecedents, should have
gone 50 rapidly to ruin. He was con-.
WINGED that their destruction was due
to his work in destroying their reli-
gious faith, and he resolved from that
time to encourage every one to hold
fast to their own religion, whatever
it might be. He said, though he and
y few others similarly constituted,
could behave themselves without re-
ligion, the great majority could not.
The common herd of mankind requir-
ed the restraints of religion, along
with the civil law, to keep them with
in the bounds of decency. Long af-
terward, when Tom Paine consulted
Franklin as to tkeexpediency of pub.
fishing s'The Age Of Reason" he
said, "Your reasoning may be true,
but do not usckain the tiger!''
We have all seen the restraining
Influences of religion upon certain in
;lividuais, and many of us have felt
it's aid in avoiding special tempta-
tons. An old proverb says: Spraying
will make us give up SHINING, or sin
ming will make us give up PRAYING
We have tested this sdage carefully
from both ends, and can vouch for it's
truth. But our philosopher friend,
whose explanation of ''Ignorant De-
votion'' was given in our last letter,
gives the following philosophy for
this prayer protection He says:
:'Ths process of praying involves a
periodical review of our conscience
and conduct; a regular reminder of
our duties and temptations, which
keeps us actively OH our guard, and
this is the sole source of the virtues
Of prayer. That it may be offered
through the Messiah, or Mahomed, to
Jehovah or Jupiter, and the effect
is the same.'' He compares the aid
found in prayer to that help which a
lrunkard finds in temperance: socie-
ty. The good way and the bad way
are aiictured to him in contrast 80
clearly and regularly that his con-
science is kept awake, and he can tide
over temptations which had other
wise been too strong for him. Now,
this man may be called an Infidel, but
he insists upon Christian organiza-
lions and efforts as the only means of
maintaining public and private NOR
ality and honesty, and upon temper
ance associations as the true medium
of any useful temperance reformation.
He condemns IngersolI's attack: upon
religion, and his reliance upon the
ballot and education; and repudiates
the reformation promised by those
politicians who are trying to ride into:
Office and power On the prohibition
hobby. 80. .".
! 1t is suggestive fact that the in
huences which are dissipating the
vestiges of christianity from our
public and private lives affect only
tlle orthodox sects. The new sects of
Mormons, Adventists and Spiritual
lists are rapidly increasing while the
Roman Catholic Church keeps its
numbers and its ancient control over
themi1ftaot. We were Presbyterians,
and prejudieed against the Catholics
until We got wooden mill and grist
mill among the French Canadians.
MIR. Drew, our miller, was the only
other English person in the thickly
settled parish. His wife was Cath
olic,, and he turned to her church. We
left clothes upon their lines, or the
mills unlocked at night, andonly once
in ten years some flour was stolen.
Mr.. Drew told the priest, and soon an
under miller confessed that he gave
the flour. to his wife's father, who
lived by begging The priest told
him to pay the:price four'fold, but we
only took its value, and told him to go
to work, but he left and was never
heard Of there again. We trusted all
who asked for credit, and only one
man. q butcher who had slived in the
States andlearned ':B0stonian tricks,
tried to cheat us. Gle got 100 bushels
of our new seed wheat and saldit to
his customers, and had to be sued for
the payment. lAllthe, others paid as
they agreed, or when one was unable,
he would come and explain the cause
and set another time to pay and when
that time came he would have the
payment if he had TO borrow it, and
seemed rs pleased when repaid it as
some Of our ;nsighbors in tho States
would be if they sueeoetlsdH in cheat
inra 10 out of debt entirely. s
Yet 8 Kannuck who is educated,
n,,aturalized and civil the States
can Ino. more be trusted than blue
halli ID 3, Yankeel rs. this because