The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-09-12
oSs,eer 3un& VII .o.ae Il. sheer
= 6sepsE Ths hast fallen olt 81 the

y
r Hseps Tlt hast fallen ost Of the
Mbh. Others do mot attend because,
when they do their consciences are set
actively ct work and begin to make
themselves very disagreeable. 1t is not
pleasant to have the conscience rise up
and complain and the best way to quiet
II u TO stay away from q. place where 1t
will be stirred up. Others who go
steadily on with business seven days IN
the week can not spare the time, they
think, fof church-ge Others seem to
think they derive more benefit from
going with gun and fishing tackle and
spending the time in sport. Numerous
as the reasons arc which people assign
for absenting themselves from church
we think almost every other reason
would be given than because they con-
sidered the churches detrimental to the
good o. the community.
It will be seen then that we take for
granted that the great miss of those: in
this community who do not go to church
habitually, still think that it is good for
the community to have churches.
But these persons certainly do not
realize that they can say in no palmer
way that the churches are useless than
BY absenting themselves. This is true
even if they verbally advocate the ad-
vantage of having churches. Their con-
tinued absence is moro forcible argu-
ment against the churches than their
verbal arguments are for them. Notice
the argument . boy brings to offset such
an argument from his hther. His father
Is not i churchgoer, D6t he insists that
his boy shall 60 and tries to point out to
him the advantage of doing 80. On the
way to church the boy, half mad, says.
IF it is such good thing why don't he
~ Kimself?" That y 4 clincher! 1t de-
stroys the force Of allsthe father has said
or may say, SO long as he himself refuses
to go.
A great many parents in this commu-
nifty are saying to their children in the
plainest way that the churches are use
less.
4 II ID noticeable in every community
that the burden of building and sustain
ing church falls on few. OF course
good many may do a little, but it still
remains true that the burden falls on the
few. Now the masses practically say to
this little band, eve are glad to have
your church in our midst A church is
a good thing to have in a community.
But you must do your work yourself
You must bear the burden alone. You
do the work and we will share the ben
efits with YOU" or course these words
are never spoken with the lips, but it is
just what those say, practically, who stay
away from the churches and do not aid
them. They impose on few the work,
the good ofwhich tho whole community
shares.
What are the Christian churches Of
Bozeman trying to do?
We emphasize precepts which lie at
the basis Of all material prosperity, viz,
diligence in business" economy, integ-
rity and liberality. Certainly no fault
can be found with these teachings.
We emphasize precepts which lie at
the basis of all good government, viz,
purity, intelligence and obedience. The
Bible is our textbook and if any one
objects to that, they must also object to
our system of law, for English jurispru-
dence is based upon the Bible and we
have drawn upon English juris prudence.
One who can find fault with the teach
ings or influence of the churches runs
great risk of exhibiting his ignorance or
lack of fairness.
The one who undertakes to prove that
the churches are a bad thing for the
country has hard job on his hands.
The churches are composed Of individuals
and as class these individuals can bear
comparison with any other setof persons
6rcharacter. They are not lacking in
public spirit. Their hands go down Just
as deep into their pockets, just as willing
" and just as unselishly, perhaps as those
of anybody else. They are not behind
hand in advocating or supporting any
measure for the public good.
If the world should seek to find out to
whom it is most indebted for discoveries
and inventions; for educational institu-
tons and institutions of charity, in short
for everything which has been beneficial
to the world, we do not fear that the
church would suffer.
Do we in the United States owe any
thing TO our institutions for higher ed
ucation? What ever We owe, We owe 10
men from the Christian churches. Such
universities as Yale. Harvard and
Princeton have more than a national
reputation and have done no small work
in shaping the thoughts Of this country
as we'll as educating great bodies Of stu
dents. But if possible q greater work is
being done by the scores of colleges in
nearly every state east Of the Mississippi
river. These colleges are training the
great mass Of those in the several states,
Who are getting a higher education.
These institutions have been founded by
men from the churches; sustained by
men from the churches and are manned
by teachers from the churches. Similar
schools are springing up on this side of
the Father of Waters and from similar
sources. Is it not significant that the
opposers of the Christian churches have
never been able to found and sustain
single school of any prominence by which
to disseminate their views? Frequent
attempts have been made, but they have
been signal failures. Is it because they have
not men who are sufficiently liberal, or
that they have not persons Of sufficient
intelligence to man them or that they
cannot get students to tain? Whate ever
the cause, it is by no means compliment
tary.
Let it be remembered too what is owed
in the world Of literature and thought to
Christian men. Next to the Bible no