The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-30

(whichis but little moro than half as OLD have
almost annihilated distance aud made all the
world neighbOrs; and have literally brought the
markets of the Eastern cities and even of Ell
rope very doors. We have tanned the
fierce lightninGs of the clouds and taught them
to obey our messages around the globe, reckless
of mountains. rivers and oceans; aud the same
agent bears the human voice in its familiar
tones to distant friends In the language OF the
prophet of Oden times: "Many run to and fro,
and knowledge is increased" But can we see
the hand of God in these wonderful improve
ments in our material surTOuudiugsl These un-
paralleled advances are confined TO Bible lands,
and to our Christian civilization; and ct see
no miracle i'll all this. Christianity a a religion
appeals to mans spiritual nature, the most Ylsl-
BILE attribute of which is the power of abstract
thought-the faculty of ideal creation. The
mind early trained in the contem patiOn of the
abstract ideas of good and evil, right and wrong,
virtue and vice. acquires the power of abstract
Ing the thoughts from visible forms and sensible
objects to the contemplation of ideal creations
existing only in the mind. This is the inventive
faculty. All this vast world of machinery that
has revOlutionized human affairs once existed as
mere intangible Observation-Disclosures ideas in the
minds of the inventors. The power to create
these ideas and entertain them, contemplate
their movements before they took visible form
or had material existence power de-
rived from the mental gymnastics of Christian
civilization. To the author OF Christianity, then,
are we indebted for tins training and its results;
and to Him be grateful thanks to-day. But all
this material prosperity would bc worthless to us
if we were not protected in its enjoyment by the
puissant arm Of civil government. Theoretical
ly, at least. we enjoy the protection of gov
consent of the governed, a body-pohtic
in which all are sOyereigns and all
are equal In an excusabe partially
to our now national history, we
are in the habit of referring the origin of this
happy Thought to the sage of MontleelO but
long before Jefferson was born this distinctive
American idea, as we now call it, formed part
of the precious freight of the Mayfower when
she bore the Pilgrim exiles to the foreign shore
of New England-aye, centuries before that iJ
flashed like meteor from the sword of Bruce
at BannOckburn-earlier still, it was the living
soul OF that conference at Runymede when the
barons eXtorted from King John the charter OF
English liberty, cOncedng the rights OF the
| common people. But centuries before this, one
had walked the shores of the sea of Galilee and
taught the rude fishermen to ''call no man on
earth master, for you are all brethren" This
was the seed thought that then and there being
planted, slumbered under the frozen soil of the
dark ages, germlnated at Runymede, appeared
above the soil at BannockOurn, was transplant
ed by the Pilgrims to these shores, where it
took deep root, hOurished ana grew with a
strong and vigorous growth, bloomed in the
! revolution of 1875, and now we are invited TO
ENJOY its rich frultage. But IL shall spread its
branches to every land where Christianity pre-
pares people worthy of freedom, till. like the
Oanyan tree, taking new root in every soil, 1t
shall invite the nations to repose in peace under
its shadow.
But there is another side to this picture, which
Justice to the occasion demands that we do not
conceal, however unpleasant its exhibition may
be. How have we received these divine benefac-
tiOns, and what use have we made of the ample
opportunities afforded us of elevating ourselves
society up to purer and nobler lifel Have we
proved ourselves worthy to live in such
as This, and to enjoy blessed privileges and OPP
pOrtunities that the world never enjoyed before?
In the light OF these questions the blush of
shame should paint every cheek, and an accus
ing conscience should constrain us to confess
that TOO often we nave perverted the matchess
blessings of an overland Providence to the base
qualification of personal ambition, vanity
love of pleasure. Our fields have yielded su-
perabundance of food that might have filed
a million hungry mouths with bread, bnt we
have turned il into "A poison that is degrading all
ranks of humanity, filing the land with poverty,
wretchedness and crime, anta@OHtzing and de-
basing public morals everywhere. And This great
national crime and curse not only meets with
our tolerance, but is indeed made the special
object of legal protection! VIII ii be possible to
so write history to make posterity believe
that people in the focus of n Christian cvillza-
tiOn, vested with the law, fosrered schools of
vice, where sober men could learn to he drunk
ards, industrious men learn to he street lOafers,
and vrtuOuS men learn every vice. But while
this horrible picture shocks us, turn to
other aspect of this question with thankful
hearts. The long dark night, from righteous
Noah to this day, in which the bloated form of
drunkenness has set like frightful nightmare
of upward progress, and nlightins the promise
of budding genius, and pouting alike the robe
of the priest ana prophet, and the ermine of the
judge, is slowly hut surely passing away. In
the universal waking up of men and women in
every Christian land to the enOrmity of this
crime, and our completely in il, and RESPONSE
blty for it, l hail the dawn OF n better day
that day when God shall look down upon sober
world,
The services closed with prayer by Rev. E.
P. Wise, of the Fourth Church.