Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1884-04-25

1HOSE VINO lma&lue tneEc IL uO pVOSIcoS
IN the church IN the way of ideas are blind
to what is conspicuous in our age and civ
llization. If sermons were preserved IN
print and read with as much critical in
tsrest as political speeches are this pro,
gyess would be more apparent and more
generally recognized. 1t already seems
like perusiDg the records of the dark and
barbarous ages of the world to read the
speeches of ren. VINO In their day we're
considered great, good and patriotic citi-
zens, IN support and defense Of the mon
strous doctrine OF human slavery in which
children were sold fr ,m the arms of their
mothers, husbands torn from their wives,
their daughters debauohed TO the brutal
lust of the slave dryer, and if revolving
nature dared interpose protest 1t was
answered by the lash. These things ex
listed within the memory of many as yet
in the middle age Of life, and it was q
time and phase IN the history Of our ma
tion which no American citizen recalls
with pride. 1t is also historical fact
that the church was particeps crimlnis in
this Infamous and monstrous crime aga1ns;
humanity, The pAlpl.s were prosti,u'ed
to i:s defense and the word of God distor-
ted into its justification by men who held
up holy hands Of horror at sight of a boy
on Sunday dodging around the oack way
towards the creek with half concealed
nshipg tackle In hand or the hlushlpg
maiden hanging on the front gate eating
taffy Of the same stick with her last
smash"
Yes, the church has progressed. In
stead Of standing upon holy ground afar
of, where the sinner might look upon 1t
a. Moses looked upon the land of Canaan
from the heights Of Plsgah, 1t has come
to the people, impelled by the same inhu.
ence that took Mohammed to the noun
tain. Instead of the preacher hurting
fire brands from the "etcTnsl burnings''
At hrs congregation from his pulpit and
consalipg spathers ~ mourning for their
children With the doctrine Of "infant
dsmna,ion," a. many now remember
with !. shudder; introducing the service
porn AZ ny the love Of God for His chill
dreu with such hymns as
"There is death whose psng
Outlasts the fleeting breath;
Oh, what eternal horrors hang
Around The secpAd dcs,h."N
aunS 10 tuns that made one feel like
seeking : gra, eyard for amusing diver
;,on;' instead OF these we have ministers
who recognize the fact that they are on
earth and that the people have progressed
in intelligence and independence saough
to think for ,hsmselyes. The t'back-
woodsman" who answ cred when some
one else who could read was called to
preach 10 no longer . teacher il larael,
The law ,s 20 longer hurled st the people
with the thqnders Of sluai, but the gos-
pei Of grace il instilled into their hearts
through the avenues Of reason hy mea OF
learning. The people are % longer held
0he,y a,runG aud breeze ahaken'' over a
lake Of fre and bSimssoue, aud the hor
rors of the damasd delinsatesl more ap
pall,ng than the Spanish iuQuisition or
the pictures OF dppravity in the Police
Gazette, to terrorile them into . change
1heart, but instead are gwen more ra-
tional and effective incentive to higher
aims and nobler deeds,