The Russellville Democrat., 1885-09-03
HorseradIsh Christians,
Rev. Alfred TAYLOR in Christian at worl

Rev. Alfred Taylor in Christian at work.
There would seem to be more horse
radish about it than Christianity.
No one who comes in contact with
it would refuse to accord to it a lib
eral measure of strength; and
strength is certain a favorite attri-
butte of vital Christianity. But its
pungency is too often SO greatly In
excess of its strength, as to afford a
knock down argument against the
advantages of its general introduc-
tion. As a moderate amount of
horseradish, judiciously placed, may
serve to impart desirable flavor to
beef, so does little of the pungent
element in character desirably fla
vor Christian life. But nobody
wants to eat whole dinner of horse
radish, or one in which that useful
vegetable is largely in excess. And
nobody likes the companionship of
fellow being whose whole soul is
completely permeated with horse
radishness.
Good souls they may be in their
way, these horseradlsh Christians,
but undesirable to meet with when
we are in trouble; or. indeed, ut any
time, except just when we want to
get into trouble. Very busy they
often make themselves in the out
ward carrying on of religious affairs,
and of benevolent operations. There
are certain branches of Christian
work for which they are specially
adapted. For instance, when Sun
day school is too full, horseradish
Christian, standing at the door, may
successfully discourage boys of the
neighborhood from crowding into it.
When the prayer-meeting is going
on prosperously, old Mr.. Horserad-
ish may quench q too hearty flow of
enthusiasm, by one of his favorite
addresses, in which he confesses
with much acerbity the SINS
of his fellow Christians and mourns
over the desolation os Zion and the
cold formality of our worship. Or,
when the church is enjoying such
an unwonted degree of prosperity as
to cause that busy spinster, Miss
Horseradisb, to fear that the conse-
quence will be woful amount of
spiritual pride, she distributes
needles and pins, spice and pungen-
cy, "where they will do most good, ;"
as she thinks. towards humbling the
experience of spiritual exaltation
and producing church squabble.
Spiritual Incidence is not general
ly one of the peculiarities Of the
Horseradishes. Ii they would only
consent to be restful, it would be a
blessing to their friends and associ-
ates. They are always ready to do
something, even If it is to acidu
late a singing circle. Whatever
they do must he done in their own
fashion, or they will withdraw their
aid and influence and go somewhere
else. II they are on the way from
Jerusalem TO Jericho. where the
wounded wayfarer lies by the road
side in trouble, they will pick him
up and take care of him. But let
him keep one eye open, for instead
of the healing oil which the kind
hearted Samaritan carried with him,
he will find his wounds doctored
with dash of horseradish, just 70
keep things lively. He will be guess
toned as to all the details of exactly
how he fell into trouble; and as TO
why he was not more careful to have
kept out OF the hands OF the high
waymen. And he will be reminded,
at various stages during the admin
istration Of eleemosynary relief, that