The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-09-17
AN ABLE ANSWER

Rev. DR.. G. III. Parkhurst on thu or.s..
ais Christianity DecIininefs, ---sa'
An article by DR.. Parkhurst il ".
North american Reoieeo begins s.
adroitly stating that painters ara !
difficulty in representing the RISING M
in such way that it shall not be mi
taken for the setting sun. Il thu ~
rising or settingP That is substantiss,llss.
our question in this paper.n Il Is =
article of clear facts and strong dadra
tons, the one quite as apparent * N.
other. Reference is made to the VI
couraging prophecies repeatedly MAJ
by eminent men concerning the slr.
vival of Christianity; among other
Voltaire's remark is quoted, that . bss
fore the beginning of the nineteensk
century Christianity will have disss1
peared from the earth" but il aaas
1T is all instructive coincidence th.a
the room in which Voltaire uttsTs.s
these words has since been used & I
Bible repository"
For every fact or utterance indieatipo
decline or retrograde, there are facts
and figures to show how steadily Chr;s.
tianity is advancing and its princinlae
increasing throughout the world. Verv
significant is the allusion made to tbs
repairing TO the seDulcher to anoint
the body of Christ, but Christ was wall.
ing the earth. alive. just SO, all throuob
the ages, intidelity and unbelief keer.
bringing spices and ointment to the
burial-place of Christianity, but There
is nc lifeless body to anoint. And dur
ing all this time, not only are churches
increasing constantly in number. bus
Young Mems Christian Associations
have sprung up North and South
East and West. in North America and
South. in Europe, Asia, the Sandwich
Islands, Australia and Madagascar
This is pronounced strange way Of
dying. Then the vast increase in the
Sunday-school attendance makes Al
equally surprising showing.
g In the year 1900 there were, in tho
United States, 5000 evangelical
churches; in 1850, 4S, O72; in 1870.
40, 148. and in 1880, 81, 900. Yet this i
what the critics call 'effete Protestant.
ISM " 1t is refreshing to read ths
following declaration $50 far from
Christianity betraying the first sympl
tom of exhaustion, there has been no
time since the Jordan baptism Of Jesus
when Christianity has moved with such
gigantic strides, and put forth efforts
SO vigorous and herculean, as durinq
these years of our own century, when
the disciples of Voltaire and the inn
tators of Paine have been most sgila
in their production of obituaries and
accumulation of embalming spices.
A great deal is said at times about
the Importance of teaching the young,
trusting to well-deyeloped system 81
education to give right direction 10
the youthful mind, and to stifnuIate to
a wholesome acceptance of doctrines
which have been proved to be staunch
and vital. The doctrines OF our re-
ligion have survived through all the
ages, triumphing over all the shafts of
ridicule, adverse sophistry and unbe-
Lief. They give hope to the otherwise
hopeless children of toll and sorrow.
They give strength to the weak, and
new life to the fainting soul. Thanks
be to God for His unspeakable gifklp
cries the apostle, and we Of later ages
echo the cry, adding fresh paans Of
praise and thankfuiness that Christ
blesses His children forever with the
influences of q blessed Christianity.-
Golden RaGle.