Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-10
Raadins,,np Beliefs.

The 81. Louis Globe. Democrat has grabbed
tho far-end OF another brilliant idea and
swings 10 II with the tenacity Of grim death.
The Globe. Democrat Is always trying TO re-
adjust something, and some OF its readjusi-
mcnt projects are striking examples oi
ingenuity. As rule, the only trouble
with them IL that they will not
work. They suffer from the same draw
back that has 50 often interfered with the
success OF the KEELY motor--a bitch. Re-
Gently the 0lobe- Democrat evolved mag
nifcent scheme for the readiustment OF the
Republican party In the South, but after
giving II a fair trial-on paper-abandon-
ed Il. II was evident that II the scheme
would work at all II would work back
wards. The Globe Democrat now pro-
poses 10 "readjust Christian beliefs"
Taking its text from an illustration made
in the Church Congress several days ago,
our ST. Louis contemporary says:
",Just 40 is II In the work OF Christianity.
New forms OF attack are constantly being
devised by its enemies; new kinds OF
temptation are being persistently deyel-
oped; new sources OF confusion aud dis.
enlargement are being daily detected. The
old weapons will not answer in these
cases. They demand agencies OF an i'm
proved and more effective pattern. Every
new Mcrrimac must have its Monitor.
Methods that were successful In times past
cannot now be relied upon, and 1t is folly
10 cling 10 them simply because they have
been familiafized and consecratcd by long
usage"
The Globe. Democrat IL engaged In about
as Improbable task az that OF trying 10
upset MOSES. For generations men have
been expanding vast amount OF super
fuous energy and alleged brains IN at
tempting to get Moses off his base only
10 find after they bad gotten through that
NosEs was Just about where he was when
they started. AS the deacon said, MOSES
is a pretty substantial cube, aud refuses
10 remain upset, The same Is very much
the case In respect OF the matter OF reid
justiDg Christian beliefs. The notion Is
not new one with either the Globe Demo
0dt or the present generation Of cad
yanced thinkers" Nearly all the powder
beng now used by the resdlusters" has
been burned before, and in essentials
Christian beliefs show no more sign
Of reimbursement than they did years
ago. They refuse TO resdIust. What
the Globe Democrat terms new forms
OF attack are really, to a great extent,
the same old forms under new names,
which the old weapons have repeatedly
brought TO grief. And we think IL Is
pretty safe TO say that these old weapons
may be relied upon to bring them to grief
again. To the good people who may think,
with the Globe. Democrat, that "new
sources Of confusion and Encouragement
are being daily detected" we would
say that there Is little room for
discouraeement. The fight Is styled a con-
fict between the advocates OF o "resdlust-
ment OF Christian beliefs" 10 the demands
OF our civilization and those who cling TO
old creeds. But il Is really the same old
fight between pseudo-scientists and those
who pin their faith squarely to the essen.
tlals OF religious belief as found in the
Bible. Especial "creeds" OF religious
denominations have little or nothing to
do with 1t. The experience OF those who
have watched the conflict closely Is caleu-
lated to Danish encouragement rather than
excite II. The assaults Of the "adyanced
thinkers" have served TO multiply the
number OF "old believers" who can han
die the old weapons with dexterity and
telling efIcct-have served in fact TO make
the old believers more aggressive than they
ever were before.