The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-28
BROADCLOTH And VELVET
PREPONDERATE OVER FUSTIAN
AND CALICO IN CHURCHES.
The Rich Enjoy Religion as Lux.
ury to Which the Poor Are
Seldom Invited.
To the Editors OF ths Appsnl.

pable as LOCKER On" should be una
bic to define the difference between
an ulchangt able law and a mistaken
Interpretation thereof. said that in
tidels believed in interchangeable, self
existent law, but net that they be-
lieved in any infallible scientific inter
probation Of law. Advanced scientific
discoveries merely prove tina. the pre-.
viously accepted theories were err )ne-
Gus, but an erroneous theory does not
render the law itself mutable.
LOCKER On" asks what possible in
huences could science have had in
civiliziDg mankind. The introduction
OF artificial light and the invention of
the priu ting press have probably had
more 10 DO with civilization than all
ether factors combined. The first rem
dered social intercourse possible, the
second was the great disseminstor of
knowledge, but this the church at
tempted TO nulllfy by the Index Ex-
purgatories by which only such books
we're allowed II be published rs the
church approved. II Christianity did
step into the seething mass OF Couup-
ton OF pagan Rome, they plunged the
world into intellectual darkness for
centuries atterward, and the light of
the ca ly church nom the third to the
tenth centuries themselves became az
corrupt as the mass they stepped into.
AS to Christian missionaries teach
ing people agriculture, it is as natu-
raj for a people inhabiting
fertile plain to live by the tilling cf
tie soil, and ne denizens of the desert
to remain always a nomadic tribe, as
it is for a fish TO swim or bird to fly.
Mans occupation and temperament
even his susceptibility to advanced
civilizations due solely to climatic
surroundings. 1t is safe to. say that
the Caucasian race void have attained
the highest civilization, whether they
had been Chrit tian, Pagan or Iu6del.
1t Wonld be absurd 10 hold that relig-
ious belief on the pant of an inventor
prompted the introduction of the
steam engine, the steamship, the use
of elet tricity, etc. AS 20 the church
combating Socialism, "Looker 0n's"
position IS not tound-first, because
Christ himself was a communist, and
the Shakers and the communistic
sett9 believe themselves to be the true
exi o1enis OF the teachings OF Christ.
AS to the gIoSser dynamic-destructive
communism, LOCKER On" must ad-
nit that its existence would be unnec-
essary in natural state of society it
exists because of injustice to labor, be-
cause the tendency is toward the rich
becoming richer and the poor poorer.
The middle class, as Bailey puts it in
his Factors of Civilization, are always
striving to avoid the misery of the one
and 10 attain the luxury OF the other.
Now, what class constitute the church
goeTs? Visit them and observe the
pieponderance OF broadcloth over
tustian, of velvet and lace
over calico. Vanderbilt's will
shows his churchly pioclivities. The
wealth and fashion of a city are the
church-g1ers', despite the assertion
that ''it is easier for camel to go
through the eye of needle than for a
rich man to inherit the kingdom Of
Heaven" And it is this class that is
responsible for communism, and I'M
less justice is done labor, and that
speedily, fearful day of reckoning
Is at hand when tle church will find
itself powerless to curb and restrain
this evil. 1t is small wonder that the
church opposes communism.
LOCKER On" has not seen it proved
that the church has comba.ed science
or learning. To begin with, Mosheim
admits (and it is histo tical fact tia;
the early Christian fathers held the
idea that all secular learning was per-
nicious. They held that the Scriptures
contained al that was necessary for
man to know, and after the destruc-
ton by Christian authority OF the
/ SeIapion, that vast store house OF
/ learning, with its 100000 volumes,
secular learning became a'mo ex-
tinCt in two generations, a1d it was
/ centuries before the pain astronomi-
1 cal facts known TO the ancients were
sgain known, Why was Calico slain,
after being compelled to abiure the
doctrine of the movement Of the
| earth?
Why was Bruno burnt at the stake ?
Because his scientific discoveries
with the Interpretation OF revelation,
| But it is useless to recount all the in
| stances of obstruction 10 science,
which are so well known to the
reader OF history. Even to day we
have the spectacle Of Wood
row being prosecuted for his
belle in evolution because tue the
CRY is not in accord with Genesis.
LOCKER On" think makes an ar.
ror in supposing that the morals Of a
! people are improved by their religion ;
on the contrary their religion, / think,
is improved by their n erals. Out of
the idea OF bloody sacrifices OF ami
mails was evolved the one sacrifice of
Christ. Increased knowledge of nat
ural lave, dispelling the superstitious
idea Of multiplicity Of gods, the doc
trine Of the unity of God was promul'
gated, and 30 to-day the Bible does not
receive the strictly literal interpreta-
boa as of old, because it would not
| then COMFORT with modern ideas. As
to Gods moral laws-sll moral laws
are the result of mans experience.
The first murder comm. tied, as a
means of self-protection society must
pass law restraining mhrder, or no
one is ssfe, and so with all enforced
laws. 1t needs no revelation to teach
man such laws Of the commandment
as are enforced. They have been in
operation from the inception of organ
lied society. The laws of God ( O.
called) providing sgainststrs1ge gods,
to, ale not enforced, because their
violation ffers no mer ace to society.
AS for the higher law o! love, the very
acme OF Christian teaching is the
golden rule, but even this is not origl.
nal, since we find the same beautiful
maxim in the ConfuCian Analects
book 5, Kung Yay Ch'ang, chap. !, Z.
In conclusion, how little our boss'ed
Christian morality is practically ad'
mitted by Christian nations. Affairs
are conducted on the theory that al
men are thieves and liars. No MAJ
can enter on official duties, from 20
liceman to President, without stutliy
ing himself by swearing by his Coo
to do his p ain duty. Money is loaned
only on bonds, mortgage or ind0rse
| ..,rg,N II Nur nrnrta q Ultne9H II