The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-26
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wHEEIINo. W. vA.. JANUARY so. 1854


The INTELLIoRNCER printed yesterday
from the MoTgsntown Post come rem
iniscsnces Of q baCkwoods pioneer preach.
sr, somewhat locally famous in this State
at one time, named Rev. Samuel Clawson.
BE held In common with most Of his
hearers very literal ideas on the present
much discussed subject Of future punish
ment, and never mixad words or at all
diluted his language ag is now the fash
ion when describing the future penalties
OF ain. These penalties were not only
literally mAterIslizsd in the shape Of real
Ere, literal lake OF birthstone, "where
the worm dieth not and the fire is not
quenChed," but they were supplemented
with lurid pictures Of devils welding red.
hot hsrpoons, whose business it was to
keep the birthstone in liquid state and
the miserable sinner properly immersed
therein.
AB to how far there was scriptural war
rant for such preaching, or whether il
was even palutary on the public mind, ia
no! necessary to discuss. Right or wrong
it was the primitive style Of preaching a
generation or two ago, just az 1t was the
universal style century ago.
The point We desire to make in cOnnec.
ton with the "reminiscences OF some
what noted man is that his style Of pro.
claiming the Word eoems to have largely
gone out OF fashion in town and country.
The present tendency Is to the other ex-
treme, 10 a latitudinarian view even in
the pulpit on the same subjects, and to q
still greater lati:udinarianism in the pub
lie mind.
Az indicative OF this tendency We no.
ticed in a recent issue Of the Pittsburgh
Dispatch some lettera from number Of
Clsrgymen living in the different parts OF
the country in answer to tho following
guestlon, as Christianity losing or gain.
ing ground2"
The Rev. W. Il. Thomas, Of Chicago, q
famous preacher, is one Of the clerRymen
to whom this question was submitted, and
portion Of his reply thereto is as iollows:
at Ia evident that the world, and es-
peCially our own country, was never 90
fully under the power Of intellectual
moral ideas and principles as now. It is
also evident that there was never period
OF such general and universal questioning
and unaettlinR as that through which We
are now passing. II by Christianity 10
meant the old views; the external con-
captions OF distant and localized deity;
man, az g fallen and utterly deprsved
being; Christ, as supernatural being
brought In to CounteraCt the tragedy Of
"the fall" penal atonement; the Pile
nary inspiration Of the Scriptures, and
endless punishment, then Christianity is
losing ground; for never before were these
viewg held go lightly, so doubtingly. In
deed, 1t may be said that they are hardly
any longer seriously held at all by the
most thoughtful minds"
The editor Of the Christian Register, pub
lished at Boston, was another gentleman
to whom this question was submitted, and
his answer entire was as follows:
In regard to your question, "Is Chris.
tianity gaining or losing ground" l find
myself at losg to answer, Christianity
stands for 60 many things, some Of which
are growing, and some OF which trust
are declining, that it is generally necessary
10 agree upon what We mean before We
attempt to measure the thing. II under
the term Christianity we include all organ
lied forms, both Roman Catholic and
Protestant, that take tho nsme, simple
glance at the census will show Us that q
large proportion OF the emiRrants in the
United States may be chased under some
OF these heads. The Methodist church,
the Baptist, and probably the Presbyterian,
in this country are each building new
church each day in the year. Most OF this
gain must be attributed 10 the growth OF
new settlements. Whether the growth OF
these bodies Is greater than the relative
growth OF the population, am not able TO
cay; should think not.
II, however, by Christianity you mean
tho dissemination Of Christian principles,
l feel confident that they are growing in
the United States. The great principle Of
ChriatiGn brotherhood ig embodied to
certain extent in our constitution and
Government. The humanitarian spirit,
which hsa always been marked feature
oiOhristianity, Is exhibited In fresh forms
Of endeavor-in the temperance move.
ment, in charity organization, in prison
reform, III the work Of child saving and in
other Chapnels Of practical effort Inspired
by the Christian spirit md supported by
Christian people. Christianity as an ex.
preston Of the highest hopes OF man to.
ward God, and the deepest love Of man to
man, is destined to grow with the growth
Of humanity.