The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01

II the past. see no place for 1t in the
present order Of things"
THAT il a mistake naturally arising
from the narrow aud distorted views
in which you were educated. II you
will pardon the adjectives," replied
DR.. Leete. RELIGION has not ceased
to exist. On the contrary. it mas
grown broader, more practical. more
consistent with itself, and, as a natural
consequence. it is universally accepted.
We have no infidels or skeptics now ex-
cept among those who are recognized
as unworthy members OF society. In
your day skeptics were the result OF the
Inconsistencies of your religion. You
preached one system of truth and prac-
ticed another. You said great deal
about God and his Word in your pulpits
but expediency was usually the con-
trolling motive of your life. You sell
dom brought the Bible into direct con-
tact with practical affairs. When you
urged men to keep the Saba ). 1t was
seldom on the ground of sanctlty, or
because it was God 3 day. The all pow
erful arguments were personal proht'
physical health, and other economic
advantages. And even the most devout
Christians looked for greater practical
blessings from proposed social reforms
than from the preaching of the Gospel.
How many of your ministers, for ex-
ample, gave over the preaching OF
Christianity to become advocates Of po-
liiical prohibition, the single tax dec
trine, and various other schemes of re-
form.
1--WE have merely carried out their
ideas in more logical fashion. Drop
ping the purely sentimental ideas Of
God aud spirituality, we recognize tie
essence Of religion in love for mankind
and a true devotion to the interests of
society"
Can this be the end Of that which
seemed so slight at its beginning 2" said
the deacon. The edge of the wedge
was very thin. Only slight lndiffer-
ence to duty, only little yielding to
worldly principles, only a trifling lack
Of faith in the power of God, and its
result has been the dethronement of
God from his place in the universe. "
Just at that moment the doctor acct
dentally touched an electric button con-
nected with the machinery of the Ma
tional Orchestra, and the sudden ring
ing of peal of musical bells gave the
deacon such a start that he awoke TO
hear the last tones of the breakfast
bell. reminding him that he had over
slept in consequence of sitting up SO
late the previous evening.
Atthe breakfast table he related his
dream to the family and concluded by
saying: i've made up my mind to
stick to the old custom and so to church
today whatever the rest of you do. You
know" he added, addressing his wife.
we've really more than usual to be
thankful for this year. Tom and Mary
we're brought out of the fever almost by
a miracle. And | shall not easily for
get how providential it was that l
missed the train that was wrecked. Be-
sides, my business has been more pros
porous this year than ever before"
As he spoke of these things the other
members of the family were reminded
of numerous unusual blessings enjoyed
during the year, and soon the old SUI
perstition Of gratitude got the better of
their progressive ideas, and they unani
mously voted that the dinner would
taste better and the family gathering be
all the more jolly if they went to
church first.-The Independent.