The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-03-22
CHAPTER XIII. Continued

y
churches where dullness prevails and the
E.ind waits in vain for fresh nourishment.
The churches advertise a preacher in tho
newspapers as the theatres advertise "star."
In default of good preacher other attrac-
tions are put forward to draw the publrc.
How resist the two following appeals, posted
at the doors Of New York and Chicago
churcha copied them word for word with
great care:
Musical Evangelsts.
< Solos;
Z Short sermons;
The place to be happy and saved.
Walk In, ladies' and gentlemen, walk in.
/ The other, more seductive still, was worded
thus:
No reason for not coming
~ Free seats;
Cheerful services;
Books supplied to the congregation
Religious sects multiply every day. No
doctrine is too absurd to make proselytes.
The latest religious invention in America
is Esoterism, which promises Immortality to
its followers-immortality that's all! The
doctrine OF the Esoterists teaches that, if man
were really pure, and followed tho precepts
of tho Gospel to the letter, he would become
immortal not in Paradise, but here below.
As it is probable that no Christian ever yet
succeeded in following infinitely the precepts
Of the Gospel, the Esoterists may be right.
To live forever, say they, you have only to
Nmain virtuous, even in the married state.
: Delibacy must be embraced. Celibacy pure
and simple, however, is not sufficient, for
swhere there is no struggle there is no victory.
Devotees must therefore marry, but IN all
honor remain celibates. If you succeed in
mastering your passions, no malady will at
tack you, and you will become immortal.
"But," you viii probably say, do the
Esoterists never dies'
Yes, they die-once; but, according to
them, this does not prove the fallacy of their
belief. If they die, it simply proves that
they have failed to attain the necessary de-
gree of perfection.
Now the Esoterists are safe to continue
with us, for either they will arrive at perfec-
ton and become immortal, or they will fall
away from grace aud will have children to
swell their ranks. The head of this sect,
which is as yet only about two years old,
claims that when the Esoterists attain perfec-
ton, not only will they be immortal, but
they will have clear insight into the future,
gift which will enable them to amass great
riches. And, indeed, the utility of such an
accomplishment on the stock exchange, for
instance, must be apparent at a glance.
Another sect pretends to be able to cure
all disease by faith. The faith of these fanat-
les is not shaken by the death of their pa
tients 'sIf they had had more faith they
would have recovered"
During my stay in America, well known
evangelist published volume of sermons
with the following preface: "God has been
kind enough to own the words when spoke
them. | hope He will give His blessing to the
book, now that the same words appear in
print"
Many books are published in France with
the remark, "a work approved of by Mgr.
the Archbishop Of X.,n A volume, advertised
as having been owned and blessed by the Lord
himself, ought to have wide sale.
A truly edifying sight is that of the noisy,
dirty, disappearing crowd, collected on a
Sunday evening outside Madison Square Gar
den, New York, on the eve of "six days
go-as-you-please walking match.nn From or
in the evening, there is a betting, swearing
match outside the gates. But the walking
only begins at one minute past midnight.
Not to take tho name of God in vain, the
English have invented many euphemisnls;
some men, imagining, | suppose, that the
Deity takes no cognizance of any language
but English, venture so far as to say Mon
Dieu or Mein Gott
At this kind of thing the Americans are as
clever as the English. They have invented
Great Scotti
Something admirable in all the main re-
ligious sects of America is their national
character.
When ! hear it said that religion is the
sworn enemy Of progress, especially of re-
publican institutions, turn to America and
say to myself: ''This is not true.'
There is no minister of religion, from the
archbishops down to tho most unlettered
preachers Of all the small isms, who would
dare to tell his congregation that liberty is
not the most precious, the most sacred of
their possessions, and that tho republic is rot
the most admirable only possible form
Of government for America.
In France there is much indifference on the
subject of religion; but great deal of in
credulity is affected to satisfy political bias.
am certain that if, in France, you searched
into tho hearts Of the people, you would find
there much less atheism than in many other
countries. Religious belief seems to be the
appanage of the royalist party, and other
people think they make a show of republi-
canism by throwing over the belief of the
royalists. The religious man is rather looked
upon as political enemy than as religious
antagonist. This is tho true explanation Of
much apparent agnosticism in France 1t
must also be remarked that plenty of royal
lists only affect piety and go regularly to
church as protest against republicanism,
and that many republicans may DO excused
for taking this display Of religion for an act
Of hostility towards their pet institutions.