Wichita eagle., 1889-05-08
RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
What Has Been Accomplished In Hun
bred Years.

| from the providence Journal.
1t is fitting that with the completion OF
the round of centennial anniversaries
which have been going on during the
| last hfteen years, some notice should be
taken of the religious progress made
during the first century OF our national
life. 1t will be found quite as remark
able as the material progress made this
country the wonder and the envy of the
| world, and it is still more promising in
the future. In 1889 1T is estimated that
there was one church member to every
| 14.5 OF the population, at which proper
ton the whole number could not have
been more than 200, 900; now the churches
lation, or upwards of 10000, 900
One hundred years ago the Episcopal
church had just secured the conservation
of three bishops for this country, and
had barely completed an Independent
organization; the Methodists had, per-
haps, 100 churches, the Congregation
| England, the Presbyterians had Just
formed the general assembly, and the
Roman Catholics scarcely existed. The
present strength of these influential
branches of the church is too well known
the foundation work of the last century,
during which footing has been secured
in every center of population throughout
the country, has been well done, and
| that the results are far beyond what any
one would have dared to predict a CEN
fury ago.
In other respects religious progress has
been even more marked. One hundred
years ago the theology of the churches
in this country was mainly that of Cal
vim and Jonathan Edwards. The preach
ing of the time was almost entirely doc
trinal, and had little influence upon
daily life. The morals of the
laity were often corrupt. Profanity
Sabbath dissertation and intemperance
abounded even more than now. There
was little intelligent Interpretation of the
Bible. Missionary enterprise was I'M
known. There we're few colleges, no
theological seminaries and no religious
newspapers. The century which has
passed has seen the influence of the Cal
vanistic theology decline, until that
hard, uncompromising and narrow sys-
tenn is without a vestige of its former
power. Not one of the doctrines but
has been resUated and made more IA
tional. The century has witnessed the
development of vast system OF relig-
ious education, under which at great ex-
pense each denomination has been COM
PEELED to establish and sustain academies
and colleges in every state for the in
struction of laity and clergy. 1t has
seen the multiplication of Bible
societies. the establishment of Sum
day schools in every church, and
the growth of the religious newspaper
from the most insignificant beginnings
to position only second in influence to
that of the pulpit. 1t has seen religion
invoke the aid of culture and become
foremost in efforts to diffuse knowledge
and love of sound learning among the
people. 1t has been characterized by
complete change in religious methods,
under which activity has taken the place
of idleness, and the use of intelligent
means that of waiting for what used to
be called an ''outpouring of divine
grace" The sphere of Christian activity
has been continually widening, and
many kinds of humanitarian efforts are
now seen to be distinctly religious, and
are carried on with zeal and energy
which once had not come within the
comprehension of the church. Perhaps
most significant Of all the present CEN
fury has seen is resumption of that mis-
sionary enthusiasm which was the dis
tinguishing feature of the church dur
ing the first century, and the main
cause of its rapid growth, and work has
been done abroad which by the close of
another century may have doubled the
power and influence of Christianity in
the world Without interesting itself
less in divine things the church has
learned that its proper study is man
kind, the most praiseworthy effort of
the individual not to save his own soul,
bur to reclaim that of his brother, wher-
ever he may be found, from the chains
of ignorance and vice.
Along with this change in Christian
conceptions and methods correspond
ing change has taken place in the atti-
tude of the world toward Christianity
A century ago it was looked upon with
open hostility. Many of the most gifted
men of the tice did their utmost to de-
stroy it, not only denying the truth of
its doctrines, but disputing It's claim of
being blessing to the world. Now, how
ever, Christian character commands re-
spect, skepticism has grown deferential,
as the whole tone of Prof. Huxley's re-
cent attacks prove, while no one whose
opinion is entitled to the least respect
will venture to deny the great and good
influence which Christianity has exerted
upon morals, education, literature, or
even in the development Of science. 1t
is perfectly plain that the church now
occupies position In society which,
from variety of causes-its inordinate
claims, its irrational theology, its intol-
erance and internal dissensions-has
been denied it in every previous age.
What will be the degree Of its future
progress is the interesting question.
There are some both among its friends
and enemies who think that in changing
its methods and yielding so much to
the spirit of rationalism, Christian
ity shows signs of weakness and
decay. An impartial study of its present
position and the sources of its influence
will show that this is the language Of
unnecessary fear on the one side and of |
unfounded hope on the other. In yield |
ing something To the demands OF criti-
cism 1t has simply placed itself more |
completely III harmony with the changed |
condition of human life and thought, |
while throughout its whole history it can |
be seen TO have obeyed that law or devel- !
opment which has slowly fashioned these |
institutions of society which are most |
promising of endurance. When we
consider it more spiritual concep- |
tons, its improved methods, its |
missionary activity, never greater |
during its entire history, and |
that it has doubled in numbers during |
the last century. the prospects Tor the |