Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1889-10-12
CORRESPONDENCE



1t is very important question for
each to solve, did the Saviour, the
Lord Jesus Christ and His deciples
after Him. formulate any code of
laws or rules for the government of
His church, and is it essential to ones
church life to know that he is guided
by such laws and rules as given by
Christ and His disciples? Certain
Nv Jesus Christ would have taught
essential things even for church gov
eminent. The rites of the Lords
Supper and of Baptism He institu-
ted, but not even the modes of their
observance He or His disciples pre-
scribe. The Roman Catholics claim
the right to be the only church, her
etics and heathens all besides. The
Protestant Episcopal Church claims
to be "the church'-having the
apostolic succession" straight thro'
the English church, though Henry
the 9Th be one of the links, perhaps
necessary to give tone to ssthe toney
people" the church that is not de-
moralized by "wealth and wicked
ness.r Has it come to this that in
these United States, with nearly TO-
100000 of people, and one of the
most Christian nations on the earth,
that we have no church of the Lord
Jesus Christ, but the Protestant
Episcopal Church, which lowers the
standard of church life to let in I'M
reproved, the dancer, the theatre
goer, the profane, the habitual drunk
ard, and then holds itself up as the
standard of society? Find the law
and the rules for such a church in
the New Testament if you can. Our
rul of faith and spiritual church life
is the Bible, our best Judgment must
guide us to ecclesiastical home. BIZ
blically enlightened conscience speaks
for purity and Christ-likeness.
The church then, call it "sect" if you
please, that is most like Christ, will,
as it has done, survive the javelines
of folly, and reach after the perish
ing with practical and sensible in
struments, by the light of the word,
discarding the membranes of
gowns and rubrics and candles.
80 *s* IS
1t is gratifying to learn that under
the stringent enforcement of the laws,
polygamy has practically ceased in
Utah. 1t has been hard contest of
morality against organized crime,
but civilization has won. The same
alertness is necessary, however, for
Mormonism still retains its polyga-
nous doctrines, and it will revive
the practice if 1t have half a chance.
1t would be glad day Tor the nation
if this religion would betake itself to
some other country, and stay there.
AS that is not likely. however, it
must be made to respect our institu-
tions by obeying the laws.-Balti-
more american.
***
Are opposition to the public
schools by the Roman Catholic
church and to the Bible in them, IA
vorable signs that the institutions of
this country are safe in Roman Cath
Ole hands? Are we really helps to
this country if we are seeking to de-
stroy one of the foremost, most ne
cessary, most prominent, long-liyed,
and proved to be one of the best in
stitutions for the intelligent health
and progress of the nation? Each
district, municipality and state will
do well for the nation by guarding
the institution of the public schools,
and putting in them that book that
will teach better than all others. and
consequently make better citizens by
teaching that "the fear Of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom" A wise
people viii make wise nation. In
the fear of the Lork is the beginning
of such wisdom. The Bible teaches
such fear No other reader" is
equal to the Bible to this end /; hence
the Bible taught and known will
make wise people and nation.
TX ** X.
1t is not proved that art, in the
older countries, has helped to the pu-
rity Of Christian life. We need new
er expect the aesthetical to take the
place of the ethical, or to be infalli-
. BILE in its help to morals. Secular
education though truly essential to,
and in all necessary lines of success
full life in this world-yet it does not
evangelize. Spiritual life is not an
outcome of the beautiful in physics,
nor of the secular and literal in
knowledge. AS four of the divisions
of Mr.. Todd's sermon from the text,
HMalt were firmly distinct LET