Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-02
SUNDAY THOUGHTS
ON
MORALS MANNERS
BY A CLERGYMAN.


churches nowadays which deserves serious
consideration. While acknowledging that
Christianity in this current year of grace
counts more adherents, is more ably Off
cered, controls and expends more money, and
IS more infuentially enthroned than at any
previous date it is distinctly affirmed that all
this is due to q lowering of the moral tone
among Christians. The boundary line between
religion and the world is hazy, indeterminate-
SO it is said. 1t is a "debatable ground" like
the border betwixt England and Scotland in
the middle ages-such is the assertion Critics
assure US that multitudes unite with the
churches to-day from social. business selfish
motives. 1t is perceived that membership in
them confers certain secular advantages. They
are an arena of speculation-a pious Wall
street.
This Indictment has been framed in verse by
the Quaker poet, Whittier:
"But the living faith of the settlers old
A dead profession their children hold;
To the lust of office and the greed of trade
A stepping-stone is the altar made.
The church, to place and power the door,
Rebukes the sin of the world no more,
Nor sees Its Lord in the homeless poor"
In proof, we are painted to the worldly
minded, grasping and dishonest church mem
bers, and to ambitious, self-sceking and place
hunting ministers. The latter are more eager
1OT QuanLlLy Jnan QuallJy Lne1r CONVERTS,
the former are in a conspiracy to forget eter-
nifty in time-this is the charge. The clergy
are bold in denouncing unpopular sins and un-
influential sinners Such .denunciations even
the most fashionable pews tolerate and
patronize. But there is a tacit understanding
between pastor and people that current sins
and reputable sinners are to be let severely
alone. 1t is safe to lombard the ancient Phari-
sees-they lived So long ago and SO far away.
If, in moment of Observation-Disclosures the
pulpit does aim at modern hypocrites, this is
. kgl.a. ~ Nol Ia.
violation of propriety." All, this is not whis-
pered in the corner, butithtndered from the
housetops. The church and the world jou rney
along amicably side by side, interchanging
does the ballroom and the theater. The
woes" which Christ pronounced upon the
''Bhited sepulchres" of His day are now handed
round for curious examination as bit of
Richard Coeur de Lions armor might be. But
they are handled gingerly; and precious good
care is taken not to give them any present ap-
Indictment true4 Brethren. let US search and
see.
Earnest, UnseIfish Piety Needed.
The charge above referred to is not absolutely
true. But it is true in spots. 1t is caricature
But caricature must have basis of fact.
Where there is smoke there is fire." says the
proverb. There were never before SO many
faithful pulpits and pews as there are now
and never before so many unfaithful ones.
The tares and the wheat have always grown
together, and will do SO until the final harvest.
But the wheat ought to be an increasing and
the tares decreasing crop. Judgment should
begin at the house of God. The churches, as
the custodians of the divine Law and practice,
are bound to preach that law and exemplify
that practice--are under terrible response
bility! While there was never before so much
honest work-a-day Christianity as there IS now,
there was never before so much call for 1t,
Earnest, unselfish piety is the rule to-day.
But the exceptions are SO numerous and
ostentatious that they attract atten-
tion. All right. Let the press (Which
is the voice of public opinion) sentence them
to the pillory of universal contempt. At the
same time let US discriminate. And when we
recall the thousands of pastors and the hun
dreds and thousands of devoted laymen with
whom it is "Christ to live" whose thoughts are
psalms and whose deeds are prayers; when we
remember the Christian homes OF the land, and
the quiet work among the poor and miserable
and blind and naked rendered by m en- and
women who blow no loud trumpet to announce
their benefactions; when we reflect upon the
constantly heightening standard OF truth and
equity in private and public practice, and bear
it in mind that this is the result of the better
understanding and application of the ethics of
Jesus, theu we shall refuse to conclude tnat
there is such thing as Christian principle left
under the sum- and that all ministers and all
churches are responsible for the shameful omis-
sions and commissions of some. Strike, but
hear"