Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-04-27
The Test of Progress.

1t was Monday morning, and, ac-
cording to his usual custom, DIR.
j set out for Boston to attend
preachers Meeting" AS the cars
were crowded, he shared his seat
with young lawyer whose face he
had seen several times before, but
was a stranger to him. In chatting
with him, the doctor soon found that
his name was Robert Lindsay, and
that he was the son of his old school
mate Tom Lindsay. With the inter-
est of an old friend, DR.. j in
quired, "Where do you attend
church,"
"Well, the fact is" replied Robert,
81 am not much of a church-going
man. l have never been inside Of a
church since | came to H."
The doctor looked a trifle surprised
as he resumed: "Were you never in
the habit Of attending church.
go yes" said the young man. 81
always went to church when was a
boy in New Hampshire, and thought
seriously of becoming church men,
Der before / left home; but as l have
grown older, my views have entire
ly changed. AS l went away to
school, and came to college, my stud
les broadened my mind, and made
me see things in different light. l
am growing daily more liberal in my
ideas. 81 believe in progress. l am
what you might call an advanced
thinker"
"Would you mind telling me what
you understand by the term lad vanc-
ed thinker" asked the doctor.
Certainly not" said Robert. 81
understand by it one who cuts loose
from the set notions and stiff doc
trines of the past. 1 sympathize with
the newer and more elastic views OF
truth that are growing out of modern
scientific studies. | like a rational
religion that is not bound up in
church going and sentimentalism,
but keeps abreast Of the best thought
Of the time"
After a short pause the doctor con
tinued: 81 have not seen your father
since we were boys together. Die
he hold the same views that yor
do?"
go, no. Father and mother were
both members Of the little Congrega
tional church in my native village
My mother was brought up in the
Methodist church, and her father wa
a presiding elder. Fathers ances
tors had been deacons in the COngre
gational church for several genera
tons"
at seems almost strange that yOl
should break away from the old orde
ofthings.
consider it the natural result Q
my mode of life. My parents haC
always lived away up there, out Q
the world; and although they wer
very intelligent they were simpl,
minded people. 1t was not till
went about among men, and say
more of the world that | got rid c
the old notions"
"Was your father a good mar
Roberto" asked the doctor.
"The best of men," replied ROber
with some heat. eff ever there wer
saints in this world, my father an
mother were two of them, and CRANE
father was another"
"Are you better than they were?
"Why do you ask such a question
don't profess to be as good as the
were. 1t isn't in me. They were s
conscientious about everything, an
so devoted to doing good. 1 am to
busy to attend to anything but m
business and my family, though
always give something to worth
cause. always intend to be homes
though / see no use in being quiet s
scroupuIous d they WERE"
"Then your advanced views hay
not made you a better man tina
Your father@
~ don't know that my views hay