Wichita eagle., 1889-11-02

LECTURE AT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
A good sized audience assembled at the
South Lawrence avenue Christian church
last night. The following program was
rendered: A solo by Misses Lucy AND
Johnston, and Introductory remarks
the Rev, Mcpherson, when Emmett Gala.
han delivered the lecture on Christian Civ
iiization, of which the following is brie1
extract:
Talk not of philosophy as a substitute
for the religion of humanity. Beautiful
rs are many Of its representations. solid as
are many of lis maxims, it lacks an ener
gy to penetrate the soul and sink convlc-
tion deep in the heart. Spacious aa ii
seems in the Seclusion of abstract contem-
plation, and benign as may by its infiu-
ence there, it lacks an adeptness to act up
on the great mass of mankind. and q
power to shield them amid the varied du-
ties of the world.
They have not the time to travel through
labyrinths of refined speculation.
They need a simpler and more energet-
ic director than philosophy, and such
one is found in religion.
She points them at once to the all seeing
eye, and to the justly recommending hand.
She teaches them their accOuntableness
for hidden acts. She associates in their
minds eternity with time, brings the pow
ers of future retribution to influence the
thought of present conduct, animates by
the hopes of heaven, and cautions by the
terrors of hell. Her instructions are no
matters on mere conjecture, they are plain
and positive, and enforced by the most
solemn sanction.
Talk not of honor as sufficient spring
of virtue; mean of honor unbottomed
upon sense of responsibility to supreme
being. 1t is principal of action unstable
as the sere leaf that rustles in the breeze
of autumn-a principal floating upon the
capricious breath of the platitude who
now agree to call this, and then that. hon.
oreble-a principal whose esteem of men
is measured moae by the success and
splendor of their exploits, than by their
intrinsic merit.
A principal that in many communities
brands the bravery of courageous oon-
silence with the epithet of cowardice, gives
license to the grossest vices, and emilia
zones the bloodiest crimes-a principal no.
where to be trusted but in governments
which Christianity has refined.
France once made an effort to be free
and in the effort she tested the strength
of philosophy of Danton, Rosseau and
Robbespierre, and of an honor which
spurned the strength of all law.
The revolution proved that she was too
vicious for the possession and enjoyment
of liberty. Burning with lust and reeking
with crime her eye glanced but to inspire
sensuality; her breath issued but to pol
lutte; her feet trod but to wither. Wher-
ever she advanced, she advanced a terror
aud desolating influence, rapine, devas-
tation, blight and ruin were in her march.
Her liberties were strangled in the vortex
of her Iicentioasness, and every case of
reliance on like principles must be nearly
the same.
Let infideiity seize the minds of the
great body OF the people; let the alters of
piety be demolished; let atheism be en-
Jhroued on public respect; let the multi
tude be persuaded that there is no eye in
heaven to witness. and no hand to inhict
Justice Oh transactions of secret villany-
that for crime TO retreat from the eye of
the world is to shelter itself from retribu-
ton; that prosecuted virtue has no other
protection, and triumphant wickedness;
no other virtue has no other protection,
and triumphant wickedness no other
avenger, than man: that nothing is to be
hoped, and nothing to be feared beyond
the grave-the narrow compass of the
present-life; let all religion, both natural
and revealed, be thus treated with general
scorn. and moumful experience will soon
show us that III breaking the moral liga-
Ments which bind the human soul to the
throne of deity, the most enobling senti-
ments are Frustrated, the strongest
motives TO right destroyed. that the power
of conscience shaken, and that all the |
finest ties of pure society are effectually |
dissolved.
know that the abuses of religion in the |
march of civilization have been many and |
/ know that these have been |
the stumbling blocks over which multi |
tudes have fallen into skeptical distrust, |
but on christianity pure and undetiled |
must be our last reliance.
Without public virtue civil liberty is |
baseless, and without religion public vir- |
tue is but name.
Our civil institutions TO be solid and |
must be supported by the in
telligence christian piety and morality Of |
our people.
In surveying the dangers that may |
menace our government, let us be excited |
to caution and vigilance; in contemplating
the value of knowledge, let us strive for
intellectual advancement; in urging the
Importance of religion on government, let
us be contentious and undaunted; in
patriotic devotion to our country, let us be
united and jealous, and may one deep
thrilling burst of emotion throughout this
union ever respond to its perpetuation and
safety"
REPUBLICAN MEETINGS.