New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-27

A writer In TIE Churchmanp tells of the heathen
ism to be found liz Ulster County of this state among
the canal workers and ouaarymen. But what he saws
Of this section may be said in a measure OF every
section OF the country The fact Of the matter is that
the chucches must make an aggressive light all the
time IL they expect TO retain even the nominal al
leganse of the people. These Ulster County hesthen
are what they are simply because they have been over
looked by the churches until they humanity past
redemption When you hear a church member de-
elarng that the Gospel potent that II can make
its way TO the hearts Of men without human enort
you may be pretty that that man doesn't vet
understand either religion or human nature feopie
sometimes wonder what is the necessity for SO many
services and sermons. and much talk about re
Iigion. The fact Is that in this way only can the
churches beat back the pagansm and sninlallsm
which are always ready to overthrow our dearly
boueht civilization Aside altogether from Its SPIRIT
ual character Christianity Is the guardian ana pic-
server Of our social life And on this ground 10 'aAe
no higher Il Is the duty Of every good citizen 10 ad IL
in its work Instead Of building ias for the law
less heather in it's borders. and hiring men 10 put
than in think It would be much cheaper for ulster
Ceunty 10 pay the churches literally to convert them
THEW should do It without pay YOU say. suppose
even Paul tho Apostle had to pay his fare when no
travelled and though he was always willing 10 WORK
and imagine be Kept pretty sharp LOOKOUT on "p'
otber saints to see that they didn't shirk their pc
euniary obligations. In the apostolic DAYS as wei a
now the people called on TO support the Chuch'
and their nberailty In this respect was one OF inc
causes Of its success.
rh.vs ssen a good deal in tho religious press re-
Gently IN regard to the readiness of Japan to accept
Christianity In certain sense the japanese are
ready for Christianity but seriously donot il theS
have much conception OF 10 as moral ana sp'r'uai
force AS some one has well remarked They VIII
ually say 10 Europe and America, We nave grown
too intelligent to believe any longer In the religions
Of our ancestors. We really care nothing for their
gods their temples, their beliefs still, as 70 IS
the proper thing TO have a religion, we are entirely
willing to accept the very best imported article In
that lire, and prepared 10 consider bids ana
estimates in regard 10 the same" In many respects,
therefore, think that Christian work among on
andoat savages Is more hopeful than 1t will be amsng
these cultivated and sensuous agnos'cs.
Perhaps tho most serious indictment against mod
ern reyiyalists Is that many Of them so frequently
violate the canons of good taste This s delicate
subject to refer TO- because 1t Is an undenlaole fact
that these revvalsts are. rule sincere Christian
men. who are doing a good work ia certain ways
Nevertheless tholr methods often shocking u
roverent minds. Here, for instance. ! read OF
revivailst who recently gave vivid description o.
the march to Calvary. the mailing TO tho cross, and
tho raising thereof When the cross was raised ne
said and dropped with jerk into the hole, christ'
hands and feet torn by tho nails. and the blood
ran OUT Then he told the people that he was SC
near 10 God that he could whisper right into HI
ear There Is an apparent. though not perhaps. ar
intended, fippaDcy and yulgarty about this thai
am sure must drive away many sincere people
Even the denominations which believe most thorough,
in revivsls are conscious Of this. but they harilS
know how TO abaie the evil
It seems that Robsr. Elsmeres des Of religion has
been actually tried In London. An English Unitarian
Clergyman thus describes IL:
aMr beaumont, fifty years ago, bounded, 10 East
fondoo not ar iod fashioned Unitarian church., but
fheisffc church. OF the so-called advanced type tha
hsd done with all the Pigments and supports OF legend
aid mythology The basis of that church was Ius
What Robext EIsnere would have desired. have the