The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-01
CHRISTIANITY ARKAIGNED.
n Tacomn Unitarian Finds the Church
Sadly Wanting.

Sadly Wanting.
An exchange OF pulpits ives made in the first
Unitarian church yesterday. Rev. Ernest c.
cmitn. OF this city, preached at Tacoma and
rev, ~. =. copeland. OF Tacoma, preached in
the FIRST Unitarian church here at the morning
services. There was large CONGREGATION Mr.
copeland took for his theme "Christianty
versus the Religion OF Jesus AMI 10. a text
used the nth and sixth chapters of ST Matthew
where Jesus in His sermon ON the mount he
nned the Christian life TO his disciples Tae
sermon was vigorous arraignment of Chris.
uanly as practiced today.
1.-TWO systems more uniikev said the reverend
speaker, cannot we'll be conceived than the
system advocated and praciiced by the church
ana tnaf taught by Jesus Unless men and
women everywhere begin to follow Jesus iu-
stead OF the church, nothing is more certain
than terrible social convulsion''
he called attention to Professor BuchBnan's
article on s'The Impending Cataclysn.v pub
lished In . recent issue OF the arena, as sup
porting his views and those OF many eminent
thinkers. The Christian church has utterly
failed to establish society,"
30 lar rs what IL called Christianity is con-
cerned how far are we IN advance of the world
before 1t was introduced?" he asked. "whCre
the clergy have so much to say Tor Christian
civilization we ought to find a state of society
lar In advance of any which prevailed under
paeanism. Yet the two societies are much
alike. Paganism has equally brilliant exam
pies OF virtuet equally monstrous inc 4rnations
OF evil. The poor would appear more wretehed
today than then. The Roman poor had public
baths Tree access to games and theaters, and
religion was free to them so far as services and
sacrifices were concerned. Now they muss pay
ior their amusements aud their seats in cburcn.
Every church has few seats for paupers but
the self-respccting poor will not sit IN them
cnflsuanity was charged with the task OF re-
generating the world. Something he's been
dona In this direction, but nothing at all In
proportion to the influence employed Thougn
she church has been preaching the Christian
religion for nearly 1000 years. yet 1t has
strangely forgotten the religion OF Jesus as ex-
plaaned in the gospels. The great Nazarene
taught distinctly and plainly the duty of non.
resistance. 1T man smite thee on the one
cheek turn to him the other Christian society,
however, Is founded on resistance in business
In pleasure in every relation OF life man mus
resist. We hnd priests Of various sections
praying for the destruction OF their enemies;
Christian wars blessed by the church. All
Christian Europe is trembling on the verge OF
war.
Swear not at ALL said Jesus, yet profanity is
common practice all over Chrisendom.
swearing has become q necessity In the courts,
no one being supposed to tell the truth until ne
has sworn. Here Is the disobedienee OF Jesus
command made the duty OF man. Such swear.
kHS - pfStaiis tVuht IN NEVER Acaru among Inc
heafkea OF the present, nor was il common
Wong the heather OF the past Love to God
end love to man was Jesus eraed. vet the
church INDUCES in long creeds which not even
the creedmakers understand, and yet which are
declared to contain the very essence OF Chris
tanity. There is, I'll ne, q change towards greater
simplicity. but the agents which have caus.
this are not inside the church but outside; such
~ the attacks Of iuhdes and the advance of
science Jesus said: when we pray enter into
your closet yet praying has become a regular
part OF the Christian service. There are prayer
meetings ALSO Could anything be more mon
sfrousy out OF accord with the teachings of the
MASTER Enter . revival meeting and hear the
multitude crying TO God. How does such prayer
differ from the shouts of the heather TO bel,
Astarte and Moloch? The riiualistic churches
adopt vain repetiuons and yet thes echurehes,
claim they are Christians.
"When man like Count Tolstoi, of Russia,
writes about Christian society and plainly
shows its unchristianity, anu when he explains
the remedy in a simple obedience TO the com.
mands Of Jesus, the church raves at him as a
lunatic and an enemy of God, and pious secre
taries OF this Christian republic exclude his
books from the mails, while at the same time
the daily newspapers, reeking in filth and CIV.
ing loathsome details OF crime, are permitted TO
60 everywhere. II is now as ii was. The priests
and rulers do not want TO hear the truth"
Concluding, the preacher suggested as a rem.
edy that we could at least stop our bad habits
and purify our souls. aud do what we can I'M
prove ourselves, accepting the Gospel as Jesus
intended IL should be received.