The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-08-01
WHEN CHRISTIANITY is HURT.
Baptist Record.

DaptisL uecofu.
"Keep Sunday-school and rob
bank, y is phrase coined out OF
the recent many robbenes perpe-
trated by church members on
banks and other institutions of a
public character. Such sayings
are circulated with peculiar zest
by those who, in their hearts, hate
Christianity, and the implication is
that The religion Of Jesus naturally
nests with thieves, or at the best
is no safeguard against thieying.
To snbstantiate the theory, numer-
Gus instances of corruption of
church members are cited. The
boodlers of New York are charged
10 the Catholics; Boss Quay, the
defaulting treasurer of Pennsylya-
mia, to he Presbyterians; "Honest
Dick Tate" of Kentucky, 10 the
Baptists ; Polk, OF Tennessee, TO
the Episcopalians; Hemingway,
OF Mississippi, 10 The Methodists,
and so on all around.
There is nothing In this 10 dis
parage Christianity. All counter
feits are indirect compliments TO
the genuine. Rascals of The deep
est dye will forever ieign sanctity
III order TO more successfully do
their work. 1t was so from The
Leginnlng, and it will be so 10 the
end. Even in the college of the
Apostles there was one Judas.
His dark character serves only 10
bring out the virtues of his col
leagues. 1t Is now, as it was then,
the falling stars attract attention,
but the stars that fall not, shine
with a steady light throughout The
dark night of The worlds history
Christianity is not hurt by mer
who betray her principles fol
greed. 1t is only when such be
trayers are upheld by the churches
and by current Christian sentiment
that real damage is done. 1t is &
high compliment TO Christianity
that Judas, reacting from the pow.
er of temptation, went and hanged
himself. The very act said tha
Judas realized that his crime wai
of immeasureable meanness. Bu
when men can sell Christian prin
ciples for money, and YET remaiI
at ease with themselves, and b.
upheld by Christian men anC
churches, it argues a fearful de
cline in vital Godliness.
1t is nothing against Christianity
that Melhodists, Baptisis, Zone {
Baptist preacher), Catholics, and
other professors of Christianity
sold themselves 10 the Louisiana
Lottery in the recent great struggle
with that mammoth gambling con
cern but if The churches dc
not hurl them from their place:
like the fallen angels were hurled
from the baillements of heaven
then Christianity must bear the
burden Of their betrayal. We can
hardly expect these modern Ju'
dases to have the decency 10 hang
themselves they will live on, but
they should live beneath The with
erlng contempt of all good men till
they bring the money for which
they sold their Lord and cast it
down at the feet of these TO whom
it rightly belongs, and themselves
bring forth fruits meet for repent
ance.
In this age of mammon worship,
when dishonesty, with brazen ef-
fontrS and infinite cajolery, seeks
TO dominate church and Slate, it
becomes us to illuminate against
those who, wearing the livery Of
heaven, bow down to worship The
god of this world. Let there be
no toleration for rascality In the
churches of Christ, and then reli-
gion will not be hurt by rascality.