Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-04-17

lnE tUTOuRn tHo DlUOA VI lVhpWHhANAf
The apostles on the other hand had imme'
dinte SUCCESS and conquered nations by tue
sword OF the spirit, not by force but by per-
suasion. They shed their own blood not
that OF others and the spiritual republic
they established centuries ago IL not Kept
intact by frownlug fortresses bat by the
To 4ohlnRs OF Christ aud In the belief In
them. 1t proves that the pen and the voice
are ml9htier than tho sword and that all
schemes conceived In passion and false am
biton are destined to pass away and leave
ruin after them,
It may be interesting and helpful to US to
consider SONS OF the secondary, although
great, causes that operated towards estab-
fishing the Christian faith In tho hrst days.
trst canse may bsdiacerned In the beauti-
full teachings of the Christian religion Itself.
It proclaimed truths that satisfied the
reasonable aspirations OF any reason
able man and gratifisd his reasonable
wants. II spoke to the people OF God
and gays them d rational idea of a God
essentially one. existing from eternity to
eternity who gives all things ami watches
Nil. II spoke o. God Infinitely great holy,
lust md wise. and this idea OF God 10
consonant to the ideRs OF men contrasted
with the low, crawling divinity established
by human vice, Hitherto man was rldd . |;
mystery to himself. He knew not whence
he came nor whittier he WAS going. But
this Christian religion came forth and gave
man a rational idea of himself. Il gave
light and consolation and peaoe to his
heart; that pence which the world cannot
give, peace Ia his own heart by Keeping his
passions subject 10 reason, and reason sub.
jact to the law OF God.
Tho Christian religion speaks to all men,
10 all classes OF men, everywhere purifying
every stratum NJ society. 1t spoke 10 rich
aud poOr master aud slave. IL told rich
men not to trust In the uncertainty OF
riches. To tho poor It gave comfort In the
story OF u God who was rlch but became
poor thar In His poverty they might become
rich. Whom Il spoke to the slave his chains
elevated him. In word the Christian re-
llsiOn hed out to all the blessed promise of
eternal life.
But begies thla cause there was the great
assistance derived from the beautiful exam.
pies Of Christian practice. The pagan
worli gaz,d with admiration at the wou.
deriul purity OF life and the charity OF
| ChrstiaUs amidst the wnnt0nness and
social fillh that surrounded them. With
| Drunkenness and debauchery on every side
they were uutaintpd In the midst oil
temptation they were sef-denying, eharlt-
| able and inst. When pestilnnea existed and
| others fed they Remained behind to bury
| their friends and also ihels enemies. They
| were calm II persecution and even faced
death i'selt with serene Joy.
| A tree that bears such SOLITARY fruit must
be ulsntei by a. himself.
| Now, Il may ns asked what ~ the reason
that the gospel that prodnGsd such salutury
| re4ult1 then dOaa not do so now. II Is no.
| tlg fault Of thu work. Perhaps the tgult
may bs with you anl us. Perhaps we az
act pcerch with the uDctlon of taith and
| you perhaps ARE cold and negligent. Ma
tions have lost Christianity by these causes
1t IA easier TO preech the word and convet
a heather nation han to give the gosps
again u II civilized race that has apostG
ti2si. II had gone f-nm AiaxnEdtla
Antioch, Jarusuiam, Ephesus. whore AT
the words OF life that were heard IN thu
blessed homes Of Cypran AMI Ghri 4ostpm
MahCmmHdanisn exists now whore Chris
tianity once nJutishad.
Among mo BLESSINGS OF Christianity nre ),
clear Inception of God the worlds rasau,
from idolgtry; It's comiort aud consolation
the endowment Of the worl with beneyo
lentRnd charitable Institutions ;dul slavery
driven away from Christians luuds.
Last year II could ua said with trntt
that there is not a single slave In Ohrlstel
dom. Christianity again has limited tn
number of war;. For oGe year OF pcac
durlug tho Roman empire there were 80 q
war, Ii this cauntry's century o exi8tenc
there were only 10 OF warfare. ChtlstiAnit
has elevated labor since Our Lord an
Saviour Jesus Christ worked at a carpeu
ter's bench. A recent French writer sal,
tnat Ia the United States every nonebt oeeu
patton is an honorable n.
Again. what las Christianity done 10
women In pagan times she was u slave
The wife odly is not the slave but til
penr and equal with the husband. not
tenant at will OF bis, but the mistress OF he
hone.
The cardinal closed his address with tn
expression Of u hope that rach one OF hi
hearers would endeavor to mike himself
factor In promoting the glorious heritag
OF the faith Of the fathers. He thanked tn
audience for their attention.
At tho close OF the address tho audlenc
loudly appiaudei the speaker. On motto
a vote or thanks was passed. to tho di tin
guished lecturer. The cardinal then aros
aud followed by Bishop Curtis quietly le
the platform.