The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-19
Chri.t.s Religion Better Than creeds.

1almage, yesterday morning, preacne
from the text: Proverbs XVI. IL. "H
that passeth by and meddleth wit
strife belonging not to him is like on
that taketh a dog by the ears"
Solomon here deplores the habit @
rushing in between contestants, OF tax
ing part in the antagonists of Others
of joining in fights which they ought t
shun. They do no good to others AM
get damage to themselves. He com
pares it to the experiment OF taking
dog by the ears. Nothing so irritatet
the CANNES as TO be clutched by tn,
Tugs. Take them by the back of the
neck and lift them and it does not seen
to hurt or offend. but you take the dog
by the ear, and he will take you with
his teeth. In all the history OF kennels
no intelligent or spirited dog will stand
that. Now" says Solomon. you &c
into quarrels or controversies that are
not yours and you will get iacerated and
torn and bitten. He that passeth by
and meddleth with strife belonging not
10 him is like one that taketh dog BY
the ears"
Because of the controversies through
out ChristendOm the air is now like an
August afternoon about o'clock, when
1t has been steaming hot all day. and
clouds are gathering, and there are
lions of thunder with grumbliug voices
and flashing eyes coming forth from
their cloudy lairs, and people are wait
ing for the full burst of the tempest I
am not much ola weather prophet. but
the clouds look TO me mostly like wind
clouds. 1t may be big blow. but |
hope it will soon be over. In regard TO
the battle OF the creeds | am every day
asked what | think about it. want to
make it so plain this morning what
think that no one will ever ask again.
Let those who are jurymen in the
case, [ mean those who in the diff
ferent ecclesiastical courts, have the
questions put directly before them.
weigh and decide. Let the rest of US
keep out The most damaging thing on
earth is religious contro .ersy. No one
ever comes out OF it as good a man as
he goes in. Some Of the ministers. in
ell denominations, who, befCre the pres
Cnt acerbity, were good and kind and
useful, now seem almost swearing mad.
These brethren, l notice, always open
their violent meetings with prayer be-
fore devouring each other. thus saving
grace before meat. They have moral
hydrophobia that makes US think they
have taken a dog By the ears. TheH
never read the imDrecatory psalms OF
David with such zest as since the
Briggs and Newton and MacQueary ard
Bridgman and Brooks questions rof
into full swing. May the rams OF the
sheepfQld soon have their horns sawed
of. Before the controversies are set
tied a good many ministers will. through
what they call liberalism. be landed into
practical infidelity, and others. through
what they call conservatism. will shrink
into bigots tight apd hard as the num-
mics Of Egypt, which got through their
Controversies 1900 Years ago This
trouble throughout Christendom was
directly inspired of satan. He saw that
too much good was being done. Re
cruits were being gathered by hundreds
Of thousands to the gospel standard.
The victories for God and the truth !
were too near together. Too many |
churches were being dedicated. Too !
many ministers We're being ordained. |
Too many philanthropists were being
fostered. Too many souls were being |
saved.
1t had been dull time in the neither !
world and the arrivals were too few. So /,
Satan one dav rose upon his throne and |
said, Eye powers of darkness, hear" |
And all up and down the caverns the |
cry was: Hear, Hear Satan said: |
There is that American board of com
missioners for foreign missions. 1t !
must either be demolished or cripSled. !
or the frst thing you know they will
have all nations brought to God. |
Apollyon the Younger. You &c to An
dover and get the professor discussing
whether the heather can be saved with !
out the gospel. Divert them from their
work OF missions and get thea in angry
convention in a room at Yoang's hotel, !
Boston. and by the time they adjourn
the cause of foreign missions will be
gloriously and magnifcetly injured. |
Diabolus. the Younger, You 90 I'D !
and get Union theological seminary Of !
New York and the general assembly of I,
the Presbyterian church al Detroit. st
swords points and diverted from the
work Of making earnest ministers of
religion. and turn that old Presbyter- !
ian church. what has been keeping US
out of customers for hundreds OF years. !
into splendid psndemonium on a !
small scale. AbSddoh the Third, You
go up and assault that old Episcopal
church, which has been storming the
heavens for centuries with the suhlirn- |
est prayers that were ever uttered
church of Bishop Leighton. Bishop
White AMI Bishop McIlvaine and get
that denomination discussing men in
stead OF discussing the eternities. T.!
Abaddon the Fourth. You 60 I'D to
that old Methodist church. which has, /!
through her revivals. sent millions to
heaven which we would have otherwise !
added TO our population. the church of |
Wesley and Matthew Simpson. against |
which we have an especial grudge. and !!
get them so absorbed in discussing
whether women shall take part in her |
conference, that they shall not have so !
much time to discuss how many sons :
and daughters she will take to glory" |
Now, what part shall you and l take (
in this controversy which fills all Chris !
tendon with clangor? My advice is: |
Take no part In time Of riot all /
mayors of cities advise good citizens to !
stay at home or in their places of bust |
ness and in this time OF religious riot !
/ advise you to 60 about your regular /
work for God. Leave the bottles on the |
higher shelves for others TO fight about !
and take the two bottles on the shelf |
within easy reach. the two bottles
which all this dying world needs: !
the one filed with a potion which is |
for the cleaning of all sin, the other !
filed with potion which is for the /
soothing OF all suffering. The gospel .
bottles, Christ mixed them out of his |
own tears and blood. In them is no
admixture. Spend no time on the mys-
teries! You, man only five or six