The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-02-10
RELIGION AND THE ALLIANCE.

IN the cQaElbaOI0 O4SAACAO VI
anity, which the Apostle Paul empha
sizes in the laconic phrase, "and have
not charity, l am nothing"
Where did he get that philosophy
from? Evidently from the personal
teaching of Christ, who said, Love
is the fulfilling of the law" John also
said, off l say I love God, and love
not my brother, I am a liar"
Love is that principle in u nature,
derived from the Divine, which
empties its possession for the benefit
of another, in need or distress.
The representatives of Christ all
over the earth, have exhausted srgu'
ment in the endeavor to prove that
what they mentally conceive Christ
tianity to be is Christianity thai the
doctrines of Christ, and not His spirit
alone, is Christianity, or His holy re-
igion.
Satan is a victorious genius just
here. A church member must be
accommodated if he violates the
Laws of society. But if n of his own
brethren is in distress of any kind, and
especially if he is in financial trouble,
then the brotherhood are under no
obligation to help him.
That is a business Office, and is not
to be considered enthusiastically
Gen. Booth says what is the use Of
talking to a hungry, starved mar
about Christ 2 And Christ said, what
does it advantage a man to say, be ye
fed or clothed, while starvation crosses
the mind of the mendicant2 Give
the bread and fuel and clothing to the
poor creature who is almost dead for
it, and leave Christ and His love and
salvation for an after thought.
The spirit of christianity is mightier
than it's principles, which if destitute
of this spirit, are mental distractions
merely.
This is what stumbles the world,
lying in the evil one; that Christians
speak the truth, but practically deny
its power, which is it's spirit.
So strong is this sin in believers that
not only the lost, but their own breth
rem even, suffer therefrom.
Masons and Odd Fellov Us, Knights
of Pythias or what not, lock afser their
sick and INDECENT members, and bury
their needy dead; though these are
purely human societies.
Do Christians do as much for their
fraternity 2 In many instances can
their churches be properly called fra
ternities 2
This is what wounds christianity in
the eyes of the ungodly world. But
mar cam 1t lay this to Chris charge.
He taught and pra ;ticed and com
manded the opposite of all this. But
generalization will not do. Particulars
only reach the average man.
Now take this as an illustration: a
man comes as pastor of a people in
their poverty and helplessness, reaches
down and draws them up out of OBJ
ssurity, poverty and reproach; and so
far as words constitute praise and
gratitude, he their elevator, may be
satiated and almost suffocated.
But years roll by and this their
helper, is now old and feeble-elastic
ity all gone. His lines have fallen in
unpleasant placas. Added to his in
trinity and age is a lack of financial
assistance, and beho'd not one OF those
dear brethren, who love him to death,
would so much as touch the matter of
aid with their little fingers.
Now do you call tbs the religion OF
Christ, who not only taught. but
"went about doing good ?" No, a
thousand times, no. The people-the
common people-the countless ma
iority, embracing the average man and
woman, believe no such thing.
M~illionaires may build costly and
magnificent churches, colleges and
hospitals out of their sinful earnings,
which they hypocritically call Trusts;
but all this not only comes far short
of what constitutes the true religion
of Christ, but is in fact it's bane and
curse By it, self is enthroned. There
is no love in it. The spirit OF chris
tianity is lacking, and it is valueless,
and worse than infdeIity. "And
have not charity, I am nothing"
What does the caption of this article
mean? Do the principles of the Ali
snce justify such a caption? May we
not answer this; that the yeomanry of
the land, the hard handed laborers-
the far mers, full of Drawn and brain,
but, it may be unpublished in their ex.
t%eriors; seeing and knowing all this,
and in defense of their down trampled
rights as men and citizens, have gone
down to the bottom of matters, and
are determined, by Gods help, to up
heave the crust of holloWness, hypoc.
racy and fraud in the land, and deliver
the people down-trodden and almost
in despair, under the yoke of their
avaricious and merciless destroyers.
See to it, Alliancemen, that you pur
ono the cNiri& OF khoA ~l;l1-o~L- LII