The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-10
e1SUNDAY TH0UGHTSbo
MOH%
MORALSb0 MANN Frs
BY A CLERGYMAN.

pose the dramatis persone. The follow
ing questions are asked and answered by
each IN turn, viz:
l. "Do women take as large part and
as much interest in church work as form
erly?"
All agree that there has been a marvel
Gus increase in the number and interest OF
women in church work in our day.
! 2. els the prayer meeting carried on as
effectively as it was7"
Here, too. there is substantially agree
ment that there has been improvement,
| though one writer laments the discontinue
ance of the mothers prayer meetings of
| old time, and another Marion Harland)
has this to say on the general subject: Il
have known many prayer meetings to be
spoiled by unskillful amateurs. When
one worthy brother entreats divine atten-
| ton to the heathe n 10 the uninhabited parts
Of the earth, and another prays that the
Lord will 'usurp His own throne and
still a third petitions that the Lion of the
tribe of Judah may be destroyed off the
| face of the EARTH the panied or diverted
nearer may he pardoned for ojecting to
meetings that are thrown open to pre-
sumption and ignorance"
3. HAS the cessation of pastoral vista
ton on the part of many city clergymen
! been bad for the church?"
There are some differences of opinion on
| this point But one member OF the fair
quartet judiciously concluded that mere
| social calls are not pastoral visits in any
proper sense; and that, in the changed
| conditions of today, the gathering of fam
| lilies together for pastoral catechising, after
the manner of two generations ago, would
not be feasible.
4. "Are there apt to be social factions
in the church, and are they very often
| brought about by women"
All agree that there often are factions,
and that when there are women are the
| chief promoters OF them.
8. "Do women ever spoil minister for
work by fattery?"
The solons of the symposium conclude
that they sometimes do, though not more
! frequently than they do physicians. Men
of these two professions find their largest
clientele among women. "Some ministers
are very susceptible, and some women are
very foolish" Our own opinion is that
| judicious praise mot flattery) is a one
hundred horsepower for getting his best
| out OF clergyman. And in so far as one's
own comfort is concerned, an ounce of
taffy is worth pound Of epitaphy.
g. "Are Christian women doing as much
for temperance as they should"
The ladies fence with this question and
| reply that they are doing more than they
did. Young women are being taught
that there is no double standard Of moral
ity for the sexes, but that they must de-
mand purity for purity.
7. as there too much emotional religion
and are women responsible for it?"
The fault of religion is too much head
rather too much heart. say the sisters of
disappointment truly nowadays. Wal
ter Scott's "Dr. Dryssdust" is oftener met
than is the Rev. Mr.. Mysterious. Both are
poor preachers and worse pastors. We
prefer the ministrations of the Rev. DR..
Broadman OF those Of our genial friend,
Greatheart. And so, no doubt, would the
dramatis persona Of this symposium.
The influence OF circumstances upon
character is marked. There are two
selves in every life, good self and bad
self; an angel and devil; which of these
shall dominate is usually decided by cir
cumstances. "Dr. Jeckyll and Mr.. Hyde
is book based upon profound psychol-
ogy. There is a DIR. Jeckyll and a Mr..
Hyde in every individual. This two-in-
one quality veins human nature.
Training and environment are human
omnipotence. They foreordain the future
and decree fate. We all know or know OF
mute, inglorious Millions" who, had
circumstances favored, might have Sung,
and built the lofty rhyme" or village
Hamptons, who, had occasion served,
would have rivaled him who withstood
| Charles l. Our neighbor across the street
seems to be an ordinary man; bat sud-
denly in an emergency he startles US all by
| blooming out in heroic proportions. The
hero was there all the while-it was only
the opportunity that brought him out
into public view.
So with the bad elements in our nature
improper training and unwholesome en-
| vironment will change a natural saint into
an actual devil. There goes John Wes-
ley but for the grace of God" said the
founder of methodism one day, pointing to
a malefactor going to the gallows.
lis the last and supreme test of charac-
ter to be able to reman honest and good
in whatever circumstances-to stand on
the heights without becoming dizzy, and
TO dwell in the valley of humiliation and
not be proud.
Since circumstances are thus powerful
should not the wise and good look after en-.
vironmentas the board of health looks after
sanitary conditions? It's easier to prevent
than to remedy. Good men and women
can be made at the childhood end of life
more certain and better than at the adult
end.
A prominent pulpiteer, with a genius
for turning out Emersonian sentences, ha.
affirmed, apropos OF the current theolog
ical hubbub, that the protest against DIR
Briggs is an attempt TO anchor presby
terianism TO a cemetery"-that is, to Johr
Calvin. But, as an able contemporary
points outthe fact that Washington and
Jefferson have been under ground almos
a century is no reason why American,
should not be urged to adhere to the prin
ciples OF men who embodied pre-emi
nently the truths which are Fundamentals
in American freedom. The holding fast tc
interpretations which have been tried il
the FIRE and proved is not to be compared
as the pulpiteer above referred to does
compare II, TO an effort to drive horse
who has not been loosened from the hitch
ing post Some truths have been as
certained and settled and are to be I'D
bered to. The burden OF proof lies upor
those who reject them. Those who pro