The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-05-01
Is Christianity Advancing :

Brief Rerei,o of this Subject scifh Rev. DR..
MacArthur, Of ths Bepdst Church.
New YoRK, April l6.-Every thoughtful
observer Of The signes of the times must b
aware that there is abroad In the land
spirit of critical philosophy with reference To
religious questions and the general attitude
Of Christianity. In the prooross ~ ";.''-.- J
,ivu there appears to have been developed
o larger keenness Of research, greater dis
dency totexsrci.e iudividual judsgu =
matters that heretofore have been det0D
mined by authority Of the church or are ruled
by the creeds. To some the world appears
TO be growing better all the time. To Other.
it is plainly reirogradiDg. and discussions
in both the secular and religious press plain
ly show wide differences of opinion.
Rev. DIR. Robert Macarthur, Of the Bsp-
tist church, in answer TO tho general question,
"ls Christianity Advaucipg?" replied as
follows:
without doubt Christianity is advancing
along many lines To careful observer
this must appear worry evident. Christianity
has in itself the element of progress. The
moral, religious and educational forces which
are ut work strongly point 10 the fact that
Christianity is constantly gaining ground.
AS one result humanity Is lined 10 higher
plane and moral ideas have wider sway.
Science, with all its Dultiform discoveries
and revclstions, is not obstructing the spread
of Christianity, but in various ways and to
remarkable degree is contributing to its for.
ward movement. Tho light il bears to
Bible truth helps us TO a clcsrer insight into
;.- h------> ---- -;~----,1-. --I,>-- "a
"on The other hand, rel gion is tho pro-
mo'cr OF scientific truth md friend of art
ii h"s been nn inspiring fnctor in the pro-
grss of the race toward higher life.
"lhc fact that tho secular press is friendly
to the church md her work is most homo.
ful sign. Missions at home aud in foreign
heids were never more successfully carried
on th"n now. AS tho dcTand for enlarged
work comes from the hoaihcn world, the
increased.
81 take an optimistic view as I study the
religious world. Whio there nrc great
evils fot lie dcplored. there never was 40
much good done, ms at present. Right is TO
prevail. Christianity is moving toward su-
Hremacy. The Bible is studied by more per-
sons and with n more studious and devon,
Sp'rit 'han IN the pasr. Tho revision of |
'r'eds is proof of This assertion. Nero crcdul
statements are not enough. Any manifest
disposition TO ignore confessions does moi
necessarily imply undue liberalitv of
thought, but shows that the Scriptures nrc
moro critically examined" -
"po you mink the srir,, or lunuen,y ,s
incrchsiug?"
"a pure Chris ian literature is doing much
ID give fresh impetus TO the diffusion of
'hr'S'iah truth, and do not feel any over
wrought solicitudc nbcut inidcliiy. Truth
~ e"',cr 'nah error. lnfdci sFcculations
arc negative forces. Our age has no relish
Tor the ilippant sayings of n CELSIUS or n Vol.
'"'Ir. Mch anu women are reaching out for
I'uih-sospcl truth and they are not to bc
'"Nheu with the veneer work of the sopbist |
nut we are not confined TO nero asscrti,n |
mere are iacts and figures that arc too clo-
!. nrnt en- with proofof tho progressive character
I Christianity N'"''@'
iohder these In 1850 the population of {
us us country was in round numbers 20. 600 ! o
~ IN 1850 the population of this country ,,
~ III 'o"'iu numbers 1O,O0O,OOO. In 1860 ::
Fro were but 5000 600 of men and woman | III
cmbc,S Of Tho Evangelical obprchc. In pt
oo mere were mors than 100000: Tint
10 say while during thirty yenrs tbc
= ia, OF our country has doubled, and H.
. ui'i ns most rapidly populatiug g. dear ,
Ping dS&RR Us &RRaRlfTsAiHafi.l!S .1s, IS re- stories
lowed and followed to the gulf OF !
despair, where there is the sickcning
conviction that all is over and the
..HJ hc.iOu: ''h-'' --.-- LAae
More recent figures arc still moro en- c
The growth Of church member
hip since 1880 is moro rapid than the
rowlh of the population. The population
:ncc 1850 has perhaps Increased little
yer - per cent, but the church membership
iucc that date has increased nearly 90 per
'cnt. Benevolent contributions have been
great. rhc church was
rrvcr ny triumphant ns n"v Jesus Christ ]
) king. Ills pierced palm i ) on tho helm of
he universe. Tho crimson and gold OF
righ,cr day already color the eastern sky.
niidciiy is IN ignominious failure. Truth
) Niclnr. r.nMs. VIZ. q. DE EOEr.AINE.