Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-22
RELIGION AT THE CAPITAL.
Rev. DIR. Hamlin Says Washington 10
Guaranteeing City.

Rev. DIR. Hamlin Says Washington 10 q
Guaranteeing City.
IN the February number of the Church at
Home and Abroad appears the following arti-
Gle on The Religion of Christ at the Capital, 4"
written by Rev. Teunis &. Hamlin, D. D.:
Washington is yearly, almost daily, becom-
ing more and more q national center. 1t can
never have the sort of pre-e minence that marks
commercial metropolis like New York. Nor,
indeed, the double importance-businesa and
political-that signalizes London and Paris
Manufactures hardly exist here and The COM
mercial transactions scarcely 60 beyond sup
plying our own population. 1t can never,
therefore. become a city Of the very first rank.
The Hon. II. A p Carter, late minister from
Hawaii. whose lamented death has taken from
US Christian diplomat, once remarked to me
that he greatly enjoyed walking on Massachu-
sets avenue and imagining what that superb
street will be when Washington shall have
2,Oco,OOO OF inhabitants. He was a wise man
and great believer III the future of tho capital,
but bis estimate seems day dream. We are
indeed Growing and rapidly. People are com
ING herc for educational advantages for social
opportunities fo- the delights of the climate
and OF smooth pavements within the city and
lovely drives without it. The number of those
that can afford to do this and will choose to do
advances in wealth and luxury. Still this Will
hardly suhice to carry US to point never
reached as yet III the worlds history, save by
commercial centers.
GREAT As A THOUGHT CENTER.
But we are becoming great and influential as
4. thought center. Politically this has always
been tue. 1t IL now true otberwiseA The
scientific element III our population is larger
than that of any other city six to one. Boston
coming next The government is doing an
amount and quality Of scientific work of which
lew people have any conception. The Smith
soniIn, the National Museum and other like
institutions afford exceptional facilities for
scientific study.
The professional schools Of law and medicine
are very hourlshing. Those of law, especially,
enlist the services OF the most eminent jurists,
such as the justices OF the Supreme Court.
great number of young men lii government
service. in public schools. in shops and stores
are devoting their evenings to learning their
professions.
And literature fiourishes here. That mag
mum opus, the Life of Lincoln" is a Washing
ton product. George Bancroft did his last
and some OF his best work here. One can
hardly tell which is greater, the Congressional
Library or the congressional Librarian. Every
year witnesses an access of authors to our de-
hghtfully cultivated society.
hope to see the day when we will have o
national university in the true sense, after
some such magnificent plan as that of Senator
Edmunds and ex-PresiGent White Of Cornell.
RELIGIOUS CONDITION OF THE CAPITAL.
But the question of special interest to the
church at home and abroad is this: What is
the religious condition and influence of the
capital! l think We may truthfully say en-
couraging in high degree This is a church.
gong city. Most of our sanctuarIes are filed
In the morning, many of them also at night
IL Is misunderstanding city. Driving and
dinner giving exist to some extent and are DOS
slDly increasing; though the best people frown
upon them. We have an able and good minis
try: We have multitude Of working laymen
anu christian women. Our Y. NJ. L. A. our
Central Union Mission. our various homes and
asyIums and charities are well supported Ex-
cellent work Is done for temperance and eyery
moral reform.
These things, however we have in common
with other cities. What of the element here
that Is distinctive, viz, the political? A COM
mon impression throughout the country Is that
TINS Is openly irreligious. But such is not at
all the fact A very large number of Congress
men and political leaders are deyout Chris
tians. Not few of them are ready to use their
influence freely, by voice and vote, for the
cause OF Christ Some. it must be confessed
are timid; fearful that sectarian cry will be
raised against them; and SO they throw away
the opportunities of lifetime to make them
serves felt on the right side But this like all
other forms OF cowardice. always proves Door
policy In the long run. The men that stand by
their principles. enter freely into church work
and are here what they have teen at home. are
the men that hold public respect and conf
dence.
No one, probably. would venture to saw that
the capital is welding the religious Influence
that II ought Still the condition is hopeful.
irrelision Is not fashionable or popular A
drunken man In prominent public Office is
almost unknown. An openly immoral man
could not keep his standing in society. The
devout, seif-denying disciples are held in rev.
erence. In word the tone of thought and
speech in our eountry's capital is decidedly and
aggressively Christian.