The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-09-23
The Bee Buzz.

The most astounding presumption and
the most hopeless egotism in this world
is that of those people who never 60 to
any church, simply because they ignore
all religion. God has always had a
church or peculiar people and religion is
the chief fact in the universal history of
mankind; but these people coolly regard
it as delusion, superstition, or mark
of human weakness at best and, there
fore, hardly worthy to occupy their seri-
Gus attention. Christianity has long
since made the circuit of the earth. AL
most literally, the Gospel has been
preached to every nation and people and
translated into every tongue. There are
now about 400, ,OOO, 900 Christians and it
is estimated that two thirds of mankind
are under Christian governments and
that nearly three fourths of the earth is
under control of Christian civilization, in
some degree. But these same people do
not recognize the supreme fact of Chris
tendon, at least as having any vital re-
lation to them. Christ has changed or
modified all the governments of nations,
has given freedom to men. redeemed
womanhood and made all human life
noble and precious; but these people re-
fuse to be called Christians and do not
even perceive the grand reality of the
coming Kingdom of Heaven among men.
Christianity has always been the con-
server and diffuser of all good to all
men; but these unbelievers, who will
not believe, simply enjoy the benefits of
our common Christian civilization while
they ignore its divine source, or more
likely attribute it to their own shrewd-
ness, or good luck. They enjoy the sum
shine, but despise the Sun. They live in
Christian lands, but prefer to be heather.
They look upon the imperfect conduct
of those who are in the church and at
once conclude themselves to be better
than all such and are self satisfied.
''Revelation may be true or it may not"
they will say and, as they really wish to
have nothing to do with it, they give
their stupid preiudices the benefit of the
doubt. The most hopeless heather are
these, in Christian lands, who see and
see not and hear and hear not the things
of God.-TO. o. Wright.
If the rising generation does not grow
up to be a generation of gamblers, it
will not be the fault of the prevailing
tendencies in that direction. There is
chance to bet, or guess, or pool, or draw
a prize, or take chance in some way at
every turn. Men, women and children
are all in it; and the temptation to try
to get something for nothing. or more
than ones moneys worth is lurking in
every branch of business and every sort
of amusement. 1t is amazing how ca
gerly most people follow up the tricks
and chances and bargains of trade with
the delusive hope of being sin luck"
Do people really believe in the tickle
goddess of fortune rather than the true
and living God of honesty? Is there
some mysterious jugglery by which
something can be made out of nothing
and nobody hurt or defrauded by it?
Can it be that, by some hocus pocus,
one can be robbed of what is his, to en-
rich his neighbor and yet the heart and
conscience and the mutual confidence of
society remain sound and reliable?
Poor peanuts and few of them are put up
in boxes with worthless trinkets which
shame their makers and the children
buy them with the hope of getting
Jewel for nickel. The housewife buys
box of inferior baking powder for the
sake of gift which altogether makes
doubtful bargain and puts discount on
a good article which must lie over on
the shelf. A man bets on horse race.
If he wins, he gets another mans money
for no value received. If he loses, the
other fellow gets the money for no value
received. Who is really benefited, in
any way? What is added to the real
welfare or happiness of society? On
the other hand, the loss to the world in
truth and honesty, confidence and good
will and that true dignity of life which
leads one to love his neighbor as himself
may be irreparable. Has one really any
right to get something for nothing? Is
there not some sort of dishonesty in it
all? And is it not, after all, serious
injury to society as whole? Can we
afford to gamble, even if it is right?-[O.
o. Wright.
You Can Cure