The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-24
THE WEATHER,
a, 4 F1ELD FoE WORK.

A IELD FOK WORK.
II Christianity is good, it II makes
man and women better and stronger, u
ii brings the light Of real happiness %
drive away tho shadows Of despair, then
IL II not true that tho first subject with
those who teach its blessings should pc
that ct methods? Logically this ls true
because Christ was a teacher I fie
chose certain limos Of Instruction. FROM
that time the most successful lnstruc-
tors are those whose methods have been
most successful, whether the sublect ls
the kindergarten or the tradesman's shop.
Christ went among sinners ana tolo
them 81 His love and promises; He
healed the wounded and strengthened
the weak; He rewarded those who came
to His standard by giving the blessings
of personal happiness. He was not TOO
proud to 50 among those who most
needed Him.
It may be true that the men working
in His cause to-day whose names are
most trumpeted are doing the best
service, but it is not always easy to IN
derstand their methods. At any rate
there is an apparent radical departure
from early methods. For instance here
are two pictures. The other day you
read OF the death Of q young girl in a
Wood street house. It was a very sad
affair. While yet in the years that,
under better conditions, should be full
Of promise, she ended her life Of despair
and shame with poison. And when the
little funeral procession was moving
down the street, another young woman
/. in the same life tried to end herself II
the same way. 1t would be hard to tel
how many more in this city are suffering
the loss Of hope in Gods mercy and the
eouital of their sins. No one knows the
meaning of their brand better thar
they: no one knows the mental anguish
which must have tortured the ones
willing to leave lives of shame in this
world and risk judgment in the next.
Now, the question arises, what are the
teachers of Christianity in Helena doing
for these people? So far as is knowr
the keepers Of the House Of the Coco
Shepherd, a very worthy institution, art
the only ones working to rescue thest
women. We do not know just how the
work is carried on, but is it not proper
to ask what the ministers, the church
societies and church members are doing
in this field? Surely when there are re
claimable souls there should the worl
be done; surely the paths where Chris
trod are not too humble for His fol
lowers.
The other day DR.. Ga Costa, the pas
tor of one of New York's fashionable
churches, took occasion to critlcise Dr.
Parkhurst's methods. During thu
course Of the following week be visited
one OF the houses inspected by his min
isterial brother, but with different mo
tiyes. He did not go to witness revel
that he might d%enounce mans laws
but he went to teach Christ to tn
jewellers. With the Bible in hand b
held o prayer meeting with the womer
He was listened to with earnest an
respectful attention and had the salts
faction of knowing that his words lei
an impression. 1t occurs to us tha
this is Christianity in it's most practice
and useful form.
But, if we were looking for a liz
whore Christianity DIVORCES from whf
Christ intended, where it leaves tt
heart for tho intellect, we would poir
to the Briggs controversy about to |
reopened. Here may be seen viii
seems to us a picture of striking col
trast to the simplicity OF Christ's teacl
ings. Men distinguished in what h;
come to be regarded by some as a PR
f%ession, are wrangling, over what? N
over the existence or goodness of Chris
but over the determining of obscu
questions in theology. Some of the
are pleased to call DR.. Briggs a hereti
But the matter is to be again decide
by vote, and will anyone believe hi
q hereto because a majority of vot
appears against him. The point
that in their intellectual zeal, the hou
spent to bring certain charges and
flute others, these gentlemen are LOST
time in the real work of rescui
sinners. The proceedings of the IL
trial, the preparations for the next, t
arguments pro and con, etc, are he
aided through the secular and da
press until pessimists may be pardon
for believing that the world is becomi
more sinful because the Masters SO
ants are forgetting the real mission.
Let us have more Of the Christian
that converts sinners and let us
moro evidence of it right here at hol
PRESIDENT HARRISON vii! rece
very little encouragement from tho
suits OF primaries held in this city !
evening. While q few OF his support