Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1892-02-13

mend IL 10 all. without II / should
have gone the whole downward ca.
reer. Stolid and phlegmatic natures
going astray do not go SO far, but
natures like mine. sanguine, intense.
emotional. optimistic, social to the
last degree and echoing to all the
heights and depths of mirth. if they
get off the track they go with one
wild leap to hell. AS to the restrain
ing power of this religion upon
mercurial temperament. testify.
This is not abstraction or something
gotten from books. lspeak of what
/ know. Go out and ask all who
have tried this religion and ask them
how it works.
Three young men in factory came
out on the Lords side, but two of
them, overcome by the jeers of their
comrades, went back and joined the
scoffers. The one held on to his
Christian hope, and one day when
they pressed him hard and were tell
ing how much infidelity had done
for the world, and that Christianity
had done nothing. the prosecuted
Christian turned upon them, and
pointing to Henry and George, who
had for little while followed Christ
and then turned back, he said:
You have tried your principles on
them and know what they have done
for them. When they tried to serve
Christ they were civil, good tenn
pered, kind husbands and fathers.
They were cheerful, industrious and
ready to oblige What have you
made them' Look and see. They
are cast down and cross; their
mouths are full of cursing and filth
ness; they are drunk every week:
their children half clothed, their
wives broken hearted. their homes
wretched. That is what your prin-
ciples have done. Now l have tried
Christ and his religion and what has
it done for me? You know well what
l used to be. There was none of YOU
that could drink so much. swear so
desperately and fight so mastery
had no money and nobody would trust
me. My wife was i'll used. was i'll
humored, hateful and hating. What
has religion done for met Thank
God, am not afraid to put it to you.
Am not happier man than wasl
Am I not better workman and a
kinder companionl Would once
have put up with what | now bear
from youi could beat any of you
as easily now as ever. Why don't Il
Do you ever hear a foul word from
my MOUTH Do you catch me at a
public housei Has anybody a score
against me1 Go and ask my neigh
bors if am not altered for the bet
ter Go and ask my wife. Let my
house bear witness. God be prai>tsi
here is what Christianity has done
for me; there is what infitielity has
done for Henry and George.
Out of this audience | could gather
a thousand men and women who
could tell you rs thrilling a story as
that as to what religion has done tor
them. Yea, if times of persecution
should come as of old. and they may
come, there are thousand here VITO
would for Christ's sake Us cheertully
walk into the furnace Of fire rs
though it were an arbor of thyme
and honeysuckle, and face the lions
as though they were lambs fi-isking
on the hillside. and wade down into
the deep waters which are to sub.
merge them as happily as ever at
Narragansett beach they took the
surf at a summer bathing.
Come up and join those on the
way to a palace What an absurd
thing for king to be eating grass.
Instead of living on the poor fWi,ier
that the world affords come and SIT
among the princes of God at the
royal banquet and hear the bands
play: Eat. . Friendsi Drink. y
Beloved" Here is II crown. wear IT,
Here is a scepter. sway it. Here IL
throne, mount it This is your hour.
improve it.