The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-16
TREND OF RELIGION.

1bLND oN lkNlllJlON.
Christianity Is Increasing Faster Than tho
Populntion-Two Significant Events. ~
Ne1c York Press
There arc number OF bright, enter
tanning, enthusiastic people who man
ago in ono way and another to mako
quite stir in tho world, and who arc
very euro that religion is dying out.
They consider 1t antiquatcd. Thoy
often assume plying, patronizing
tono toward those who still adhere to
the ancient faiths. Religion is by these
bright, entertaining and enthusiastic
people classed with outworn supersti-
tons that were we'll enough in times of
comparative ignorance, but arc now
quite out OF harmony with nineteenth
century enlightenment and "progress."
To hear such people talk or to read their
writings ono might suppose that
churches are being deserted, Bibles sell
dom read, and that preachers are find
ing, like Othello, their occupations gone.
10 be sure, statistics seem to be rath-
or against such claims, For instance,
the latest United States consus returns
indicate not only that church attend
ance, church membership, value of
church property, amount OF cash con-
tributions for religious purposes, num-
Dor Of teachers and pupils in Sunday
schools, Issues OF religious books, num-
Der OF young men studying for the
Christian ministery-in short, numeri-
chi developments along religious lines
OF all sorts-are keeping pace with tho
increase of population. but that Judged
by each and all OF these statistical! tests,
Christianity, in this country at least, is
gaining much faster than the popula-
ton, and relatively faster than
ever before since tho Declaration
of Independence, 1t might be sup
posed that such figures would rather
stagger the serene confidence OF those
who assert so volubly that faith is out
of date. But not SO. They prove thor
right to be called skeptics by an air of
skepticism toward the census. They
would have us suspect that the returns
from the churches arc "doctored" for n
purpose, that throughout the length and
breadth Of the land church clerks, mis-
sionary secretaries, treasurers of ecclc-
siastical societies, officers of theological
seminaries OF all denominations arc in
ono gigantic conspiracy to impose upon
the world by false statements. They
offer no proofs OF conduct so astounding,
SO difficult OF accomplishment, go easy
OF detection; but skeptcism like theirs
is superior to such old fashioned things
as proofs.
Let US call their attention to couple
OF events that havo taken place within
recent date in the worlds metropolis,
tho city OF London.:% They constitute
circumstances whichi it may possibly be
worth while for those to contemplate
and explain who so airily assume that
the modern world has drifted away
from belicfin God, in revelation and in
Immortality. Cardinal Manning and
DR.. Spurgeon have tlatoly died Both
were preachers OF tho Christian re-
ligion. They differed from each other
as much almost as two men could, yet
they wore alike in being foremost
representatives, tho ono of Roman
Catholic, the other of Protestant
Christianity. In lie they were known
MI over the civilized world. Their
names were household words in millions
OF homes. When they spoke as many
listened as could got within sonnd Of
their voices. When they wrote print
ing presses groaned beneath the burden
Of the pages that had to be issued to
supply the eager demands OF readers, in
as many languages as wero heard on the
day OF Pentccost In death they arc
mourncd wherever men, women and
children havo tears to shed. All last
week IN increasing procession of Lon
don's sod hearted people filed with un-
covered heads, through the building
where Surgeons mortal body lay in
state. Only a little while before similar
scenes were witnessed around tho bier
OF tho venerable and beloved Roman
Catholic prelate. Tho newspapers OF
two hemispheres have toemed with bio
graphical sketches and editorial com
ments devoted to the lives and labors OF
those two representatives OF what we
are assured is an obsolcscent faith. i
We will not pursue our theme fur
ther. We mako no argument. It is
needless. Facts like these tell their
own story and compel thor own con-
illusions. There are facts that do not
depend upon statistics; facts with
which church clerks and donomina.
tional year books have nothing to do.
This is big and busy world. 1t moves.
1t is swiftly turning round and rolling
on. 1t has no time to spare for what
has been dropped out and left behind.
They who say that religion is "back
number" may properly be asked to tell
us why it is that within these past few
weeks the deaths of Manning and Spur.
geon has affected the world a thousand
fold moro profoundly than has the
death of the heir presumptive to the
throne OF an empire on whose domin.
ions the sun never sets.