The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-12-30

the same anxiety about them now that
there was then. Therefore ask, as
christianity keeping up with science
and civilization 2" The different
churches cow preach liberation. Is
federation doing cur people good or
harm? Has federation brought about
this indifference amongst ns2 Truly
this 10 the age of liberation when the
following singular speech was de-
livered by DR.. Adolf Brodbeck of
Hanover, Germany, at the Pertinent
of Religions held in Chicago. 1t was
not only tolerated, but it was followed
by swelling round Of applause: 1T
is an open secret that millions of peo-
pie in our civilized countries have
practically given up christianity, and
with it religion. Millions of others
cling to the belief only because there
is nothing better there. Again mil
lions are believers Ia christianity, or
other religions, because they have
been educated on those lines and do
not know better" This is startling.
When Mr., Dharinapala of Ceylon.
took the platform, he suddenly de-
manded OF the audience Of five thous-
aud of the greatest lights ofthe world:
GLOW many of you have read the life
Bnddha ?" Five responded. when be
exclaimed: "Five only -Four hun
Gred aud seyenty-five millions of peo-
pie accept our religion of love aud
hope. You call yourselves great
nation, aud yet you do not know the
history of this great teacher. How
dare you judge us. You preach =
God oflove, but your actions are sell
fish. You make of The ignorant man
perfect hypocrite. A commission
composed of eminent Englishmeu have
declared the christian idea was a
myth, that death and blood idea was
repuIsire TO our people. This christ
ian story has been exploded. 1t has
gone into oblivion" This is toler-
ton with vengeance.
We can not disguise the fact that
there is a great change. Even the
mode of preaching has noticably
changed.
| The doctrine that God confines his
affection to small and select portion
of His creatures aud condemns all tho
rest to hell, inflicting upon them 10 all
eternity the inconceivable physical
torture of fire, is a thing rarely heard
nowadays, though many who read
this have heard such declarations no
doub., quarter of century or SO
ago. We may judge how far these
new ideas have advanced by the fol
lowing, which was de.ived by the Rev.
4. I. Munger, candidate for the past
crate of the Congregational Church Of
North Adams, Mass, one of the old
Puritan States: 81 utterly regret
the opinion that The great masses of
maak lad are subject to useless pains
in the future world /; the heather, the
heather of Christian lands, the simply
moral. who fall short of a technical
common run of humanity. l have no
belief in iuflic,ing punishment ex-
cept as they come through the laws
inherent in our nature and conduct"
lie was unanimously installed.
These facts, aud masses of accurfIu-
lating evidence, proves that great
revolution of opinion in regard TO the
future is in progress.
Now are we gamers by this revolu-
tiou OF ideas? If these are facts as
above stated by DIR. Adolf Brodbeck
and Mr.. Dharmapala, and by the Rev
T.. L. Munger. why christianity is dy-
ing. Let us hope not. But TO me the
situation is alarming, and l may well
wonder "whcther Christianity IS keep
ing pace Nth civilization"
PROGRESS.