St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-05
HEAVENS N1EssENGERs.

HEAVENS MESSENGERS.
The ways of the modern evangelist
are past finding out, if one may be per-
mitted to refer to Scriptural quotation
and apply it to one of these peripatetic
apostles. He is an interesting study,
both from the moral and the metaphYs-
ical point of view. and in many ways lie
deiieS the standards by which we have
come 10 Judge the ordinary layman.
And let it be understood that he does
an immense amount Of good in the
course of his minstrations. He often
kindles great fire which seems now
and again to burn beyond the point
of safety, but in the contiagra-
ton much chaff and stubbe and
many weeds are consumed, and
c0mbustible sins go up i'll smoke.
Those who sit in the seat of the scorn-
full say of him that he places an undue
emphasis upon the Scriptural statement
that the laborer is worthy of his hire,
and receives large perqulslteS for MS
work; but this is no SIN, even IL IL DE
found to be true, for no man III tals
world is obliged to exert himself for the
good of his fellows without c0mpensa-
tor, and it is the natural prerogatlve OF
every man to make the best bargain
that he can. 1t is not at all necessary
to compute, per capita, the cost OF the
souls which may be saved. lndeed. 1T
would be a degrading computation,
arguing certain flippancy and irrey-
erence Oh the part of the arithmetIclan
who should make it.
An interesting story Of an evangelist
comes from the East, and is OF sutnclent
consequence, aside from the ludcrouS
incidents, to warrant the drawing OF GER
tain conclusions. If the story is cor
rectly reported, Rev. IRVINE went down
tr0m Niagara Falls to Baltimore to hold
revival meetings at a mission. He had
Endorsements from the bishops of the
Methodist church, and was getting on
with great success when the ladies OF
tbs mission proceeded to arrange for a
church fair Now it is possible that the
preacher had acquired habit of con-
tentiou from living within the hearing
of the mighty waterfall of Niagara.
Perhaps the sight of the warning waters
had filed his soul with the deadly
ecstasy Of combat and made him ready
for battle off hand. Be that as it may,
he made war on the poor women Who
had planned the church fair; he scored
them numerically with all the lnVec-
tive of which low and mean nature IS
tban
statement that he would sooner see
saloon opened in the church building
than fair, and denounced all church
fairs as the devils work. A very
moderate criticism on this gentle
man would be that he was neither
Christian nor gentleman, and he
should have been kicked for using in
SUlting language to women.
But there is even more serious mat
ter than this in his statement, pr0vid-
ing, of course, that he has been re-
ported correctly. His expressed pref
erence for the saloon in comparison
with the church fair shows the animuS
which dwells in the bosom Of the mod-
ern reformerS and alleged philanthro-
pSts. They are ready to ride their
hobbies In the most mercllesS fashion,
even over the precipice OF destruction.
rather than abate one jot OF the pride of
! their order. This vulgar fellow would
prefer to see a saloon in the house OF
prayer rather than not gain his point;
the stubbOrnnesS of the evil one was in
him. It's of piece with the position
Of the good cruel people who would pre-
fer to see the rum trade absolutely un-
checked if they may not have their I'M
practicable schemes backed up by the
strong arm of the law. Death to those
who oppose us; rule or ''ruin" is the cry
which animateS these people. on, or.
ever on, faster and faster, let us drive
| our philanthrOpic nagS to destruction
if we must; but let US never diSmOunt
nor show mercy. and if the poor women
with their pitiful church fairs stand in
| our way, why, down with them. Let us
score their hearts with the lightningS
from Heaven. Fancy such men as uleS-
sengers from Heaven. 1t was this sam2
spirit which led victims to the stake and
sc affold. Sometimes it seems as though
we ought to thank Heaven for little
ordinary charity of un-Christian men
a charity or indulgence which men OF
the world exercise with no great effort
1t is singular thing, but it is true,
that worldly thought and worldly ac-
ton serve to mitigate the severity OF
such men as the reverend evangelist.
To him and his companions the life
of the late Phillips Brooks is respect
! fully commended as an example.