The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-10-19
Gate City Letter.
GATE CITY, Va, Oct. 18th, 1913
EJ;foy Dnef

GATE CITY, Va, Oct. 18th, 1913.
Editor Post:
recently read an article from an
old London Fortnightly Rcric~ in
regard to Christianity and Progress,
Tie writer made an exhaustive Re-
view of the question whether or not
Christianity had done much, or any
thing, for the progress OF the hu-
man race, and lamcly came to the
conclusion that it had not. The
writer starts out with false prerllse
"that Christ did not come into the
world to amcliorate the material or
even moral condition of the world.
his premise being wrong, his whole
argument is wrong. If Christ did
not come into the world for this pnr-
pose, | would like to know for what
purpose he came; but whether he
came for this purpose or not Is lmmc-
tcrial to the question. The writer
assumes false premise, and one that
has nothing whatever to do with the
subject he prcsumcs to discuss.
Christianity has done a great deal
for the amelioration of the human
race; it goes hand in hand with our
government and its teachings are the
lost code of morals the world has
ever seen. Without some form OF
religion, some recognized church the
government could not cXist-unhrid-
led rnpaciousncss would be the rule
of the hour, and soon all that would
be left OF once glorious civilization
would be few monuments OF a
brighter day. Such publications are
of no benefit. The mistake that the
writer makes is trying to convert the
world to his IDEAS. \ mans rcllg-
ion is surely with him and his God.
He alone will have to suffer for his
transyrcssions and no one else but
when he presumcs upon the lnfa'll-
bilitv of his intellectual powers, to
assume that he is right, and the
world wrong, he goes stop too far.
Christianity has by its benehccnr
teachings aided materially the prog
reSs of man. Every step backwards
from high intilcctual plane is a re-
lapse toward barbariSln. The higher
mans ideas, the noblcr his scnti-
mcnts, the less liable he Is to relapse
to that state. The question then is,
does the church tend to make 4
mans ideas higher, his motives
purcr-unqucstionabIy 50. it,
teachings are the true sentiments
that rcposc in the bosom of an honest
nan. before he has met with the mis-
fortunes before which "the frncst
mind will fail" Aside from its
doymas, its theories, or its creed the
Christian religion has done much for
tho material advancement of man.
1t has kept him from rolaPslng TO
what Darwin thinks his original
state, and in doing this alone has
done a great deal.
Cleveland is having great fight
with the Senate. The present ac-
ton Of the Senate is indeed as the
posr cxprc,ool i, "a sad common
tary upon our institutions. The
Courier Jomnnl well say, that the
tariff repeal bill may thus fail to
pass on account of a so-calo'l cour-
tesv. To steal the thunder of an
other courtesy be d-n. The Senate
of the Omitted States is composed OF
money bags, scnile old men and ro,-
siihc remains Of antedcluvian days.
1t needs mending, and it nec0s it
badly, If the fight is kept up much
longer public opinion, that master Of
all men, and Of all things, Will Le so
great TINT The people will put q stop
to this loolishnesa, We want no
House of Lords. We want nothing
that partakes OF an efdte and driv-
cllcd .Aristocracy. We want every
department of our government to
bear upon its face the impress of
america. The people are with Mr..
Cleveland irrespective of party. He
is one of them. lie is the rrpresaA
tatiye Of the granlest class Of citizen
ship the world has produeed-thc
great middle class. The saple
people who wrestcd from the English
Lords and gentry that great charter
of rights, and the safeguards Of
the liberties of the Englishman.
Judge Morrison gains strength
every day for the Supreme Bench, and
his friends propose to stick to him to
the very last.
PrULJus.