The Russellville Democrat., 1893-11-02
CHRIS T TIANlTY AND OTHER RE
 LlGiONS.

If the parliament Ot religions has accomplished nothing else 1t has performed at least this service-it has enabled the large audiences which attended it's sessions to have the best side of other religions pre- sented to them. Able advocates = conscientious adherents of other religions-have championed ably and eloquently the diverse faiths to which they hold, and in doing this they have shown both the extent and the limitations of every form of belief, from Buddhism and Brah- minism to Confucianism and Chris tianity. Their pleadings have also an historical value, for they have certainly tended to remove some false impressions as to heathen doctrine; and they have shown, too, that these various religions touch some points in common with Chris tianity. The duty of opposing evil passion, of cultivating the good, notably of extending hospitality, of avoiding idolatry-these and other matters presenting points of com mon contact with Christianity were dwelt upon by some speakers to the instruction, and no doubt to the edifcation of the assembled audiences. And it was also shown that however dis credited all these religions may be in the view of Christians, it is in- controvertibly true that the fol. lowers of these religions would be a thousan3.fold worse off without any religion at all than they are-disci- pies of religions which have effect upon the daily life.
 The reason why this is so is two- fold. First, outside of Voodooism and the fetish of free license, all re- hgions operate as a restraint upon the baser passions of man. Or, if it be objected to some, as it may rightly be objected to Mohammedan- ism that it favors polygamy, yet even here Mohammedanism like Christianity must be judged by its antecedents. So regarded 1t will be seen that it was the death of the horrible forms of idolatry through out all Persia, while polygamy al- ready existed, and Mohammed really restricted the vice by limiting the number of wives. Then, secondly, religion furnishes rules of conduct often based on high principles. Obvious ly to strive to conform 10 these principles, to prescribe the rule of conscience as determining conduct, IS to take step forward. The apos- tie himself recognizes this as he de- clares that the heathen not having the law are a law to themse, g2s is the glorifying distinction of Chris tianity that it's rule of conduct is mneasurably raised above that of all others, and that it not only enioins ethical obligations upon man as related to his fellow men, but shows him his first duty is obedience to God, and reveals God to him not, as in the case of Mohammed, through a sensual prophet, but through sinless, perfect being, the incarnate Christ.
 But if Christians have thus gained a truer knowledge of the good in other religions, 80 they are led to look upon the deyotees of other re. ligions with larger eharity-it need not be said that they have seen in heathenism which will in their view dim the radiance that shines from the cross. On the contrary, as the dimness of feeble light is rendered all the more con- spieuous by contrast with the supe- iior brilliancy of electricity or the 1 bright effulgence of the sun, so 1 Christianity is rendered all the more l