The Indianapolis journal., 1894-02-12
CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION.
Rev. III. D. SOmmers, of the Universal-
ist Church. MnkSeS CONTRAST.


ist Church, Makes Contrast.
Rev H. o. Sommers, at the Universalst
Church, Sunday morning, preached on
Civilization and Christianity" taking his
text from Job viii, 2: Can the rush grow
without mire or the flag without water?''
The commonly accepted idea that what
we call Christian civilization is the result
ton, hold and profess" said he, 'is one
mat IS born of a circumscribed theology
that places the effect before the cause. In
the famous debate between Mr.. Gladstone
and Mr.. lngersoll, which occurred a few
years ago. Mr.. Gladstone took the posi-
tion that Christianity could alone account
for the superior civilization which England
and the United States enjoyed over other
nations protesting different systems Most
that it is a stron, defense for Christianity,
and that any other position is equivalent
to denying the power or influence of Chris
.."Civllization is thing of degree, so is
Christianity. Spain is called a Christian
country, so is Ireland but the kind of civ
ilization and Christianity which those coun-
tries possess, as a whole, differ materially
from the civilization and religion possessed
ain. Canada is called a Christian country,
but the civilization and religion of the up
per and lower provinces dissimilar, as the
ciVllzatlon and religion OF Turkey is dis
tinct from that of the United States. Mex
leo Is called a Christian country SO is the
United States; but who would think of
comparing the civilization of Mexico with
that of this country? And even here we
discover that Christianity and civilization
have well-defined lines of demarkation.
Compare the civilization of that part of
Texas where the people burned the negro
Smith a few months ago with the civiliZa-
ton OF Boston; or compare the civilization
of the South as whole with that OF those
States north of the Ohio. Christianity, so
called, is the only religion profesSed or
believed in any of those countries or sec
tionS of our own named, but IL does not
bear the fruit under all .cireum-
Gtu hx- V11a
''The conclusion we are forced to draw
from these stubborn facts is this: that civ
ingly low conception of Christianity, while
civilization in its highest expression seeks
and embraces Christianity in its highest
manifestation. But Christianity does not
determine civilization. The history of ma
tions demonstrates the fact that ignorance
is barren soil, in which the Christian vir-
tues will not grow, and the mind and con-
science of man cannot be fertiliZed by
FORMS creeds or dogmas, upon which the
lower civilization has always laid great
stress as the ideal of Christianity. IT makes
n vast difference who interpretS Christian
ity and the degree of civilization in which
it is planted as to the kind of fruit it will
bear. Interpreted according to the teach
jngs of the Catholic Church, from the
fourth to the fifteenth century. it bore no
better fruit than paganism. Interpreted in
the light of modern civilization, with rea-
son and philosophy as It's landmarks, 1t
becomes the highest and clearest revela-
tion that God has ever given to man. Thus
we see that Christianity is a subjective
principle, and not an OBJECTIVE HnaNty.
Greek philosophy and learning produced
n higher form of civilization under a re-
ligous system of monotheism than Mexico,
Italy or Spain has developed with their
| Ignorance and Christianity. Give the South
the same educational advantages which the
North has enjoyed for the past century,
| and their religion will have corresponding
manifestation Of superiority and refine
ment. Give Ireland the same educational
| advantages which England enjoys and their
conception of Christianity will soon be
| changed. The power Of the priest would
soon be destroyed and the palace would
| take the place of the hovel. Education was
forced into Europe at the point of a Moor
ish lance but on that foundation the civ
iliZation Of England was built, for, before
| that. England was a nation OF IS savages; &
was called Christianity, but it was power
| Less to lift the veil of superstition and ig-
| norance in which the people were envel-
oped and there was no Improvement in re-
| lgion until the revival or art and educa-
| "A tropical flower cannot perpetuate it
| self on an iceberg. Only under the same
conditions in which the divine mind gave
| il birth can 1t be preserved. So with Chris
| tianity per Sc; il is as powerleSs as any
| other religion to create conditions for its
| highest development. But II has stronger
| afinitv for the higher civilization than any
| other religion becaue it Is based on the
| INV of mans being as life has its highest
| expression in the full fruitage of his intel
| lectual and moral nature.
| s'The law of God is the same in the realm
| of mind and spirit as in the material uni
| verse The stunted and deformed manifes-
| tatfons of Christianity seen among half
| fact that their minds cannot apprehend any
| higher or broader Interpretation of it. Par
| tialisrn is a selfish Interpretation of Chris
| tianity. hence it appeals to selfish minds
| oughly civilized can the larger 1alth o.
| tain.'