The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1894-04-13
IfUkrist Came to Chicago.

The following Is part OF the sensational
London editors preface to his book bear
ing the above title. We reproduce i
partly because it conveys great trutl
in itself, and partly to give our reader
an idea of the kind of book which i
creating so much interest in literary
circles:
This little volume, originally project
ed as a mere reprint of the proceeding;
of a Sundays conference, has assumed
its present shape as the result Of much
consultation with many of the leading
citizens of Chicago, who have been kind
enough to encourage its publication. II
is based upon the carefully collected
opinions of the ablest and most respected
residents, which have been collated and
compared with the opinions of other resi-
dents as able perhaps, but who unfortu-
nately are neither respected nor respect
able. Throughout all my work of inter-
rogation and condensation have clung
to the hypothesis which forms the key
note and starting point of the Who'll e
'.If Christ came to Chicago!"
l haye discussed the question with
ministers of all religious and with the
avowed unbelievers, with bankers and
merchant princes, with the keepers of
saloons, and even with the madames
whose infamous calling has not entirely
obliterated the Divine image which is
the heritage of every child of man. 1t
has been strangely interesting and most
discussion. TO men of the
world, to busy administrators. to labor
aSitatOrs. to the crook and to the harlOt.
the question: IF He comes to Chicago,
what would He think of us and of our
lives?" was often strangely unfamiliar,
and sometimes provoked the most in
congruous replies. 1--WE take no stock in
Christ in Chicago!" said one man. she
was all very we'll nineteen hundred years
ago in Judea but what have we to do with
him in civic life in Chicago:' Not much,
it is to be feared-''tis true. It's pity and
pity it's tits true But. although there
was sometimes Il disposition to scott ut
this insistence Gu the presence of tie
Son of Man, even in the precincts of the
Board of Trade, the conception grew in
power and in influence, and l often
to note the effect which the
thought produced even on the most
hardened and vicious. 1t mi ght only be
as most things are in this
world, but it was well if even
for moment some ray of Divine light
should tighten the darkened soul with a
passing vision of the love of God. For
Christ. even to those who use His name
but to garnish their prOfane and filthy
talk. still represents the majestic and the
most pathetic of all the conceptions
which Man has formed of God. In the
bleared eyes of the besOtted drunkard,
and in the daZed and desparing heart of
the fallen women, there was recognition
of the infinite love aud tender sympathy
which, long since became man in order
to interpret God. Christ. even to those
who regarded him as a myth, is at least
an accepted standard of ideal character,
shining out luminous as the sun against
the dark and gloomy background of
human society as it is. The fascination
Of the popular conception of the Christ
is His intense humanness. 1t is not as
the Judge of all the earth, nor as the
Second Person in the Divine Trinity, that
He appeals to the common people.
Christ is to them the Man of Sorrows.
who was tempted in all points even as
we; the Divine tramp, who said of him.
self. ''fOxes have holes and the birds of
the air have nests. but the Son of Man
hath not where to lay His head;" the
hereto and outcast who supped and
make merry with winebibbers. who came
eating and drinking, and was called
,luttOnOus man. a friend of publicans
Ind sinners. Christ was and is to the
man merely his own highest
self. radiant with Divine love. suffused
With infinite compassion. That idea of
. perfect standard of right and wrong,
applied by one who has sympathy that
never fails, because based upon an I'M
of ali the facts. can never be |
orgotten without loss, or ignored with
,ut peril.
"Oh. Christ is all right" said one poor
girl on Fourth Avenue. sit is the other |
,nes that are the DEVIL" And she spoke |
| bitter truth. For He dwells in us but |
and that which is in us with
,ut Him is carnal, earthly and devilish
q sad reality. But the thought of Him
'ecalls the ideal, and by applying that
deal to the actual circumstances of the |
:ivic life of Chicago, men realized more
clearly how far short they had come of
out His will. To very many the !
of the Citizen Christ was so
lew as almost to be distasteful. To them