Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-01-25

hears your prayers.
2. Never neglect daily private
Bible reading; and when you read,
remember that God Is speaking to
you, and that you are to believe and
act upon what he says. All back
sliding begins with the neglect Of
these two rules.
8. Never ask God for anything
you do not want Tell him the truth
about yourself, however bad il makes
you; and then ask him for ChrisEs
sake TO forgive you what you are, and
to make you what you ought to be.
A. Never let a day pass without
toying 10 do something for Jesus
Every night reflect on what Jesus
has done for you, and then ask your
self, What have I done to-day for
himi
s. II ever you are ia doubt as TO q
thing being right or wrong, 20 to your
room, and kneel down and ask Gods
blessing upon il. Col. iii. II. 1fyou
cannot do this, il is wrong.
6, Never take your Christianity
from Christians, or argue that, be
cause such and such people do 80 and
80, therefore you may. You are to
ask yourself, slow would Cbrist act
in my place." and strive 10 follow
him.
7. Never believe what you feel IL
il contradicts Gods word.
GRowTR OF THE CHURcHEs There
are plenty Of things in the present
condition and future prospects Of the
Christian churches Of the United
States to cause disquietude and even
anxiety. There are other facts, of a
more encouraging nature, for which
we must search, and SO they go un-
noticed, But q knowledge OF these
facts would save us from many Of the
pessimIstic walls with which our ears
are SO frequently afflicted. A Chris
tian optimist has a solid basis Of fact
for bis hopes, and not compound Of
gush and credulity.
For instance, take the following
facts regarding the progress and
present state Of Christianity in the
United States during the present CEN
fury: In 1900, according to the best
statistics Of population and churches
obtainable, there was one communal
cant to every 145 inhabitants; in 1850
the proportion had risen TO one com
munici mt J, every 65 inhabitants; in
1880 the proportion was one to 5, and
in 1890 it was one TO 3, including the
actual communicates Of the Roman
Catholic churches. Excluding these,
the proportion is one communicate 70
4-8 inhabitants This be il observed,
takes into account only the communi-
cant members Of Christian churches.
If we add attendants and sympathiz-
ers and non communicates members,
we have as the religious population"
Of the United States a large majority
Oft inhabitants. And IL we exclude
from the calculation those below the
usual age Of commandments SAY,
twelve years-nearly every other
person is communicate member Of
some Christianschurch. In the face
Of this steady, persistent and remark
able progress lot those who Will main
tain that the churches aud the Chris
tian religion are fast going TO the
bow-wows.
Here are other facts worth weigh
ing, as they show the extent Of this
progress from another point Of view:
From 1900 to 1850 the population in
creased SS4 per cent, tho communl-
cant membership Of the churches
S67 per cent. From 1850 to 1880,
while the population increased 1l6
per cent, the communicates increased
1888 per cent. From 1880 to 1890 q
similar relative gain was maintained,
the population increasing 248 per
cent and the communicates 41.8 per
cent, The growth Of the churches
has out-stripped that Of the popula-
Gion thus far through the century, and
this in spite Of the enormous increase
Of the population by foreign inmigra-
ton, which might not unreasonable
have been expected to produce far
different result. We commend these
dguKes 70 Christians who are inclined