The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-16

like plattudes any better than the young
men like them. But can find comfort
even In platitudes IL the platiudlnarlan
Is devout and honest; and / strive to re-
member that / am In the temple first as
a Christian for worship, and only In
cidentally to be admon.shed by my fell
bowman In the pulpit. While my weak
flesh occasionally groans under the plati-
tudes, am revived by the reflection that
some modern criticism might find fault
with the Sermon on the Mount on the
same grounds and l fear that certain
portions of It would be very apt to
offend the breezy and bracy young man
OF business as "goody goody' and
mandy pamby' In accordance with the
views Of Mr.. Box. At the same time,
do not deny that there are men in sur
plices, and shepherds OF Christian floeks,
who leave something to be desired In in.
tellect and who are not masterful in
their guidance OF the sheep. But II
they are blameless In action and devout
In ministry, they give no lamb an ex-
cuse for straying further than another
fold.
probably am affected somewhat by the
bias OF my class, but to my military eye
the weakness Of the Protestant church
lies In lack Of subordination, OF respect
for authority, Of unquestioning obedience,
and of absolute loyalty to the oath Of
allegiance on the part of It's clergy on
the one hand; and on the other, In a
sort OF hero worship for the lights OF
the pulpit on the part of the laity, which
Is as bad for the hero as for the wor-
SHIPPER; In the exaltation OF the pulpit at
the expense of the altar; In the loss OF
reverence for the sanctuary; and In an
apologetic timldity OF attitude concern,
ing the faith which keeps 1t perpetually
on the defensive.
II mistake not, Christianity Is a war
against princlpalities, against powers,
against the rulers Of the darkness Of this
world" and the virtues OF all warfare
are not foreign to a successful campaign
In the battle Of life. Loyalty, courage,
obedience, devotion, truth-telling, un-
seliishness, organization, concentration,
activity, and above all faith In the cause
these are some Of the qualities and
features of successful warfare which the
young man would do well to consider
when he contemplates turning his back
on the church, because he is offended with
Its officers.
Dr. Haeckel has within few years an
nounced the formal creed of doubt II
Is O very excellent creed for its purpose
very thoroughgolng and uncompromlslng,
as as creeds should be-and is much NOR,
satisfactory as the expression Of state
Of mind than the foggy compromises OF
the delstic or pantheistic nationalist. II
does not falter or equivocate, but car
rleS she processes of pure intellectullism
to their natural conclusion-a plump zero
and presents Its followers with divin-
ity which Is "the infinite sum OF all
atomic forces and all other vibrations"
Let the young man choose his deity and
his associates. and having chosen, let
him above all things have the courage OF
. his convictions He will find In the "in-
finite sum of atomic forces and vibra-
tions" progressive and up-to-date divin-
ity not too "goody goody" for modern ac-
tivltles; and In his ministers, undoubted
sympathy with all that is hustling and
aggressive In the affairs of man.-From
Saint Andrews Cross.