The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-10
TIE WAR Of CHEEDs.

TIE WAR on CKEEDs.
Making up inventories and balance
sheets. and clear statements Of accounts
tc show exactly how we stand and where
We are, has been the meet familiar en-
ployment Of ali the responsible business
mcn and Institutions Of this land during
the past four years. And 1t IS the plain
and ackr cwledged duty ard condition OF
safety Of every man OF affairs. Coniu-
sion, bewilder3ent and vague generaizl-
items mean ignorance, weakness and d's-
aster. And business methods and the
order that gives TO each thlns' place.
characterize our age OF light. power ana
achievement and development. Moreover,
digests, 'compendiums, selections Of the
best and dttest, CONVERSATIONS. formulate
and receipts and short methods direc-
tons for use, abound as never before in
the worlds history. All these things
are indeed quite suggestive OF a word
making up its accounts, either Tor
grand wind up or general advance
alorg the whole line-a higher level OF
civilization and life. Now rs 1t not
strange that. while these propositions are
accepted as applicable to every thing else
that occupies or interests mankind, they
should be counted as unwise and wrong
or be tainted when applied to cur holy
religion?
The radical Democratic liberty loving
free thinking, world cries down all
crceds and articles and denominations
and churches. Truth is free. And yet
they are equally opposed to all mysteries
and uncertainties. They want things on
a practical and buslness basis.
The world has right to require OF
Christians to say what they mean TO
explain themselves, and that in the icW'
est possible words The claes re luires
nCm the professor a syllabus. The book
maker comedies to the reader the ncces-
sity Of an Index and Table Of Contents.
And the world wants to know OF the
Christian. what he belietea-in plain
words: What Is his creel, and he gives
it: and what are the particulars of his
faith; and he gives them in his articles,
his confession of faith. his discipline and
his standards. And his proofs and eVi-
dcnces and witnesses are approved char
actcrs. living eplstles known and read Of
all men; the most practical live and
real things on earth.
In his preface to a recent very bright
and able life Of Gen1 Washington, the
author handsomely says: The general
who never won a battle is now under
stood to have been the Revolution it
self. The Statesman who never
made a motion, nor devised measure,
nor constructed u proposition in the con-
venton. Of which he was president, is ap-
preclated as the epirit, the energy, the
force, the wisdom which initiated, organ
ICED. and directed the formation Of the
Constitution of the United states and the
Union by. through, and under it, ana
the evolution Of the society Of which we
formed a part. &c. And we add-Tbis
great country swdyed, and fashioned by
the hand Of Heaven. was and Is the eVo-
luton from the great common soul Of
that period OF greatness and heroism
But TO take q still larger view, this Won
derui civilization that we call Christian,
that overspreads the world, IN all its ele-
ments. ways and manifestations, Is the
Lain evolution of its divine author, Won
derfui in counsel, excellent in working.
the soul Of business, Unidentified with the
Infinite Wisdom. that created all things;
that was with Him at the beginning ~
one brought up with Him. He is i'm
pressed IN humanity, is Himself creed
and constitution.
Christianity asks no privileges or IA
vors from the business man. the man OF
action. 1t says to him: Believe me for
the very works sake. It's language IS
action; the life is the light of men. Its
sentences are arrows very sharp, subdu-
ing the people in the midst among the
kings enemies, entering the peneiraia
of the soul. It's requirements are: Search
the Scriptures; they are they that testi-
fy OF me. But forms of sound WORDS
must be respected, as the manifestation
and embodiment Of truth. Ideas must be
embodied IN words and sentences, sys-
tematlcally ordered or be OF ly airy moth
ings.
And yet men have dared and do dare
in the names Of the Church OF God. TO
tell the ways Of the Spirit" 10 antlci-
pate the judgments of God, to define,
limit. and describe the most holy TO lay
presuurptuous hands upon the sacre'.
Ark-and in very fact, 10 dethrone the
Almighty and assume sway over divine
truth and the souls Of men, Against
such holiness the soul Of humanity pro-
tests
Mankind are very weary Of ecclesias-
teal closes and privileged classes; and not
at all pleased with hierarchs and profess
SIGNALS; and still less and Of religious
deUagoguery and irreverence, vulgarity,
or vanity in the pulpit. The ideal Of
the Gospel is before the world; and men
are demanding the pure Light Of Truth,
and the mind Of the Savious in His min
listers and people.
--------------- ------------
Rebekah etrrin NJ mortal.