Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-05
EFFECT OF LOCAL CONDITIONS.

THE speaker then went on 10 show
how, in separate countries, individual
creedS may have been hlndered or aided
by local or limited conditions, but that
all the creeds were obeying the general
and ineluctable influences of civilization.
and were all being led on the path Of
truth and Progress. The opening up OF
commerce. the railroad. the steamboat
the telegraph, the INSTRUMENTATION be-
tween nations. and the bringing together
Of the ends Of the earth are the true
factors in the development: OF creeds.
Western science and western knowledge
are projected upon the plains and wastes
Of the East. Errors are unearthed super
stititons are abandoned, misconceptions
are rectified. The more advanced aid the
tardy ones, and like a parent leading his,
child do We now see the civilization OF
the West leading the children OF the
East on the paths Of truth and enlighten-
ment
ut is true there have been dark sides
to the picture OF religious progress. The
progress OF faith Is made up OF dark
blotches oe light and shade Of beauty and
horror OF peaceful scenes and riotous.
turbulent phases.
1.-THE speaker then dividing history into
three divisions. ancient. medieval. and
modern showed how each age was an
advance upon the one preceding. saying
that as creeds diminished In quantity
they improved in quality; that the quality
OF a creed depended upon its correspond
ence with truth and reason.
To-day the differcn, creeds no longer
sow tares and stubbles and thorns and
passion-howers In the human breast. out
roses OF love and kindness lilies OF purity
and spotlesspess. and hosts OF beautiful
blossoms Of charity. meekness. and for
bearance.
BARRIERS ARE BREAKING DOWN.
In closing the speaker said that there
are yet many creeds. that there are still
differences and divergences In religious
belief. but barriers are breaking down.
CULTS are narrowing. chaSms are being
bridged. and men are drawing nearer and
nearer together. That which 10 cruel and
sinful and erroneous In each creed will
be done away with; that which is good
In each creed will be retained. which will
all be welded together In one pure. uni
versal. chaste conception OF Deity. He
closed with a beautiful illustration, say
ing that as the color white 10 not an
elemental color. hut In the combination OF
all the cardinal colors Of the rainbow,
80 will the universal creed be made up OF
the combination Of all creeds. For de-
monstration. we take a ball, on II In
parallel lines paint the seven colors Of the
rainbow. revolve the ball on Its own axis.
and as the ball revoives the colors lose
distinctness. II the ball Is revolved rapid
ly enough all will merge together into
one color-white. SO. too, let US take this
giant bau Of earth. and on II IN parallel
bands let the coiors represent the creeds
Of the world. put through II the axis Of
enlightenment. civilization. tolerance; let
Il be rcvolved and pushed around by the
flying feet OF Time; ~ Time moves en- the
colors will lose distinctness, they will CO.
aiesce. they will merge into one another.
leaving one broad. bright band OF pure.
dazzling white, the true. ideal religion,