The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-03-08

had losi ~ faith in Christianity. I
hay hn1wl men skeptioal from the fact
THAI raey grew up in houses where reli-
gion was G0erlono Sunday was the
most awful day Of the week They had
religion driven into them with a trip
hammer. They were surfeited with
prayer meetings. They were stuffed and
choked with oatechisms. They were
often told they were the worst boys tho
parents ever knew because they liked
to ride down hill better than to read
Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress. " When
ever father and mother talked of reli-
gion, they drew down the corners of
their mouth and rolled up their eyes, If
| any one thing will send boy or girl to
ruin sooner than another, that is it. II
had had such a father and mother, /
fear | should have been AN infidel.
When | was a boy in Sunday school, at
one time we had a teacher who when
we were not attentive, struck us over
the head with New Testament, and
there is way of using even the Bible
SO as to make it offensive
Others were tripped up of skepticism
from being grievously wronged by some
man who professed to be Christian.
They had partner in business who
turned out to be a first class scoundrel,
though professed Christian. Many
years ago they lost all faith by what
happened in an oil company which was
formed amid the petroleum excitement
The company owned no land, or if they
did there was no sign of oil produced
but the president of the company was a
Presbyterian elder, and the treasurer
was an Episcopal vestryman and one
director was Methodist class leader,
and the other directors prominent mem
bers of Baptist and Congregational
churches. Circulars were gotten out tell
ing what fabulous prospects opened be-
fore this company. Innocent men and
women who had little money to in
vest, and that little their all, said, II
don't know anything about this COM
pany, but so many good men are at the
head of it that it must be excellent, and
taking stock in it must be almost as
good as joining the church. -
So they bought the stock and perhaps
received one dividend so as to keep them
still, but after awhile they found that
the company had reorganized and had
different president and different treas
urer and different directors. Other en-
gagements or i'll health had caused the
former offices of the company, with
many regrets, to resign. And all that
the subscribers of that stock had to
show for their investment was beauti-
fully ornamented certificate. Sometimes
that man looking over his old papers
comes across that certificate, and it is SO
suggestive that he vows he wants none
of the religion that the presidents and
trustees and directors of that oil COM
ton of religion on such grounds WIS I'M
philosophical and unwise. l am told
that many of the United States army
desert every year, and there are thou
sands of court martials every year. Is
that anything against the United States
government that swore them in? And
If soldier of Jesus Christ desert, is
that anything against the Christianity
which he swore to support and defend?
How do you judge of the currency of
country? By counterfeit bill? Oh, you
must have patience with those who have
been swindled by religious pretenders.
Live in the presence of others frank,
honest, earnest Christian life, that they
may be attracted to the same Saviour 4,
upon whom your hopes depend
Questions Unanswered.
Remember skepticism always has
some reason, good or bad, for existing J
Goethe's irreligion started when the |
news came to Germany of the earth
quake at Lisbon, Nov. /, 1775. That
30, 900 people should have persisted in
that earthquake and in the after rising
Of the Tagus so stirred his sympathies
that he threw up his belief in the good
ness of God.
Others have gone into skepticism
from natural persistence in asking the
reason why. They have been fearfully
stabbed of the Interrogation point. There
ire SO many things they cannot get ex-
planned. They cannot understand the
Trinity or how God can be sovereign
md yet man free agent. Neither can
|. They say, II don't understand why
. good God should have let sin come
nto the world" Neither do l. You
ay, why was that child started in life
With such disadvantages, while others
rave all physical and mental equip
nent?" cannot tell. They go out of
'hurch on Easter morning and say,
That doctrine of the resurrection con-
ounded me. !" So it is to me mystery
,eyond unravelment. understand all
he processes by which men get into the
lark. l know them all. / have travelled
With burning feet that blistered way.
The first word which most children
earn to utter is, Papa, or Mamma,
nut think the first word l ever uttered
vas, "WhyF' know what it is to
ave hundred midpights pour their
arkness into one hour. Such men are
lot to be scoffed, but helped. Turn your
ack upon drowning man when yea
ave the rope with which to pull him
shore, and let that woman in the third
tory of a house perish In the flames
Vhen you have ladder with which to
clip her out and help her down, rather
han turn your back scofingly ON a
keptic whose soul is in more peril than
IL I