The record-union., 1896-09-07
ALLIES OF CHRISTIANITY. .
SGienco is Not an Enemy Of the
Church.
Last Evenings Discourse by Rev. Mr..
Mel, Rector of st. PauIs
Church.

christianity, Intellectually Consid-
cred, or the Earthly Allies of the
church,, was the subject OF the dis
course by Rev. G. L. Mel, the new rector
OF st. Paups Episcopal Church, to
large congregation last evening. The
text, from Revelations, was: The earth
helped the woman"
1t is generally supposed, the speaker
said, that the forces of nature are op-
posed to the forces of Christianity. No
greater error could, however, have been
made than to accept this assumption
as fact. On the contrary, closer IN
Vestigation and a deeper analysis near
iy always revealed these elements as
allies Of the church, and withal work.
ing together for good.
The reverend gentleman drew a vivid
picture from Revelations Of the woman
standing upon the moon and menaced
by most horrible dragon. TIE woman
typified the power Of goodness, and the
dragon the power of evil. The history Of
the world was chronicle Of the battle
between good and evil-the dragon pur-
suing the woman. So it was with the birth
Of Christ; so with the priests and rulers
Of the Jewish people; SO with the line
of Roman Emperors, from Nero to
Constantine, and SO 1t was later reach
ing to the internal corruption of the
church.
1t is also to some extent true Of sci
ence Science had not attacked the
church, but men in the name of science
had transformed themselves into this
formidable dragon. In all these cases
earth helped the woman. In other
words, earthly creations and natural
forces invariably formed an element
which in the end resulted in establishing
that which was good. This is, too. a
hopeful and an encouraging fact. Earth
powers, which ordinarily stand for evil,
are made to succor the heavenly power
the power Of good.
a number of examples were given in
proof Of the correctness Of the speaker
deductions, among them a word picture
OF Roman persecution and internal cor
ruption. These led to only one conclu-
sion-the laws Of earth, or nature, are
against evil. Nothing so tersely eX-
pressed this law as Truth crushed to
earth will rise again. There are two
evils which now assail the church.
First, is that which was received
through the senses. OF this the thun-
der against science is perhaps the most
menacing The church has nothing to
tear from science, but much to fear
from the man who used 1t without
knowledge. Whether or not the pre-
adamite man wore q tail, long, narrow
and with tendency to curl at the end,
is not a vital question. Science is the
handmade Of religion, and the rays
from her lamp would help the woman.
1t would help the church 10 fix the
foundation and build its superstructure
10 the vaulted skies, and there need be
no fear that this "pranky" sister would
demolish her ideal.
The second evil threatening the
church is the novel and the play. While
the speaker did not decry either, but
declared with regret that there was an
unhealthy atmosphere about many
modern novels and plays. They ad-
dress themselves to and excite the
lower emotions, and every Christian
father and mother should exercise a
strict censorship over them. However,
even of the class not desirable, none are
utterly bad, for one is yet to be found
in which vice is placed above virtue.
The play where the villain triumphs
could not hold the boards two nights.
Right must prevail said Mr.. Mel,
goodness rule. and all things work to-
gether for good to those who love God,
and thus earth helped the woman.
They are allies of the church.