The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-13

menl Think OF the widows and or
phnnsi Think OF the MANNED, the nlu-
tiIated. the mangledl
For many centuries the wealth OF the
world was used to propitiate the unseen
powers. In our own country the prop
erty dedicated TO this purpose Is worth
al least $1,000, 100000 The interest on
this sum Is 100000 a year and the
cost OF employing persons whose busi-
nessit IL TO seek the aid Of the super
natural and to maintain the property
Is certainly as much.
For this vast amount OF money the
returns are remarkably small. The
good accomplished does not appear to
be great. No one wishes TO destroy
churches or church organizations. The
only desire Is that they shall accom-
nlish substantial good for the world
In many OF our small t0wns--towns of
1000 or 1000 people-will be found four
or 1--WE churches, sometimes more.
THESE churches are founded upon I'M
material differences. And Il must be
admitted that all the arguments on all
sides OF these differences have been pre-
sented countless millions Of times. Up-
ON these subjects nothing new Is pro-
duced or anticipated, and yet the dis
cusslon Is maintained by the repetition
Of the old arguments.
EIls Model Church.
Now It seems to me that It would be
far better for the people Of a town
having q population OF 1000 OF 5000 to
have one church, and the edifce should
be OF use not only ON Sunday. but on
every day Of the week. In this building
should be the library Of the town. It
should be the club house Of the people,
where they could find the principal
newspapers and periodicals OF the
world. Its auditorium should be like
theatre. Plays should be presented by
home talent, an orchestra formed, mu-
sic cultivated. The people should meet
there at any time they desire. The wo--
men could carry their knitting ana
sewing, and connected with 1t shoniu
be rooms for the playing OF games, bln-
fartlF, cards and chess. Everything
J should be made as agreeable as pos
slbIe, The citizens should take pride
In this building They should adornits
inches with stntues and Its walls with
pictures. 1t should be the intellectual
center. They should employ gentle
man Of ability, possibly Of genius, 70
address them on Sundays on subjects
that would be Of real interest, Of real
Importance. They could say to this
minister:
eve are engaged in business during
the week. While we are working at our
trades and professions we want you
TO study. and on Sundays tell us what
you have found out.
Let such q minister take for series
OF sermons the history, the philosophy
OF the art and the genius OF the Greeks.
Let him tell Of the wondrous metaphy--
sizes, myths and religions Of India and
EEvpt Let him make his congregation
conVersant with the PHILOSOPHERS OF the
world, with the great thinkers, the
great poets, the great artists, the great
actors, the great orators, the great IN
yentors, the captains OF Industry, the
soldiers Of progress. Let them have q
Sunday school In which the children
shall be made acquainted with the facts
OF nature, with botany. entomology,
something OF geology and astronomy.
The truth is that people are tired OF
the old theories. They have lost con-
fidence in the miraculous, In the super
natural, and they have ceased to take
interest in facts" that they do not
quite believe.
Homes For All.
The home is the unit of the nation.
The more homes thebroader the toun-
dalton of the nation and the more Sc
cure.
Everything that is possible should be
done to keep this from being a nation OF
tenants. The men who cultivate the
earth should own 1t. Something has
already been done in our country IN
that direction, and probably IN every
L., EAV nv
This exemption has thus far done no
harm 10. the creditor class. When we
Imprisoned people for debt, debts were
az insecure, to say the least, us now.
Rv the homestead laws a home of
certain value or OF q certain extent Is
EXEMPT from forced levy or sale, and
these laws have done great good. I'M
doubtedly they have trebled the homes
Of the nation.
wish 10 70 a step farther. want, Il
posslble. to get the people out OF tene-
ments, out OF the cutters Of degreda-
tIon. 10 homes where there can be pri-
yacy, where these people can feel that
they are In partnership with nature;
that they have an Interest IN good gov
eminent. would exempt homestead e
OF a reasonable value. say Sz'OVO OF
1000 not only from sale under e%ecu-
tinn INT from sale for taxes Of every
ABSORPTION, These homes should be
absolutely exempt. They should belong
ID the family, 30 that every mother
should feel that the roof above her
head was hers; that her house was her
castle. and that in Its possession she
could NOT be disturbed, even by the na-
linn. Every state should Ax the amount
~ innd that could be owned by an indl-
vIdunl. not liable to be taken from MIN
for the purpose OF giving a home TO
another, and when any man owned
more acres than the law allowed, ana
another should ask to-purchase them,
and he should refuse, would have the
law so that the person wishing 10 puL-
chase could file his petition IN court;
and upon the amount being paid, found
Inv siioh commission or jury, the land
should vest absolutely in the petitioner.
There is another question in which
take great interest, pnd It ought, In my
Judgment, to be answered by the inter-
Iigence and kindness OF our century.
Without doubt the contract OF mar
rinRe Is the most important ana the
most sacred that human beings can
make. Marriage Is the most Important
III ali Institutions. or course the cere-
mony of marriage Is not the real mar,
riage. It Is only evidence Of the mntnaI
flames that burn within. There can De
no real marriage without mutual love.
So believe In the ceremony OF mar.
rIage; that 1t should be public; that
records should be kept. Besides the
ceremony says to nil the world that
those who marry are in love with eacn
other. ~,
millions OF people imagine that the
married are Joined together by some
supernatural power, and that they
should remain together or ut least
married, during life. II all who nave
been married were Joined together Dy
the supernatural, we must ADMIT lnAt
the supernatural Is not infinitely wise;