The Portland daily press., 1897-10-05

PA0uuceu Dy COnuuouCo III oAo laA0u olAco
delivered on to the Saints" greatly pro-
notes earnestness in Christian work. l
also believe the facts of Christian history
show that Christianity has vindicated it's
adaptation to the wants of the children
of men, and contributed largely to politi
cal, social and religious progress. 1t may
conduce in some degree to strengthen the
faith and zeal of others if 1 briefly state
some of the reasons why 1 believe that
these pessimistic views are not justified.
1t will hardly be denied by any one that
there has been great progress in useful
knowledge during the past century, and
that great increase in the physical COM
fort of the people has followed as result.
It is not a mere coincidence that mental
and material advancement has gone on
side by side with religious progress
In many cases the latter has been evil
IDENTIFY the cause OF the former Doubt
less. those who are looking for evils and
wrongs, with which to make a dark pict-
ure, can always find material enough
suitable for that purpose, but, beyond all
question, the past hundred years has wit
messed great religious progress. No
writer known to me has treated this
whole subject as ably and fully as DIR.
Daniel Dorchester, In his book, ''The
Problem of Religious Progress. DIR.
Dorchester quotes fully and fairly some Of
the strongest pessimistio statements Of
skeptics. Romanists and RituAlists, then
by an unanswerable array of authentic
facts and statistics, he proves that the
Indictment of Professionalism by its enc
mics is false and faulty. He presents the
multiplying evidences that Christianity
is more and more penetrating the world 8
consciousness and life, and demonstrating
her efficiency as regenerating and up
lifting power among the nations
1t would take too much space to state in
detail the historic facts by which this
conclusion Is sustained. l can only briefly
name some of the sins of moral and
social progress seen in modern times,
especially in English speaking countries
| Among these are greater independence
and liberty of thought, the passing away
of crude and unscriptural statements of
doctrine, the prevalence of a higher stan
dard of moral conduct, the diminution Of
crime, the growing temperance sentiment,
purer and higher tone in popular litera-
ture, the discontinuance of duelling and
the disbelief in witchoraft, the more
humane treatment of women and chill
dren, greater practical sympathy with the
toiling poor, the multiplication Of benev-
olent sinstitutions for all .classes of suf-
ferers, more ample and efficient provision
for popular education, the removal of bar
barity In the infiiction of judicial penal
ties, the overthrow of slavery in the Brit
ish dominion, and the United States, in
creased interesting missionary work, and
gratifying missionary success, increased
vitality in all the Protestant churches, a
large and steady increase in the member
ship and agencies Of the Protestant
churches In the United States and Cana
! da, the deep and widespread influence of
religious literature, the greater interest
shown in the religious education OF the
young, the enlarged sphere and influence
of women, the concentration of thought
upon the Bible, and more liberal and
fraternai spirit between different denom-
,linations OF Christians.
These and other indisputable signs OF
progress, which are amply demonstrated
as facts by DR.. Dorchester, constitute an
overwhelming body of evidence that. not
withstanding some adverse facts and &C.
casional times of reaction, the Christian
churches evince undoubted religious
progress, a progress which proves that
evangelical Christianity is exerting q
powerful influence upon the world.