The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1897-09-22
A rwo-rpeEp SWORD

The latest story by Hall Caine, THE
Christian" promises to be-if it is not
30 already-the literary sensation Of
the last decade Of the nineteenth CEN
tury. Not only is the scope OF this
novel wider than anything heretofore
attempted by this popular author, but
the literary work manship is superior
1t deals with conditions that exist in a
greater or less degree in every metro
politan city in the civilized world, but
IL is an exaggeration OF those eondi.
tions. This lie inevitable in q novel, for
realism has little place in novel that
has for its aim the holding up to pub
lie attention the failings in social cir.
cles. Mr.. Gaines portrayal OF the
selfishness and lack OF the real spirit
OF Christianity that exists in church
circles in London, while overdrawn, as
is TO be expected in a novel, is also q
picture that :sssJ :ss==j. he he seen in any other
large city. His idea, no doubt, was TO
cause reform in these circles, but
while such purpose is admirable and
90 be commended, 1t is beyond dispute
that he has placed in the hands Of
those who have no sympathy with re-
ligious work a weapon that can be
used with telling effect against it.
The archbishop who would refuse TO
erase from the books OF the hospital
the name OF the man who ruined a
woman, and dismiss with words OF
scorn from that hospital the very wo-
man who was ruined. is not a type Of
the church, but OF class that has by
oversight crept into the church. For
every church member OF this kind
there are thousands who stand for all
that the Nazarene stands for-thous-
snds who refuse TO clasp the hand OF
the seducer and who do not turn with
scorn from the seduced; who are will.
ing to submit TO jeers and tAunts in
order to do the bidding OF the master.
While Mr.. Gaines portrayal OF the
character OF the selfish persons who
have secured high places in the estab-
lished church may have the effect OF
calling the attention OF the great
Christian body to the abuses that have
crept therein, it will have the opposite
effect OF calling for more denuncia
tion OF religious work from those who
are always seeking for an excuse for
their own immortality and profess &c
find it in the shortcomings Of those
who profess 10 be leaders and teachers
OF men. "The Christian will there
fore, have the effect OF two-edget
sword-as likely to cut the man whC
wields 1t as the man against whom ia
blows are directed. That there arc
hYpocrits in the churches is not denied
by Christians, but il is plain to all
thinking men that hypocrisy Is more
prevalent outside OF the churches thar
in. The man who refuses to do wha
he knows TO be his duty simply be
cause men whom he knows to be hypo
crits are doing II, is TO be pitied anC
not eensured But the secular world
always eager to grasp at some short
coming Of those who are allied will
the church, will not fail To see in Mr.
Gaines novel a weapon which, thougl
aimed At them, may be easily turnel
in their favor. The secular world 4
full OF Glory Qnayles. but the ehurc
may count its John storms by the hur
dreds Of thousands. Many OF them ar
unknown because their opportunitie
are not so great as those afforded th
hero OF Mr.. Gaines novel, but in thei
own way and according 10 their ow
opportunities they are doing a gran
work in the uplifting OF fallen h,
manity.