The times., 1897-07-13

preachers who preach Christ are the men
in demand and whose preaching is the
best food for the flock over which they
are placed
Il think that Dr. Corey is greatly MS
taken when he 'eloquently states his be
lief that the masses, the high and low, who
are now alienated from the churches are
not in antagonism to Jesus Christ, but
20 the churches as established and oper-
ated.' Tie spe aker challenged you to
find anywhere amOngthe masses man who
has hiSsed the name of Jesus; what has
caused this great change when did it
occur? WHO hath wrought it? where
can we find these men? My Bible tells Inc
that the carnal mind is enmity against
Cod They began their Kissing at f'ilate's
court and cried out, Cruelty Him and give
US Barrabas, and they have been Kissing
ever since both at the name and thought
of Christ or Christians.
y wonder If the atmosphere in which
Dr. Corey lives is so pure that it has never
become polluted blythe blaspheInous breath
OF those creatures whom he imaginest?l
are so critical and refined and just AS to
become indignant at Christians short
cunings and hiss. l am also surprised
somewhat at Dr. Corev's remark: i have
have never heard of Robert IngersoIl as
sailing one single essential principle taught
endilluStrated by our divine Master. Eveey
blow he strikes, saving the assaults on the
alleged mistakes of Moses, are stricken
ot the old CalvintsIn in which he WAS
taught and from which his reason re-
volted.'
Indeed, my Surprise becomes sorrow-
sorrow that the defense of the most bla-
tant, blasphemoUs, and scoffing mocker
Of Christ in oDr generation should find
his first advocate in an eminent Methodist
preacher
II wonder If Dr Corey has never heard
nor read Col Ingersoll's Treatise on the
Trinity with its goddess, flippant. mick
ing expression, Now you see IT, and now
YOU don't see it?'
II wonder if DR. Corey is quite ignorant
o? Ingersoil's dissertation on the In.maCU
late Corception-when he dubs the worlds
Redeelner the bastard child Of an Israelit-
ish woman, whose father never put in an
appearaEce?'
- do not Criticise DR.. Corey's ignor-
ance of Ingersoll's teachings, for 1 think
that such ignorance may be virtue
But I do criticise him for even semi
defense OF q man whose teachings are
and should be a stencil in the nostrils Of
Christian civilization. especially on 50
limited an acquaintance as he has. eX-
pressed.
MOI No, l take Dr Corey at mis- best
and fully iDdorse him when he says
The church of Christ today holds in
its fold and service the best scholarship,
and tine best of humanity in the world
and thereby has been (and | say Isl the
greatest instrument of human progress
Yes, brother, the church today con-
tains as pure, noble, consecrated souls as
have ever blessed this world. There is
more conscientious giving, more feryent
praying, more holy living and more self
abnegation in Chnst's church today than
have ever been witnessed since the day of
pentecost. Yes! right you are, doctor!
And the day is coming when, not through
another church. but through piety re-
vived, possibly power curbed, and the peo.
ple exalted In privilege and rights and
also In obligation,' and when Jesus, the
meek, the loving, the Just, the self-abnegnb-
ing, will dominate and clothe 1t with His
own power, nghteouness and holiness. 10
the praise OF men and the glory of God.
There arc doubtless many hindrances
to the progress OF religion, especially in
the economics of the churches much waste
of power as well rs money. l think that
tEis is apparent III the immense expendi-
ture Of moneytn the multiplicity OF clutch
conventions. An ingenious statistician Of
the Churcn Economist estimates that the
summer conventions this year Of young
peoples socisties for the advancement OF
church worl, will cost sc, 900, 900. The
figures re surprising until anal yzed when
they become quite reasonable. Misunder-
standing may shave Samson and he be-
comes weak as other men. Ambition, Gu
pidiuy, avarice nay steal in and crop out
to the hinderins of Gods cause. But all
these to mic are only pieces OF rock thrown
into stony stream, up which the waters
climb and then flow on again more rap
idly than before. Yes, Christ is In His
church and the gates of hell shall not pre-
vail against her. Nor does 1T require a
prophets eye TO see the streaks of day,
when
Jesus shall reign wherever the sun
Doth his successive journeys rum
ut is true that they are encouraging in
dications of the rapid growth OF young peo-
pies societies and the deep interest that
is taken in the work OF the church by Young
men and women. But whether it is the
wisest expenditure of such vast sums of
money is very doubtful and uusolyed
problem, and 1t seems to me that the pre-