Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-07-27
THE GOSPELS PROGRESS.
Sectarianism should Have No Place
in Religion.
The Ammunition OF All Christian Denon-
nations should he Directed Araln.t
tho Common Eusmy aud >ota AT
One Another DIR. Tai
msge'- sermon.

him, Say now Shibboleth aud he said
sibboleth: for hc could not frame to
pronounce IL right Then they took
him and slew him at the passages OF
Jordan
DO YOU notice the differences of pro-
nunciation between shibboleth and
sibboleth2 A very small and unin-
portant difference. you say. And vet
that difference was the difference be-
tween lite and death for great many
pcoplc. The Lords people. Gilead and
Ephraim. got into great fight. and
Enhraim was worsted. and on the re-
treat came TO the fords OF the river
jordan TO cross. Order was given that
all Ephraimitcs coming there he
slain. But how could IL bc found
out who were Ephraimites? They
were detected by their pronuncia-
ton: Shiboolcth was n word that
stood for river. The Ephrain-
ties had brogue of their own
and when they tried 20 say 'shib-
bel tn always left out the sound OF
the H." When IL was asked that they
say Shibbolcth they said sibboleth.
aud were slain. Then they said un-
To him. Say now Shibboleth, and he
said sibbolcth; for he could not frame
To pronounce il right Then they took
him and slew him at the passages OF
the Jordan A very small difference.
you say, between Giicad and Ephraim,
and yet how much intolerance about
that small difference! The Lords
tribes in our timc--by which l mean
the different denominations OF Chris
tians-SometimcS magnify a very small
difference. and the only difference be.
tween scores of denominations TODAY
is the difference between shibboleth
and sibboleth. The church OF God
Is divided into great number
OF denominations Time would fail
nue. TO tell OF the Calvinists
and the Arminians, aud the Sab.
batarians. and the Baxterians, and the
Dnnkers, and the Shakers. and the
QualSers, and the Methodists and tho
Baptsts, and the Episcopalians. and
the Lutherans. aud the Congregation
aliSts and the Presbyterians. and the
spiritualists, and Il score OF other de-
nominations of religinists, some of
them founded by very good men, some
of them founded by very egotistic men.
some OF them founded 10y very bad
men. But as demand for myself lib
erty c conscience, must give that
same liberty TO every other man, re-
Wondering that he no more differs
from me than differ from him. ad-
vocate the largest liberty in all re-
ligious belief and form of worship. In
art, in politics. in morals and in re-
hgion let there be no gag-law, no NOV
ing of the previous question, no perse-
cutiou, no intolerance.
Nou know that the mir and the water
keep pure by constant circulation, and
! think there is n tendency in religious
discussion 10 publication and moral
health. Between the fourth and the
sixteenth centuries the church pro-
posed TO make people think Alright by
prohibiting discussion. and by strong
censorship OF the press, aud rack. and
Fibbet, and hot lead down the throat
tried 10 make people orthodox; but il
was discovered that you can not change
a mans belief 10y twisting of his head.
nor make man see differently by put
ting an awl through his eyes There
Is something in mans conscience
which will hurl off the mountain that
YOU threw upon IL, and, unsinged OF
the fire, out Of the flame will make red
wings on which the martyr will mount
to glory.
In that time of which / speak. be-
tween the fourth and 10Th centuries.
people went from the house OF God
into the most appalling iniquity. aud
right along by consecrated affairs there
were tides of drunkenness and licen-
uousness such as the world had never
heard OF, and the very sewers OF pcrdi-
ton broke loose and flooded the church
After while the printing press was
freed, and it broke the shackles OF
the human mind. Then there
came large number of bad
books, and where there was
one man hostile 20 the Christian reliQ-
ION there were 20 men ready 90 advo-
cate IT,; SO | have not any nervousness
IA regard 90 this battle going on be-
tween Truth and Error The truth
VIII conquer just as certainly as that
Too IS stronger than the devil Let
Error run II you only let Truth run
along with IT, Urged on by skeptic's
shout and transcendeutalist's spur. let
~ rum Gods angels Of wrath are iu
not pursuit, and quicker than the
eagles oeak clutches out Of q hawks
heart Gods vengeance will tear it 10
pieces.
propose TO speak TO you Of sectari-
anism-its origin, its evils and its
cures. There are those who would
make ms think that this monster. with
horns aud hoof. is religion. / shall
chase IL 70 its hiding place and drag 10
out Of the caverns OF darkness and rip
on It's hide. But I want TO make a
distinction between bigotry and the
lawful fondness Of peculiar religious
oehef and forms Of worship. / have
no admiration for nothingarian
ln world OF such tremendous vici-
"tude and temptation. and with a
soul that must after while stand be- /
Tore a throne Of insuferable bright [
ness, Ia day when the rocking Of the /
mountains and the flaming Of the /
heavens and the upheaval OF the seas /
SHAH be among the least of oil excite I
ments 70 give account for every
thought word, action, preference and I
oislike-that man Is mad who has no /
religions preference. But our early
eancation, our physical tempcramcnt. .
our mental constitution will very
much decide.
q style Of psalm0dy that may please /
me may disploase you. Some would /
,ihe to have minister in gown and /
bands and surplico. and others prefer /
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