The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-05
nh. Iaketon Brand of religion.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The newspapers have of late been talking
about queer religious revival now going
on at Laketon, Ind. Many sinner mas
been converted and many backslider has
been restored, as is the custom in revivals.
But, strange to say, this is not all. A log
chain stolen some years before has been
returned by one of the converts. Another,
after leaving the anxious seat, went to his
neighbor and settled and paid for SOW
and pigs, cut of which he had defrauded
him. And still another-this time wom-
an-restored couple of chickens which had
mysteriously disappeared from a sister 5
hen roost. Everybody in Laketon is Won
dering where this thing is going to end.
Creditors who have been kept out of their
honest dues by property held in wives
names are hoping that this new kind of
religion will spread and result in a gem
eral liquidation of all debts. And the ques-
ton arises, Is not this Laketon brand of re-
ligion a good deal superior to the old one
of lung and tongue power? Or, more seri-
ously, is not the weak spot in the church
of 1898 the lack of a closer union between
morality and religion? Does a revival
which begins and ends in sentiment, and
does not restore the stolen chickens and log
chains, pay for the fuel and lights con-
sumed? Is any church that takes a rich
members money and purpoSely abstainS
from asking him where he got it much of a
church after all? Is any church which has
not the backbone to discipline it's members
for card-playing and theater-going much of
a church? Suppose Christ came to Indian
apolis, which of its 1853 churches would He
go to? Or, If Christ came to Indiana,
would he not insist upon the Laketon kind
of religion rather than pSalm-Singing and
religious sentiments?
n inc uf nrIp ol1fIrO &c OH ,.tk
ing. The great majority of their male men,
bers are honest, no doubt, but then some
thing more than average honesty is re-
CURED at their hands We all know about
the dead fly in the apothecary's ointment
In charity we remember how liable churches
are to be imposed upon by designing
tients any more than church shut
its doors to those protesting spiritual sick
ness and a desire to be healed.
One reason why the church fails in it's
proper influence is the vast amount of un-
conscious christianity outside it's fold, all
trying to do as we would be done by. There
is a wonderful deal of charity and dis
interestedness and faithfulness among
what is called the worlds people. And it
is this feeling among those whom the
church wants most to reach that the elect
are not much better than the nonelect in
the practical affairs of life that keeps
church benches so empty. The world takes
but little stock in cant. Cant Webster de-
fines as empty, solemn speech. implying
what is not felt" Any assertion that
morals are not the fundamental basis of
religion is cant. Any conversion not ac-
companied by restoration of stolen log
chains and payment for unlquidated pork
is so much can't
Not but that our churches do untold good
That is not the question raised by the
Laketon revival. Why don't they do more?
Why do those for whom they are prima-
rily established--the failures. the waits the
riisfits and the poor-chiehy shun them?
The answer is very old one: 'Inasmuch
as We did it not unto the least of these
(Who? The same insists and failures) my
brethren, We did it not unto Me-
D. p. BALDWIN.
Logansport, Ind, Jan. g.