Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-10-14
The Reformer-Part IL.
From The Jefersonian, by j. L. LODGE,
d. D., Editor.

|
weighed.
He thoughrthe frame Of things was mainly
we'll;
But on the Lion his observance fell,
And, as he marked the champions royal
mien,
And next the Monkey on his bough was
seen,
"Ah, pity of my soul" bewailed the man,
THAT sovereign climbs not as this vermin
CAM
DR. EisOdrd FdrQuhar.
We have treated of the reiormer's charac.
ter and sphere, and come to consider, last,
his methods. Wrong in these nullifles what
was right in those; measures i'll chosen de
feat noble aim, and subject worthy alb
stract principle to ridcule and scorn. Dis
elimination was never more needed than in
this sham age, when the Lion, his vocation
gone, his sphere obllterated, understanding
and appreciation of his royal nature and
giant proves dwelling only with isolated
spirits of his own degree, withdraws into
secrecy and silence; while the Monkey,
shrewdly cognizant of his hour, disports
himself on eminences with "taking" antics
that capture rabble weaklings. We stand
constantly face to face with great mystery.
| We know God, and that he ordains progress
in the best things; yet, because we cannot
| ditferentiate properly, cannot clearly see, as
| yet, what Is progress and what retrogression,
we are mystihed at the subsection of intelli
| gence, wisdom, and unse6shness to forces
which analysed, and judged by highest ideals,
are little better than barbaric. We see the
cruelest of crimes perpetrated in the name of
liberty. We see wholesale robbery commit
ted by the strong upon the weaker nation up.
| on the lying pretext OF humanity" We see
hof Iad Nrar oh toho ut ha
point of the dripping sword and the mouth
of the belching cannon. Rude but brave
nations converted" In day, massacre the
ultimatum. Quite as beneficial, however,
as the processes of to day, and less tedious.
The questi enable thing known as "civiliza
ton" has, it is claimed, resulted from such
steps in progress. We believe that the great
Ruler differs IN the matter of definition.
That while evil is permitted and overruled,
IL is not forgotten, but shall be judged.
That retribution turks under the show Of
triumph. That no accomplished TACT merits
or can receive his appreciation unless ground.
ed in principles OF righteousness. All OF
mystery awaits solution.
The foundation stone OF true reform is
strictest justice. God is more concerned for
the preservation of purity and right than
any mortal man can be, and his acts are
never found in conflict with that attribute,
not even when In the exercise OF mercy that
divides between the sinner and his sin II
would seem a necessity. He devised a plan
to Justify the offender and preserve his own
justice. The presence of evil Expresses the
pure mind; 1t excltes laudable desire to re
move 1t and substitute Il condition favorable
to the best interests of the man and the race.
Take single example of this evil: lgno-
rance is terrible. 1t is worth while to make
any sacrifice to removeit The teacher who
devotes bis talent, his time, and his toll to
emptying and filling minds, developing ca
pacity, evolving manhood, preparing Tor true
living and the perpetuation OF eli waiting in
huence, occupies position of exalted dig |
nifty and honor. His function is second to
only one other, and Is in close alliance with
that That the vulgar rate him as hire
ling can never alter the judgment of the
Just. The man who iounds library and |
induces people TO read pure and Instructive |
literature is a philanthrOpist of the highest |
order, and every one who aids him ia the
work is public beneiactor deserving great
est honor and everlasting remembrance.
Their instant reward is vast, but the laintest
foretaste of that which waits. II is a work
no way inferior to the mission cause. None
has higher claim upon US who labor and
sacrifice than the people at our doors. Edu-
compulsory education is crime II niringes
upon the rights of the citizen, forcing him 10
think as the State thinks; 1t usurps the place
and authority of the parent, upon whom |
God places the responsibility; 1t overthrows
democracy, which some people pretend 10
think superior 10 aut0cratc government,
while themselves assuming the role Of auto
Gratis. Paternalism In government is TO Oe
hated and fought down. II is the disguise
of the tyrant; that kind of patriotism which
is "the last resort of scoundrels." Furious
zeal, full OF its own projects, oVerconfident
of wisdom, stops not to consider that advan'
tage to the few may mean injury TO the
many. The enthusiast who supposes himself
a reiormer needs to be wary lest he SOW
dragron's teeth that shall vex the world
with a baleiul harvest. Inherited folly Is
most obstinate and vicious. When the
fathers eat sour grapes, the childrens teeth
are set on edge.
Nothing deserves the name of reform
which invades the rights OF conscience
The conscience may itself be wrong; We
can never be sure it is right when not en-
ligtened from above; but 1t Is sacred TO
him who holds 1t, and by II will he be judged
in the absence of more perfect guide. The
rights OF property, guaranteed 10 every IN
dividual where wholesome laws prevail,
have been remorselessly trampled upon by
power which boosted superior morality and
regard for men. Both have been ignored
and crushed by the worthless hypocrisy and
brutality which arrogated the character OF
reform. History affords no more brazen ex
ample than Henry VIII of England. Ger
tainly an accomplished scholar, with the
national spirit strongly developed, but
evincing despicable weakness in his thirst
for popularity, which degrades 10 the dust
any man, in whatever station. For his
strong resistance to Luther he was styled
defender of the Faith" That was when
the faith had not opposed him. The refusal
of Pope Clement 10 divorce him from Cath
crime, the only woman who ever loved him,
changed the sycophant into a foe. All, the
Ahithophels, the Ahithophels Catholic
discomfort he put down with high hand,
but at forty was still not Protestant. At that
time his hostility TO the pope hardened, and
the rupture was complete. Anne BOleyn
was executed one day; he married Jane
Seymour the next. Anne Of Cleves di.
vorced, Catherine Howard executed. Then
he POUNDS a church Of his own There was
never recorded q more Infamous outrage
than his abolition OF monasteries and ap.
preparation Of the vast property 10 his own
uses. Yet historians, some Of them, at least,
speak of the result Of his cowardly, cruel,
treacherous actions as the English Reforma
ton The wretch of whom his friend Thorn
as More said that II his head would procure
a single castle In France off IL would GO
The lecherous old beast, the apostate, the
murderer of women, the despoiler and thief
Of sanctuaries, glorhed as reformer =
Verify, here's a worthy specimen Of u
"ROck" on which 10 build Church r.
Church wedding-The marriage Of
Miss Clara Bell Conley, youngest daughter
r. AZ. - Me- rhnrlao w (ionIau ~