The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-06
CHRISTIANITY AND CIVILIZATION
DIR. Hiden Points out the Antithesis
Between Them.

Between Them.
1t IS so generally held that Chris
tianity and civilization 60 hand in
and" and so commonly assumed that
the kinship between them ~ extremely
close that some readers are more IMAM
likely 20 have somewhat rude shoch
given % their traditions by the points
made in the following argument which
IS taken from tho Foreign Mission Jour
nal:
When the Master said, beginning az
Jerusalem" ne evidently INTENDED TO
establish what strategists call "a base or
operations" 4 point Of departure was
necessary. and there Is no lack OF rea-
sons for tho selection OF Jerusalem as
the point But the same text when u
So frequently quoted in behalf Of Home
Missions Is just as valid authority Tor
Foreign Missions. Luke xiv, %, IS de-
cisive on this point. The Master mere or
ders THAT repentance and remission OF
sins should be preached among an ma
lions. beginning at jerusalem
IN none OF our Lords directions DO we
find the slightest hint that Christianity
was 10 wait upon civilization, nor docs
anything i'm that missionary magazine
Tho Acts Of the Apostles-give the least
color 10 such o. view. We are sometimes
told by some "worldly-wise man tnat
70 Is folly 70 attempt to evangelize bar
barians. that wo must first instruct them
in at least the rudiments Of civilization
and thus prepare their minds Tor the
reception OF tho Gospel
The scope and tone Of such reasoning
savor Of the baldest rauonalism, ana
suggest at once the destructive criticism
Of the Weuhausen school such reason
ing would lead ms 20 conclude that God
Is Intensely aristocratlc In His tastes
and cares only for cultivated people.
10 ignores the maxim SO frequently on
the tongues and the pens % the apostles
God IS no respccter OF persons.
MOI Christianity does not come 20 help
man after he has helped himself, but in
his helplessness: and It IS quite easy 20
Law too much stress upon what is called
"the connection between Christianity
and civilization" We know that the
most highly cultivated men in ancient rs
we'll as modern times have often been
very wicked. Julius Caesar was one OK
the most accomplished men that ever
lived. From @ moral point Of view the
boosted Greek civilization, with all us
art. science. and philosophy. was rotten
20 the core. Platos Republic adVo-
Gates the twin yilanies of communism
and free love" and is sort Of comDl-
nation of Victoria woodruff and George
Francis Train, done into philosophy
Aaron Burr was one of the most acs
complished men that ever figured In
American history His native talents
we're splendid lie was well educated
lie was an able soldier under Washing
ton. lie was one of the most uniformly
successful advocates that ever practlced
az any bar As an orator he stood In tho
very front rank. in an age which pro-
duced FISHER Amos and Patrick Henry
lis clOQuence was 30 OverpOWerinB as 70
melt hs bittcrest enemies 90 tears ana
make them forget where they were. 10
was. perhaps the most magnetic man
that has lived since Julius Caesar. When
tho officers Of the law were hundnG MIA
from state 20 state 90 arrest MN on inc
charge Of treason, the populations OF
large cities We're turning out en- ndase ID
magnificent banQuets and brilliant balls
| given In hk honor. Even the popularity
| OF Jeffersons' administration was seri-
| ouslv imperilled by Burrs arrest. His
arrest was accomplished with great az
nculty. His trial was almost an ovation.
Andrew Jackson. who was summoned
10 Richmond as "a witness for the prose-
cution is said 20 have made pubic
harangue In his defence. That extra
ordinary lawyer. Luther Martin, teoe-
rallst 10 the core as he was volunteer.
| ed 20 defend him without "a fee. Writ $
| Gligreo foollshness and hollow rhetoric
about Blcnnerhasaett the native OF
| Ireland" and the man OF letters" was
swept away like cobweb, as 10 deserved
| 10 be: and Aaron Burr's acqulttal was
/ a triumph. The only thing that Burr
lacked 70 make him one Of the first
/ la. A.
| ter Even when he was under the tro"h
OF Jefferson, and when his hands were
red with the blood OF Hamilton, Burr
was one % tho most popular men IN me
] United States Barely missing the presl-
/ dency, and easily first as yice-president
ne spent most OF his lie in blaze on
| glory, and has loft 10 posteriIy name
! which will he the synonym for intamy a'
long as American history Is read OF
/ American politics discussed among men
! No! Civilization hath no relish OF saiFa'
ton I'm IL.
Between Christianity and civilization
! there Is. indeed, an anuthesis when l.
too frequently overlooked even bj
thoughtful men. Civilization is socia
force. operating upon society; ChflS
tsnlty Is spiritual force, operatln-
upon the individual You cannot civiliz'
]
a state. Rough people can be convert
| ed. Among the Greeks one and th'
! same word meant morals and man
ners." The same thing IS true in The
| language OF the Romans; and the rea
son is that morals We're manners, an,
nothing more. However highly cuiliyat
ed a heather people may be they WI
! stnl be barbarOus morally. Christianity
makes an immense difference between
morals and manners. Samuel johnson
was not so elegant" as Chesterfield
but he wac 9 much better man thar
the polished. licenti0us Earl. Chester
field was the nobeman; but Johnson va
the noble man.
We now and then hear men say tia
tho sermon on the Mount IS a fine thing
and that the New Testament morality j.
OF a high order: but that the Old Tesla
ment Is 50 full OF "barbarisms' that !
Is impossible TO accept II as an author
lily for our cultivated asv.
But again / ask, does God only care TO
cultivated" people? Did not Pau
preach at Lystra. as well as at Athens
No small part OF tho Old Testament wa
originally addressed TO people VINO ha'
Just emerged from seryitude. and VII
were stlil at a very low grade OF "cul
ture."
| Iohn Foster wrote one OF his mos