The times., 1899-12-26

4
extreme. It is time that the religious
circus should go out of fashion in this
country, for it it does not. the rising gen
Grafton is likely to lose all respect, not
only for forms OF worship. but for real
goodness. Any religion so mixed up with
social devices, politics, electioneering,
iiashy oratOry and iTTeyerent cant as
the preachers of some of our congregations
suggest, will not win the favor of really
earnest and honest young people. That is
a good thing, for if there were not enough
honesty in youth to resent a sham, we
might as weiI let the country go headIong
to destruction. Nothing could stop it,
When young girl goes to worship, and
thrills at the magnificent rolling music
Of the Psalms, or the splendid denuncia-
tions and invocations OF the Prophets. or
the transparent truth and beauty of the
gospels, as read by the clergyman, and
then hears some Of the mean uncharitable
gossip and scheming which goes on in the
lobby. small blame to her If she doubts the
honesty of all communicates. When a
Young man attends service to please his
A1''ANAs VI lll0 AlblItI, tE HIS NilG Oh
some one else for whose genuine goodness
he has respect, and hears a clergyman
preach mere platitudes; and when he finds
that this same clergyman is especially
tender Of the feelings Of some rich old
hypocrite, because that person contributes
much money to the cause, the young man
is not going to believe in that minister,
l. h1,-
mon sense.
The early history CT the evangelical de-
nominations iE America was that of po-
lice force. They were the great re-
straint OF a pioneer population, and they
generally went too far. Sometimes they
abused their power. They practically de-
clared that all amusements which amused
were wrong They tabooed dancing, card
playing and the drama and tried to crush
out novel reading One by one these bull
warks went down. but their skeleton still
remains Hence the effort to make the
temple into a social club rather than allow
young people to seek any innocent amuse-
ment they wish, and keep their fun and
their religious emotions separate. Talk
ing about religion at inopportune times and
places is net leading a religious life There
is nothing wicked in a dance. and nothing
contrary to human nature in prayer
The Braznell. Pa. mine horror. in which
from thirty to forty men lost their
lives by an explosion of accu-
mulated g., is now said to have
Eao,, Ia, 20 IL .I..r,, = ,.,,,. - 8 H. 90 ret,-
lamp on the order of one of the officials.
If this is true there has been criminal
disregard of the law and somebody ought
to be punished for it, While the dispatches
indicate that the miners were willing to
discard safety lights because Of their in
ferior Illuminating power, this does not ex-
cuse those in charge from the responsibility
for the frightIul loss OF life, if. as alleged,
they deliberately broke the legal require
ments. If the men in the mines lacked the
common sense to use every precaution for
safety in a dangerous occupation it was
contibutory negligence. but it does not alb
solve those who are supposed to have a
higher order of intelligence and who are
expected to insist that the laws shall be
obeyed. An investigation of the BrazneII
mir disaster may throw light on the mat
ter and teach an excellent lesson. If min
ing laws are to be disobeyed with impunity
1t is to be expected that there will be a sue
cession Of horrors similar 10 that which has
brought numerous poor families to grief in
the joyous holiday season.
There has been no material change in the
South African war field. or, If any move
has been made by the opposing armies, il
has not been announced The prevailing
impression is that the British will attempt
no further forward movement until Gen.
Lord Roberts has reached the scene and is
ready to inaugurate a new plan Of attack
Boer operations would indicate that there
is no intention on the part Of the burghers
TO assume particularly offensive tactics, but
that they are strainipg every nerve and
sinew to prepare an impregnable barrier
against the prospective British advance to-
ward BIoemfontein and Pretoria