The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-30
RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENCE
MILLIONS WHO NEVER EVEN
ENTER A CHURCH.
What the Statistics Show As to
Grimes In This Countrywide
LEVERS Often Shocked and Scan
dalized at the Actions of Profess
sing Christians.

indifference to religion, the increase of
immortality and corruption. He said in
part:
Know you not that they that run
in the race, all run, indeed, but one
receiveth the prize? So run that you
may receive" q Corinthians tx, 24)
The advice of st. Paul, in the epistle
just read has special application to
our age and country. He proposes his
own example as model worthy OF
emulation. CoTinth was famous, be-
cause of its Isthmian games. Those
who stroVe for fame-a simple garland
of olives-had, by way of preparation,
ito live by rule, on spare diet, with
out delicacies; take exercise at the ap-
pointed hour, in heat and in cold, and
abstain from wine and cold drinks ="
They We're subject to their master, as
a patient is to the physician. Yet. Of
all who contended for the prize, but
one could succeed, and the wreath
which encircled the brow of the vic
tOr-what was it? "A corruptibie
crown st. Paul offers an imperish-
able crown, not TO be won by one Of
the contesting parties, but by all, pro-
Vided they strive lawfully. This con-
dition. whilst lest severe and eXacting
than the discipline of the athletes who
entered the Olympic games, is, never
theless, Indispensable Nor VIII past
favors be of any more avail than We're
the blessings bestowed on those who
left Egypt, GOO coo of whom were over
thrown in the desert, because of their
infidelity to the light God had given
them"
This truth viii apply to US as ma
ton. We have sought for fame; vic
tories on land and sea have crowned
our Efforts; but the prize is perish
able one. God rules the destinies of
nations. Only Caleb and Joshua en-
tered the promised land All the others
above 20 years who left Egypt in
CURED Gods displeaSure, and they
We're strewn in the desert" Last years
victories won for US fame and renown.
Prosperity dawned upon the people.
Peace and contentment reigned
throughout the length and breadth of
the Ian. The blessings of God were in
evidence. But the honors won, St.
Paul would call a corruptible crown,
whilst that which he offers is an in
corruptible one" 4, therefore, so run,
not as at an uncertainty; l so fight,
not as one beating the air." Verse 26.J
But there seems TO be a fatal charm
in material things, be they fame, riches
or the passions. that so entangle us
as to make most people live forgetful
of God, who alone is great. We have
our peace offerings and thanksgiving
services, which are all very proper, and
whilst other nations imbued with aris-
tocratic notions may frown upon US, we
still claim to be Second to none in pow
er and wealth. But have the knowledge
and love of God kept pace with our
liberty, wealth ana power; or have we
substituted for there the love Of money,
pleasure, honor or some exalted posi-
ton in life? That religion does not
control the minds of the masses is a
sad fact. From statistics furnished by
d New York paper for the past year,
we learn that out of a population of
90 000, 900, a little more than twenty
seven and half millions are identified
with any church denomination. The
balance-forty-tw and d half millions
never enter Z church. Yet we call
ourselves a Christian nation. What is
the RESULT Horror of sin has been
fast disappearing from the heart
Crimes against Gods laws, such as
theft, murder, are punished, but it is
because they are injurious to society,
rather than that they are violation
of the decologue. The father viii warn
his children against such crimes, not
because they viii prevent him from
winning the ''incorruptible crown" but
because they viii interfere with his
successive life. The social test
of morality stands higher than
the religious, and public opinion
is more dreaded than the judgment
of God. ! corrupt heart and an i'm
moral life are condOned by outward de-
corum and an apparent respect for re-
ligiOn, as though vice in losing its
coarseness lost also its guilt. HypOc-
risy takes the place of sincerity; their
thoughts, desires and ambition move
in q. narrow groove; the promptings Of
the heart are centered in sensual pleas
ures, and when these cannot be graft
fed, to die is better than TO live. Such
has been the teaching of our infidei
philosophers The effect of such teach
ing was practically illustrated last
year. What a sad record do not the
statistics of 1928 reveal. There Were
1870 murders and $500 suicides in this
country last year. l do not know the
number of divorces, but if we take our
own city as criterion the number
would be appalling. With the sanctity
and indissolubility of the marriage
contract ignored, and human life dis
regarded, we have subjects that should
engage the public attention just as
much, and more, than expansion and !
imperialism, and the Zeei of our mis-
sionaries in sowing the seed Of the
gospel among the inhabitants Of the
South Sea islands might be used to
good advantage at home. Here is a
wide field, and charity commences at !
home. But we find very little effort to
win back 10 God the overwhelming
majority Of our population who openly
profess their unbelief. Does this apathy
moan that faith is dead? Infidels. in the /
name Of science, or liberty, denOunce
religion, proclaim God to be a myth. |
and only this life is worth living for
Processing Christians listen quietly, /
and do not even seem TO be scandal |
lied at this open warfare, whereas, if /
a war Of denunciatiOn is raised against /
any particular religious denomination /
it wiz be zealously endorsed by all the 1
others, and that in the name of the /
Good Master, whose spirit was the /
very opposite. Incredulity looks on an /
provingiy, sees the inconsistency, and /
boldly asserts that there is more faith (
in honest doubt than in half the /
creeds" They mix, associate and do 1
business with protesting Christians, /
but fail to see any distinguished char !
acteriStics, or what we term Christian
writes in these persons that would in /
dictate the effect and influence of reli- /
gious teaching. Are they more guarded |
in their expressions, and do they love |
money and sensual pleasures less than
the infidel world2 We are told not and |
I believe truthfully in many instances.
In fact, the unbeliever is often scandal |
lied and shocked at the expressions
and actions of the protesting Chris
tians-
of the q, 800 600 of protesting Chris
tians, how very few take to heart the
question prOpounded by Christ: What
doth it profit man to gain the whole
world, if in the end he should lose his
soul?" Very few think that such could
be possible. Such an idea associated
with the Deity they would call intoler-
ance. Give not as we should. but as we
Will, ard all viii be sunshine in the end.
is a pleasing doctrine. but it is not the
tee ching of St Pa1ll. with fer aud