West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-03-16

lnSH T1Y5or';
s@zSuNLaHTi
RELIGION.
yrom a Special Contributor

80 """' 'VliRlone. DNl
only three WAYS of dealing with "a
particular creed.
First, to fully and sincerely be-
lleye Ia the VITAL tenets Of YOUR
church and then in an humbl.
aud transformations manner try 10
live mp to them. This class ia
cludes asont ten per cent. Of tho
church members.
Second TO believe in the tenets of
Il church creed. discipline, and all.
and then try TO bend everyone to
your " views, even going so far as
80 thiak all others are going to hell
if their views do not comcide with
yours. This comes from lack o:
contact with broader and more
spiritually enlightened minds and
would lead this class to such perse
cutiOns as existed ia the Sixteenth
century. To this class belong proba
bly, fifty per cent. of church mem
bers.
The third class includes the
other forty per cent. those who 90
into the church because they think
1T respectable and because it gives
them an opportunity to work the
church for their selfish ends.
Under this cloak is carried on
considerable immortality, the least
heinous of which is cheating in
the various avocstions whereby
men gain a livelihood.
A majority of the church mem
bers wink at this and do not cast
them out of the synagogue and
thereby, within the walls of the
church form n close corporation of
vice, in which one does not tell on
another.
TO this class belong those who
t." the unscrutlnizingly of the
world at large appear to be among
the most respectable members of
society.
1t also includes some women who
in the earlier parts of their lives
have born the reputation of having
been just a little bit gay and ON
THE SLY have INDUCED IN what are
termed worldly amusements, not
with their brothers and sisters or
husbands as is done in good socie-
ty, and now they ASSUME rigid
views on the subject, perhaps iast to
appease the narrow guage wing Of
the church.
This throws dust in no ones
eyes. Church members turn We
and let enlightenment and honesty
chase away the hideous features of
hypocrisy that now mar the faces
that are drawn into long lines and
sad with the hope that this
of conduct will please or deceive
either God or honest men.
Your religion consists of fear of
the devil, whereas it should be
solely the love of God. You wor.
ship the devil by the exercise of
your fear of him, thereby placing
him on a level with God, for you
Tear the n as much as the other.
If you will. but, as the Publican,
stand afar off and smite upon YOUR
breast and in humble contrition
cry "God be merciful unto
me a sinner" you will 60 to your
home justified rather than he who
On some great revival occasion.
takes the opportunity to show off
before the crowd.
Church members, restore what
you have wrongfully Withheld or
have taken from others, apologize
to those you have s~landered take a
solemn VOW not to try to regulate
the couscionces Of other people.
cease to be a modern Pharlsee.
then will the Church Of Christ be
entered by more honest men.
Do not say that this fits your
mirth loving neighbor, for it is in
tended for you-you long faced
%hypocrite.
Do not imagine that gaioty and
laughter are synonyms With sin or
condemn anyone OF SIN in playing
cards or dancing unless you know
that they commit q sin thereby.
Gould you not trust yourself to
deal honestly with your fellow
men under these conditions? That
is Che test.
Remember that it is q sin 10
couutenance Sunday School picuics
whore kissing and like unma,,G