St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-09-09

car NHquAAluX uclueHO0 Oh I0e O0IlStIdn
religion. Yea, it goes on. 1t is 10 inn
pertinent, and ii is 50 overbearing, this
chimera Of the Gospel, that, having
conquered the great picture galleries
of the world. the old masters and the
young masters, it il not satisfied until
it has conquered the music of the
world. Look over the programme of
any magnificent musical festival and
see what are the great performances
and learn that the greatest Of all the
subjects are religious subjects.
Yes. this chimera Of the Gospel is not
satisfied until it goes ON and builds it
self into the most permanent architec-
ture, SO it seems as If the world is new
er to get rid Of it. What are some Of
the finest buildings in the world? st.
Paul's, st. Peters and the churches
and cathedrals of all Christendom.
Yes, this impertinence Of the Gospel,
this vast delusion, is not satisfied until
it projects itself. and In one year gives,
contributes, $6,250,000 to foreign mis-
sions, the work of which is to make
ounces and fools on the other side of
the world-people we have never seen.
Deluded doctors-220 physicians meet
ing week by week in London In the
Union Medical prayer circle to wor-
ship God.
Deluded doctors-Lord Cairns, the
highest legal authority in England.
the ex-adviser Of the throne, spending
his vacation in preaching the Gospel
of Jesus Christ to the poor people of
Scotland. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen,
of New Jersey, once secretary Of state.
an old fashioned Evangelical Christian,
an elder in the Reformed church. John
Bright, a deluled Quaker. Henry Will
SON, the vice president of the United
States, dying a deluded Methodist or
Congregationalist. Earl of Kint0re
dying a deluded Presbyterian.
The cannibals in South sea, ths
bushmen of TERRA del Fuego, the wild
men Of Australia, putting down the
knives of their cruelty and clothing
themselves in decent appareLall un-
der the power of this delusion. Judson
and Doty and Abeel and Campbell and
Williams and the 5000 missionaries
of the cross turning their backs on
home and civilization and comfort and
going ont amid squalor of heather
ism to relieve II, to save it, to help it,
toiling until they dropped into their
graves. dying with no earthly comfort
about them, and going into graves
with hnoappropriate epitaph, when they
h~~ Sv~ <ksc md
lived for themselves and lived luxuri-
ously and been at last put into brilliant
What q delusion!
Yes, this delusion of the Christian re-
ligion shows itself In the fact that it
goes to those who are in trouble. Now,
It il bad enough to cheat . man when
he is well and when he is prosperous,
but this religion comes to man when
he is sick and says: "You will do well
again after awhile. You are going into
q land where there are no coughs, and
no pleurisies. and no con2umptions, and
no languishing. Take courage and bear
up." Yea, this awful chimera of the
Gospel comes to the poor, and it says to
them: You are ON your way to vast
estates and to dividends always declara-
ble." This delusion of Christianity
comes to the bereft, and it talks of re-
union before the throne and of the
cessation of all sorrow. And then, to
show that this delusion will stop at
nothing, it goes to the dying
bed and fills the man with anticipa-
ions. How much better it would be
10 have him die without any more hope
han swine and rats and snakes! Shovel
him under! That is all. Nothing more
eft OF him. He will never know any
hing again. Shovel him under! The
,oul is only a superior part of the body,
md when the body disintegrates the
'oul disintegrates. Annihilation, va
.ancy, everlasting blank obliteration.
Why not present all that beautiful doc
rine to the dying instead Of coming
With this hoax, this swindle Of the
Christian religion, and filing the dying
nan with anticipations of another life
,ntil some in the last hour have clapped
heir hands. and some have shouted.
md sore have sung, and some have
,een SO overwrought with joy that they
.ould only look ecstatic? Palace gates
,pening, they thought-diamond coro-
lets flashing, hands beckoning, or.
.hestras sounding. Little children dy-
ng actually believing they saw their
departed parents, SO that although the
title children had been 80 weak and
eeble and sick for weeks they could
rot turn on their dying pillow at the
asst, in . paroxysm Of rapture uncon-
reliable they sprang to their feet and
houted: Mother, catch me; / am
'oming."
And to show the immensity of this
ielusion, this awful swindle Of the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ, / open hospi-
al, and bring into that hospital the
lexthbeds of = great many Christian
people, and I take you by the hand.
md 1 walk up and down the wards
If that hospital, and ask q few ques-
ions. l ask: dying Stephen. what
have you to say?" Lord. Jesus, re-
.eive my spirit" dying John Wesley.
what have you to ssy?" The best Of
IL is God is with us." "Dying Edward
Payson, what have You to say?" Il
Iioat in a sea Of glory" Dying John
what have You TO say? IT
there be any way Of going to Heaven
On horseback, or in . fiery chariot, it il
this" dying Neander. what have
vou to say p II am going to sleep now.
"Dying Mrs. Florence
Foster, what have You to say?- a
pilgrim in the valley, but the mountain
lops are all agleam from peak to peak"
Dying Alexander Mather, what have
vou to say?" THE Lord who has taken
are Of me 50 years will not cast me
If now; glory be to Qpd and to the
amb! Amenssten. amen, amen!"
Dying John P0wson, after preaching
he Gospel SO many years. what have
Tou to say?" MY deathbed is q bed of
roses.- dying Dr. Thomas Scott.
what have you to say? "This is Heav-
n begun" Dying soldier in the last
war, what have you to say7 "Boys.
I am going to the 'front.'" "Dying tele-
graph operator on . battlefield OF Nir-
yinia, what have you to say? The
wires are all laid, and the poles are up
lrom Stony Point to headquarters.