Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-01
Christianity as a Factor in Civiliza-
tion-Part 8.
From The Je6ersonian, by J. L. LODGE,
D. D., Editor.

d. D., Editor.
How far civilization has depended upon
classical education may be realized in the
fact that whatever is choicest in this age Is
the heritor of all the ages. Antiquity has
given US law, science, religion itself, and
classical literature is still the medium OF
communication with the sources of renne-
ment and culture. 1t was no accident, but
by design declaring itself in centuries OF prep
aration, that the New Testament was writ
ten in Greek The THOROUGHLY exact and
consistent sermon depends upon the light
and inspiration dwelling in the Greek text.
The common version has many faulty trans
lations, and many examples are noted
where the ignorant preacher has urged
sense fatty contradictory of the truth given
by inspiration. Nota calling in life that is
not ennobled by acquaintance with classic
learning, in either the didactic or historic
form. That is in no good sense education
which does not form the manners draw out
latent power, discipline the facu tiles, and
lead toward the ideal of man. Formation
of intellectual character is the direct object
OF education; character, the seat OF power,
which may be for evil or for good, still, a
power, at which all rightly directed mental
training aims 5anctiy tuis ability, mingle
with 1t knowledge of and allegiance To the
highest form OF truth, and you have civ
ilization In its grandest and most enduring
form. The objection that familiarity with
the fables Of mythology may endanger faith
in religion seems too weak for serious con.
sideration. The brain OF a youth who Is
actually imperiled by such poetic lancies,
weighs too little to justify sending him to
collegel Experience has shown, however,
that comparison has overthrown paganism,
and led to the adoption of religion. The
poetry, the philosophy, the oratory, of the
classics, besides the question OF discipline,
exert u refining and ennobling influence up
on modern life beyond all estimate. They
unite with the romances OF the age OF chiv-
airy inquenching the mercenary spirit, and
superadd the inspiration OF imperishable ex-
ample. The Medici, restoring the wealth
OF Greek and Roman thought lost ia the
dark ages, more advanced human elevation
than all the crusades together.
Enthusiastic rs we are about any all
agencies which promise To carry 10 the ut
most the cultivation OF the mind, We close
with the caution implied throughout.
Whenever God has been forgotten IN Iur'
nishing and filling the mind, divest conse
quences have ensued A cha tic congerles
OF speculative opinion, over weaving CONT
dence 10 the ability To grasp all problems OF
Iuturity, legislative enactments which pro
vide for self but eliminated morality, the
propagation OF ideas that condemned the
maxims OF righteousness, has produced the
state described by Mrs. Browning:
Heres the world hail blind
With intellectual light, half brutalized
With civilization"
The university becomes the alma mater OF
skepticlsm and infdellty; the intellectual
pride OF man scorns mans Maker; ration
alism assails revclation. Yet more than to
all other causes combined progress IN all
right methods and measures Is To be attrib-
uted 70 the principles and precepts oil
Chrst's religion, the grand enliBhtening
and uplifting power The struggle against
the ecclesiastical tyranny which ended trl'
umphantly in liberty of conscience marked
one Of the grand epochs OF clvlliZ4tlon. Inc
spirit OF religious persecution IL always
latent In some minds; II Is extremely fool
ish TO attribute it TO one sect exclusively (;
the present state OF society alone prevents It's
organized lrruption. 1t Is the spirit oil the
Institutions which upholds religious liberty,
as It was religious liberty which prompted
their establishment. AS ever, II is the thing
first scoffed at that saves the world The
great mans first welcome is hiss; alter
ward, his greatness compels homage. a
State church Is monstrOus obstacle 70 the
progress OF liberal ideas; IA severe cneck
upon religious thought, and the invcstlga-
ton OF truth by the individual. Personal
religion, born of personal conviction, Is the
principle OF progression in Gods remedial
system. From Eden 10 the paLriarchs, from
them 10 the prophets, from the prophets 10
Jesus Christ, down To tue present hour,
radiant aud Opportune, the principle is
patent, the result unvaryIng.
For several dark centuries, the Roman
Catholic Church was the sole organlz ID
force opposed to bar0arlsm. Viclssltudes
and partial failure marked the struggle.
Barbarians poured into the church; first
the Imperial Church failed, and then, the
Feuda; consecrated clergy and laiiy sought
to separate themselves IRON the corruption;
wherever the spirit Of religion prevailed
civilization was aided. The Protestant Re.
formation, itself sorelY needing 10 be re-
formed, lent its influence 10 the forward
movement. Revivals followed, light Was
added, and progress IN external appear
ances, at least, has continued. Civilization
in the State has goue forward pGrI pdssu with
spirituality in the church. The splendor oil
the first is the glory OF the reflection Ut the
last. The dinity of the man alone priv
legged TO wear the toga, whose proud boast
was UiUis ROnlGIIus sum IL totally ecllpsed
by the honor oil him who owns the earth
by virtue of citizenship IN heaven. The I'D.
miring student of Cicero finds hInself ever
wishing that the author OF De Amtctth had
known Jesus
The analogies of nature show US that all
Gods works harmonlze with one another;
and 10 like manner education and religion
harmonze with and act upon each other.
Consciously or unconsciously we look 70
the millennium Tor the Perfection OF civillzl'
ton; for them will be the hour u triumph
for It's creative forces ignorance will he dis
placed by universal knowledge, and "holi
ness" will be stamped upon the brides OF
the horses. A poetic figure, but, like all
types, falling below the the thing typifled.
Religion is Just, unselhsh, charitable, be
neVolent, enlightened, merciiul industrious
frugal, peace-loving, gentle, kind, and moth
Ing deserves the name of civilization into
which these elements do no enter. IL Is
through these that barbarity IS 10 be driven
away and the reign Of light and liberty and
happiness established.
10 the service OF mankind 10 be
A guardian god below still TO employ
The minds brave ardOr Ia heroic aims,
Such ~ may raise US DER the groveing herd,
And make US shine lorever-that is lile.