The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-12

houses of New York city form an enor-
nous and terrible engine of destruction.
! So long as each volt of electricity fol-
lows its particular wire regularly and
doeily the city may be safe. But now
small an irregularity how minute an
| imperfection may at once release forces
which no man can measure. Should the
vast New York storehouses of subterra-
mean electricity give way, and should
| the electricity contained in the circum-
| nambiant air become alphabetically
excited, there would ensue an eruption
which would blow New York city into
millions of atoms and into the farthest
reaches of gastronomic space. VINO
knows but the conclusion would inflame
the atmosphere of the whole earth and
abruptly terminate the race by baking
its breathing material. 1t may be wise
to laugh or scout at the possibility of so
appalling a disaster; it is wiser to be
guided by Old Testament prophecy to
be prepared for the worst, and to do ev-
erything in ones power to postpone the
fatal day Electric conditions of New
York seem an arrant invitation or chal-
lenge to the last day to come on and do
I'D daL lICL llpl lHG Law VI liS
defying Ajax be lost, at least on the
classic scholar.
New York is such an enormous city
from every point of view, and has such
tremendous swing to its life, that there
is always provided an abundance of
topics for thought and talk. No sooner
has Cookers departure removed the
picturesque from politics than Briggs
advances to the foot-lights to do his
turn" and to turn the current of
thought from politics to religion.
Briggs is one of those most uncomforta
BILE parties who insist that others must
believe and dsbelieve precisely what
they do themselves. Briggs was fired
out of the Presbyterian church because
he questioned the historic accuracy of
the events narrated in the book of Jonah
and in equally other infallible books.
The Episcopal church took him in be-
cause it thought he was a good fellow
who had been abused. If he had only
kept quiet for a while there would have
been no trouble. But Briggs must be
Briggs. He will push his heresy for
ward under his new circumstances, and
at once. He will project into the quies
cent Episcopal church the discussions
which bored the Presbyterian church to
the point of expelling him. The pros
pect is frightful, The Episcopal church
is a dignified. conservative body, whose
semi Christian members are allowed the
utmost possible latitude of belief, provi-
ded they keep their notions to them
selves and don't make fuss Thou
tired of the perpetual hubbub of other
denominations, are taking refuge in the
Episcopal church. They are welcome
and unmolested, provided they keep
still. This is the condition of member
ship. Briggs proposes carrying the
same old chip on his shoulder and max
ing all the row-de-dow possible. The
newspapers are full of Briggs. One
pointedly asks him if he believes in hell?
As if any one could be good Christian
and not believe in he'll!
How much more simple and easy We're
the old-fashioned, antiBriggs, ways.
Every man who is trying to dodge his
sixtieth birthday can remember his own
bringing up when a small boy. The
slightest indication of a disbelief in Jo-
nah, his whale, or in any other Old Tes-
lament worthy would be followed by a
first-class paternal wholloping. After
which you were sat down hard on a
wooden stool and kept there until you
had learned by heart a particularly long
and dreary psalm. Two churches and
two Sunday schools each Sunday, with
chapter reading between; that is the
way to bring up a rising generation.
Could Briggs and the rest Of them, even
now be subjected to such wholesome
how quickly the religious at
mosphere would be cleared of the fogs
and mists of doubt and agnostlcism! If
the present wretched state of things be
allowed to continue there will be no mid
die ground between atheism and Ro-
manism You can fog any belief you
please into a small boy. And if well |
logged in, it Will cheer and comfort him |
all his life long. The older one grows, |
he stronger grows belief in the convin-
ing power of early spank, and /
he stronger grows contempt for
he miserable weakness of per-
5uasion. Fifty years ago any
one insinuating that there might have
oeen two Isaiahs would have been social
" ostracised. If even seen walking with
MIN you would have been cut dead by
Ill your fashionable acquaintance.
Now he is housed by theologians occu
Dying historic professorships. He is
,atted on the back and called pet names
when he ought to be burning at the
stake. or sizzling over red-hot gridiron.
No wonder the church is losing prestige
md power!
If you find New York religion disap
pointing, turn to New York art. In two
,rts New York is making fine progress
Up town residences and down town
are showing delightful arch
tectural growth. There is little origi-
lalty displayed as yet. but a good u..-
lerstanding of accepted styles and their
killful adaptation to local necessities.
There are, alas, two prominent excep-
ions. No uglier buildings have been
rected in centuries than Sherry's and
he new University club. Space would
,e wasted in pointing out their depar-
ures from correct and well established
ules Sculpture is also making COM
advance, especially in decora-
i've sculpture, the sculpture which
walks hand in hand with architecture
But don't look in at the annual exhibit
ions Of paintings unless you wish all
ope for the art in this country to be I
riven from your breast. Every year