The Iola register., 1900-03-30
DON'T HIT THE CRUTCH.

Cameron, of Pennsylvania, was sit
ting in hotel in Washington gloom
lily looking out at q storm that was
raging without. Col Robert g. In
gersoll came along and began chiding
the old man for HE unwonted serious
ness. Senator Cameron looked stead
lily into the face of the noted infidel
and said, "Bob, what would you
think of a man who would meet an
old man In this storm and jump upon
nim, break his crutch, thus allowing
the poor old fellow to fall in the mud
of the street ?" Col, Ingereoll was Sc
we're in his condemnation of the
heartless wretch and said that hang
ing was none too good "Bob," said
the senator kindly. ~ am an old
man. My race is nearly run. l have
been satisfied in my faith. You came
along and with your wonderful lee
ture last night disturbed my faith,
causing my feeble form t. lean still
more heavily upon the cr"tch that
has been my hope and my joy through
lite. You have hit that crutch an
awful blow and 1 am about to fall.
My God, man." almost shrieked the
famous senator, "have you no pity on
such as ?" The story is old. Both
the infidel and the trustful old man
have been gathered to their fathers.
N laoon,, fArnthlxy tnt nh hoo a
been brought home to many lives in
the last few days. In an evil moment
h. w. Howe allo wed hls egotism to
get the better Of his judgment and he
sought to nulliiy the effect Of the
Sheldon object lessons by himself
preaching infidelity. Unfortunately
for the intidel the audience was large
and 30 signally has he failed to dis
turb the Christian religion that his
case is pitiable. The world has need
OF religion. 1t serves its distinct pur-
poses every hour and that purpose is
to lift mankind higher and make the
race better Christianity is the great
civilizer and 1t has leavened the
whole heathen lump that was ram
pant in the early centuries. Take
Jesus out of the world and you haye
robbed it of its sunshine. Take reli-
gion out of the world and you have
ordered the dials of time 10 turn back
ward and the hordes of barbsrism to
once more ride unmolested over the
morals aud very life of the people.
Take Christianity out of the world
and you have turned loose the pas
sions of the race and made men
brutes once more.
Christianity is the greatest police
officer the world has ever seen.
Not snly is Christianity valuable In
the world about US but IL IL the one
comfort when all else falls. Footsore
and weary mankind is travelling over
the scorching sands of time yesrning
for something beyond, imploring for
some place to rest its faith. Christi
anity is the anchor. 1t ia the beacon
light OF history, personal, political
aud moral. Take away the hope OF
u life beyond and you have robbed
life Of its sweetest part, you have
taken away the hope that bears the
spirit up when times are dark. A
man may live hundred years and
what of IL? That life is too short
which ends at all. The life that now
is is valuable only as it is prepara.
tory state for the life to come which
shall last forever. Let no man for
purposes of mere notorlety or for
whatever purpose seek to tear down
the structure of our faith. 1t means
80 much to us. IL means the only
joy in the life of the average man
stop, Mr.. Howe, stop and touch not
our religion. 1t is thing sacred.