The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-01-20

contOrtiOn can erase the real meaning
OF the plain and expressive words of th,
founder TO Christianity Let those pro
Tossing Christians justiiying their up
holding and advocating of war, by the
records OF determination wars, practiced
by the Jewish nation remember, that
Jesus was a reformer, who not only up
held and practiced what was right in
the Old book, but rejected what was
wrong, misunderstood and abused by
the Jews. OF course the teachings and
reforms Of Jesus were too Cody broad,
clear and conclusive for the narrow
minded leaders Of the Jewish tribal God
worshippers, and as a great many found
themselves hit by his criticism and
teaching, they had him Crucifed.
Would Jesus actually fare any better
under present existing conditions2
Would there not be great many pro-
Tossing Christians ready to cruelty him
II they were not held in check? n all
protesting Christians were listening and
needing the call Of Jesus Christ to deny
themselves, that is 10 deny all their
sell-wisdom in their respective and in
Vulnerable conflicting commentaries aud
additions Of invention, quit strain
ing at gnats aud swallowing camels, aud
follow Jesus, that is, practice his simple,
clearly expressed commands OF brotherly
love and humanity, and consequently
identify their Christianity by such signs
rs Jesus gave in answer to the messen-
gers Of John the Baptist, Math. |, 2,
3, 4, 9, o, would we not have the Golden
Age indeed?
The primitive Christians, with the
exception Of a few, who, owing TO their
former diversified schools and training,
were rather troublesome, seem to have
kept generally pretty close to the com
mnnd OF their Master for several hum
dred years, and also kept pretty well
aloOf from the temptations OF accumu
lating wealth aud ruling power, depicted
by Jesus rs being 80 dangerous.
TIP 10 about 325 A. d., under the reign
Of Constantine /, the Christians not only
without assistance OF soldiery and sword,
but under the most horrible and cruel
prosecutions, succeeded in converting
the majority Of the subjects Of the great
Roman Empire, and such Christians,
too, that their excellency was 30 appTe-
ciated by the pagan Emperor that he
admitted them TO civil rights. II seems
singular that those few primitive Chris
tians under such adverse circumstances
made so many converts, and these con-
verts such desirable citizens, in such
short period, while now in these enlight. |
ene,l times, under cover Of cannon and !
bayonet aud almost unlimited pecuniary !
assistance, comparatively few are con- |
verted in a similar period. Probably the
reason is that the primitive Christians
were following the instructions OF Jesus,
and were believing what they were
aud the converts were im- /
pressed boy the sincerity OF the preachers,
the beauty and worth Of the unadultera-
ted divine doctrine OF Jesus, accepted
the new religion for it, own worth with
out any additional side view or favor,
and so BECAME good Christians, and con-
sequently good citizens.
II has been a questson in history and
viii probably remain so ior prosterity,
whether il was Tor his sincere belief in
that the Emperor
Constantine favored the Chris
Iians with civil rights aud at.
ierwards accepted the religion himself,
lr il it was 10 make friends with the
who now outnumbered the
pagans in order to strengthen and Sc
sure his hold AS Emperor
BE that as il may, the result was a
turning point in the character Of Chris.
Iiandom. As il not only ceased To be
dangerous and disgraeeiul 10 he Chris
iiau, hut the same also had access to
'iyil offices, il hecame great temp
iaiion and very dangerous to the spirit
ial welfare of the church, as il certainly
always will be. From now on il was
not only ior the worth of the religion
HAT it was accepted, but also for the
.ake OF offices or some other side iavors,
AMI il is evident that the principal aim
Dl great many concerts who, from nov
IN, were added Ia the church, was fice.
power aud lucre. The church. by the
continued addition Of such questionable
additions, gradually lost It's trne spirit
,nd drifte,l into merenary business
Money becoming the motive power In
and before a very long pe.
'iod the Chrislianism was TRANSFORMED
10 a veritable payanism, all but the
lame aud the names OF the Gods aud I
dolls, The most absunl aud ridiculous
necessities we're invented aud imp0sed q
N the community, by means OF which
money was extracted to supply the
sockets aud high living OF the priest
iood, iill up the treasury Of the chuuhes,
reciing aud ep'bellishing line chnnhes
nd caihedraIs. Are those line OLD
scattered over the whole con. c