The age-herald., 1901-01-28

and other deties of the heather nations. And these gods, strange to say, were but incarnate lusts, deified appeuties and pas sions. Men who were sensual and cruel worshipped Moloch; those who corrupted themselves like brute beasts bowed down to Baipeor; and those who were consumed by greed worshipped mamon. Are there no worshippers now of the gods of sensualism, greed and lust? Take the average city of this country, and if all that is going on un- der the cover of darkness for a single week were known, many a fair reputation would be blighted, and many hitherto respecta- ble character wither and fall like autumn nal leaves touched by the frost. Take the curse of strong drink, and how many mill lions throughout the world are under the domination of this god of sensualism? So mighty is this power of drink that it is annually pauperizing its thousands, blight ing the peace and kindling the fires of hell on once happy hearthstones: and causing greater mortality than the Moloch slaugh- ter of hundred years Christian nations so called, are pouring hundreds of millions annually into the coffers of this god and spending as much more to keep down and prosecute crimes for which he is directly responsible. If an accurate picture of his Resolutions soul be spread before us we should see innumerable wrecks of hearts and homes And if we could hear all there is going on In this realm of misery, what crimes of anguish and distress from lips of broken-hearted wives and widows; what walls of orphans and rawlings of maniacs we should hear! But some are ready to say we are free from the domination of this god. What then of mammon? Have we none who are indifferent to the miseries of their fellow men, so that the gold flows unin- terruptedly into their coffers, though 1t Be wet with tears and red with blood? Are there not those who live in luxury, rich with the rents of gloomy tenants. where human being are penned like cattle; where disease and death riot; where decency is impossible and children grow up for har- lotry1and crime?
 l'Are there not those so filled with greed that they have no time for sober thought, for spiritual rest and meditatiop;. no stipas. for private prayer, or one hour a week at the prayer meeting? Are there not those who have only a pittance for works of charity and rescue, whose gold melts and runs at the touch of anything that gives a prospect or promise of ten or twenty per cent? Are there not those who are dissatis- fled and discontented because they cannot live as those who are more favored of for tune, and are on a continued strain to pass for more than they are worth, and so keep up with the procession? Are there not those , who seek for pleasures and enjoyments that come through the avenue of the sen- ses alone, those who bow at the shrine of fashion, and in gay and gorgeous attire disport themselves for the admining gaze of the multitude?
 Are there not those even in the church who have degraded religion to fine art and who hope by engaging in beautiful service once week to soothe and salve their con- sciences, and atone for their worldliness and neglect of duty? Can any of these, who serve at the shrines of pride, greed, lust