The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-27

A"'Nii % write at once.
road. What does It porteud that the right
OF way and rolling 5 ock be of the best
material II the intelligence be faulty?
what matter how complete or magnih-
cent the train IL the engineer aud his
ads be lacking In capacity CT knowledge?
1t is almost star,liug TO realize how
completely at the mercy of the employees
are the lives Of Millions OF souls which
make use OF the convepiences OF travel
Not alone the man at the throttle, or the
cOnducor. or the trainmeu but the boy
AT tne crossing, the man at the switch
the operator at the table OF the train dis
patcher--oach arc dominant factors in
the public safey and woe, when these
factors prove unworthy or succumb to
influence which are to be dreaded aud
Stunned.
Is II not meet that consideration be
given to the character and personality o1
the employe in wha ever capacity he
serves! Why test the wheel at division
point the strength Of "A timber the ca
pacity OF boi.er or tube, II 1t be wrong
10 test the intelligence and mind OF an
animate being inc whose charge Is given
every other part OF the whole Can the
executive OF road be blamed II they eN-
erclse due p.ecaution in the selection of
the men under them or hold them re
sponSOle for a strict performance Of thelr
duties, knowing that in these men is
vested rights which for the tune being
make them superior even 10 their supe-
ricrs that the shtft OF telegraph Key
or he failure to turn a switch may mean
destruction and death. Too often has
this been exempl.hed, and that coni-
plete surveillance IS a mandatory obll-
gauiou Is evidenced almost daily in the
records Of wrecks caused by carelessneaF
or a disregard OF duty. II is beyond caVil
that fully 60 per cent OF railroad acci-
dents are caused by derelictions OF en-
ployes entrusted with the operation OF
Important details.
Religion has been the great civilizer,
ard do not fear contradiction when l
say that second TO this influence may be
set down the railroads As progress foI-
lows religion so does religion fol!ow
progress. and the railroads have always
been The promo e;s 81 civilization ana
religion and prs grcss. The railroads nave
made It possible for re lyon 20 over
come hiso,ry and plganism. Their eX-
tension into almost unrccorded areas has
en- bled the word OF God 20 echo IN for
Is, primeval into the ear OF the savage,
and among the rocks Of the wilderness,
When James watts In 1850 discovered
the potcacy OF Steam he unconscloualy
did more for religion tnan either Nc or
the world conceh cd. The evolution OF
The steam engine has carried the teach
ings CT the gospel from one end OF the
world 10 tho other The mission ny
abandoned society and civilization for
his Mas.crs sake. taught the word. bur
his teachings were given force ana his
efforts strength when the iron horse
progressed 10 his side and civilization
came to his assistance. The extension
OF 4 railroad into Siberia wiped away
the vestiges OF seridom in Great Russia,
and the horrors OF penal scryitude, which
for years had shocked the Christian
world. and let the light shine whore there
had been darkness, compelling progress
ard intellectual growth and habiit3tinS
an unknown empire. SO, too. did reliB-
ion and humanity blossom into new sig
n hcance when the whistle of tne first
locomotive echoed across the Soudan
into the mysaic areas Of Khartoum and
far up the banks OF the historic Mic,
penetrsting darkest Africa.
Religion and the railroads 60 hand In
hand. Tae combination robs the latter
Of its grosser and more material aspects
and clothes 1t with a garment which the
world must respect If only oy compare
son with other forces Of lesser intent
dts proasic environments become bril-
liant when It's influences are recognized,
for il annihil4tes "involuntary servi-
tude" and makes possible the equality OF
hlman rig It's AMI conservation OF JUS
lice and equity. Thus In the iwo ele-
ments quoted, re iglon and railroads the
world mus SEQ coinc dent nenehts; ltr-
igion. the quality OF mercy, liberation,
|. hit and love Railroads, channel
whereby these principles may be carried
and scattered BY the waysde. q force
when a.sss the superior force. ana a
step upon which religion reaches for the
yet unattai4ed. Religion. which teaches
edus.ity and which harmon!zes all
b. ancces OF society. labor and capital.
Railroads, which mu8t lean upon religion
While carrying II forward and into now
and vie ding areas. 50 do the two, APP
parently so widely divergent. rub 10 par
allei lines 50 closely Joined that meeting
Is unnecessary,
Macaulay said The alphabet and the
printing press alone excepted, those In
yentlong Wish abridge space have done
the greltesi coed for civilization" n
would say. that with TIL one exception.
ard that the Christian religion railroads
have done more for civilization thu any
o her force and in thus accomplishing.
have as a naturai sequence done more
for humanlty than aught else, the saving
Cause excepted T. e. ChristAn religion.
In the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation the railroads Tecogn ze a great
bene actor TIE ching the single creed
a cody forg Yene IS and human love;
unneumbered by se't or denomination;
open alike to the people OF the earth Of
III co ors Of al faiths. ! S prov nee for
good Is as bound.ess as the vault OF dl.
vine heaven.
a perfect mind and a perfect body
creates a perfect soul. The Young Mems
Christian Association offers a ready aud
pleasant method Of producing the desired
result. In its reading rooms the mind
is enabled 10 expand in proportion % the
effort made, for reading, according ~
the old saw, ''maketh a fun man." and
In the fuIlness OF the mind, amidst such
environments. the soul expands. The
reading room Of the Young Mems Cnrs-
tan Association Is. IN my opinion feat
ure OF the institution which should be