Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-08-28

own edicts unless forced by time and
proof to their acceptance. And not only
did it stand opposed to all modern science
and investigation, but the pews have led
the pulpit In great reforms in the time Of
which speak.
One example is sufficIent-the course Of
the Church in negro slavery In America.
Who were the men who led the world out
Of this accursed sin, who began to show
America the blight upon her, the sin for
which she must be punished, the malig-
nant ulcer at her vitals7 All the parapher-
MALTA and strength the Church had was at
\ work to kill the agitstion--outside the
Quakers. Whittier, Wendell Phillips.
Garrison, Beecher, Charles Sumner, Abra-
ham Lincoln, and shot and shell from Get
tysburg to the Gulf, did more than all the
churches within these limits or any other
limits to kill this sin, that until now had
received its sanction and prayers. The
lazy Church OF the North came 10 support
this reform when the pews awoke to it's
evil, not before, II we except one or two Of
its great men.
Now these bright youngsters OF the
country saw all this, a. well as others.
They watched II as they watched the trial
OF Briggs, and OF countless more brave,
strong men. 1t had, rs suggested above,
two results. First, II kept these or such
men out Of the pulpit, so that the country
pulpit is not filled by men OF equal en-
\ dowments as I'LL the other professions in
like communities; and, again. Il kept such
men from taking hold OF church work.
These knew that great reforms, modern
science, and all things of progress were
condemned or questioned by the lazy
Church, and threat OF eternal punishment
had no effect over them. Truth, outside
of the creed Of conventions, had not been
sought after by the Church as body, at
least in those days.
The Church, like all great organizations,
is never harmed in the long run by SIAN
der, by untruth, by any enemies as such.
1t can only be harmed by the truth, by its
own weakness, by having its real sins ex-
posed, or better, perhaps, by those weak
nesses and sins themselves.
Until comparatively few decades ago
the Church of Christ was the Catholic
/ ucfC Was liu oLHtT hutil u enoTt
time back, as we judge history. Its power,
its complete control, worked its harm,
and reform, Professionalism, was the result.
The habit of centuries still prevailed, and
by fear mostly, by pleading somewhat, 1t
kept its place as the one authority ON all
things immortal, yes, and mortal.
Then men questioned. Science began
/
truths were expounded that differed from
Church beliefs--its prestige as absolute
authority was threatened. Then all its
power was enlisted to stamp out and
humiliate the instruction that it should
have been eager to promulgate.
So, from that on, 1t has fought truth in
Nature, and, thank God, it has been the
loser. Why am / glad? Because it is
being purged OF its evil, and because now
there is coming, am sure, renewed life.
| Let me add word that may be more
| fully understood as to my own view of the
Church. maintain, with my whole heart,
that it is the one institution standing for
righteousness. | am not at this time
appearing as its advocate. There is no
other institution in the world to be COM
pared with it for the good it has done on
| the whole.
| 1t has lost its power, It has lost its great
opportunity, from the fact of its past abso-
lutte power. 1t has become bigoted and
arrogant because it was the accepted
authority for mankind and resented out
side truth. The world, good-naturedly,
| 70 no cura want havou1 fs hehipd
in the rush of events, and the majority of
bright minds could not stay with 1t.
| What of the future? All the Ingersollis.
| all the atheists even as he was not, had no
power to injure the Church. Nothing but
itself had that power. 1t is being brought
to its old place, different in way to be
sure--a place in which it shall be authority
| in social life, guide to the weak, help
to all. 1t ig coming. and it is coming be-
cause of brave men within its own organi-
cation.
| / may add a word to say that while
have only attempted to suggest reasons
for the unquestioned degeneration of the
country church as suggested by Mr.. Hyde
at his remarkable address at the Unitarian
conference OF week or two ago held in
this city. My belief in the Church as the
organization that is yet to solve, to work
out, with whatever failures it may have
made, the life that is really Christian, 1
shall allow no man to question.
GEO. A. PHILLIPS.
|