The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-01
our REIIGloUs CONTEMPORARIES.

OGE kCLictOO0 SNaRi1%s
a great deal is being said lately about
the oid-timc religion in contrast with
that OF q more modern type, and general
Is TO the disparagcE,ent of the latter. The
TACT is. religion IS not limited by dates
or boundaries. 1t is the SINE always.
everywhere, and in all human hearts
where it is known and felt. The same
religion that enabled Enoch to walk with
God, way back in the gray dawnins of
time, is essential in every age to that
elevated communion of the human spirit
with the divine. Being u supernatural
prduct, it is not affected by the lapse
or time, the changes of human opinion
or the progress OF human society. Those
who contend that the religion of the
Gospel is left far behind by this age OF
advanced thought 60 as unequal to meet
it's lofty and imperious demands, know
not whereof they affirm. Christianity Is
the promoter OF all true advancement. CT
the highest forms of culture, civilization
and human development. 1t is more than
that-it is their prime cause, so that where
it Goes not exist they do not exist. In
stead of movement forward, there is, in
its absence a constant retrogression.
The history Or the race demonstrates
this Those who speak of Christianity
as outgrown. and not up-to-da2. forge:
that the very growth and progreSsiveness
that suggest the criticism are the i'm
mediate product of the religion they dis
credit
But it is more particularly OF religion III
its application to the Individual char-
acter and life that we write. In it's es-
sence. expression and effect it is invari-
ably the same The oid-time religion
is the religion all the time. There are
az, consistent and beautiful exhibitions OF
it now as at any former period in the
history of the Church. While there is
a great deal of formality and worloli-
ness they only reuder more consplcu-
Gus those Upright and shining lights
that burn with a steady and undimmed
lustre, rejecting that divine iliulnina-
ton which is the light OF the World -
Christian Advocate.
Any proposition looking toward the In
Jury or destruction of the negro primary
schools is Il blow at the whole primary
school system The State can justify
the publc-schoo1 system only upon the
ground that in this way good Citizenship
is promoted: that thus the avenues OF
knowledge. at least, are opened to even
the lowliest among US. Just where the
need is sorest the argument for the
schools is strongest Surely it will be
readily agreed that the negroes need
enlightenment-need just such enlight-
enment as the primary schools Will al
ford. and need it far more deeply aud
manifestly than the whites, who are bet
ter circumstanced.
The white people are going to dominate
the State. That is best for whites and
blacks alike. The whites are the strong
err race behind them are centuries of
glorious history and they have wrought
out through toll. suffering and blood, Il
marvellous civilization. Behind the blacks
are centuries of barbarism, succeeded by
a long period of slavery. They have come
into their new-found freedom bewildered.
1t is scarcely too much to say that they
passed quite quickly from chattel slavery
into political slavery. The party TO which
they did not "helong'' have found them
troublesome and pestiferous. The tempta
ton to take revenge for these vexations
is quite inevitable, but to yield to it would
be ignoble. To take away from them the
primary instruction which the State now
provides would doom them to hopeless ig-
norarce. We must be patient with them.
a third OF century is nothing in the life
of a race. It is q fine opportunity for the
white people to be generous to their weak
err brethren in black"
But let the friends of the free schools
open their eyes to the unquestiouab,e-f fact
that the destruction of the schools for ne
sroes is the thin edge of the wedge. Ii is
the beginning of q policy which sooner or
later means the disruption of the entire
system. In our view. that would be q
calamity at cnce immeasurable and ire
parabie.-Religious Herald.
Michael Angelo. when a lad, saw the
rude block OF marble in his masters
stone-yard. and wished to ''let the angel
out" And with the hand of genius.
young as he was. carved the beautiful
young David with his sling, which is the
pride of the city of Florence. Can it be
that God. the sculptor of all human lives.
sees the saint in each ore of his children.
and with sharp tools and hard blows.
hcws and cuts and shapes. until he has
made them meet for the city above?
When he has finished his work how per-
feet it will be, He that hath t'egun Il
good work in You will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ" One day each
of them. polished after the similitude OF
a palace" will find Il place, without spot
or bIemish, or any such thing
Co!orsd Mans View.