The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-20

Intelligence and Morals-Its In
fuence Upon tho Race.
At the regular meeting OF the Meth
Cdist ministers of scranton and its
vicinity held in Elm Park church Mon
day n paper was read by Rev. A. j.
Van Cleft, pastor Of Dunmore Meth
odist Episcopal church on the bible
and Human Progress" The following
Is a synopsis:
Against the battlements OF Zion gather them.
selves socinians atheists, doubters, open foes and
bewildered friends. They are the desperadoes OF
infdelity, the lost followers Of Paine and Vol
tdire; the stoid and sleepy troupe Of the follow.
ers OF Owen, and also the Communists OF France
who arc fierce and disorderly The com.
mentators and higher critics Of Germany como
With pickaScs in their hands, saying: "Raze
II! Raze it TO the foundations" They all agree
mat Christianity and the Bible ought 20 so down
before advancing civilization.
IN able and discerning man Of England has
recently said: "Why do these men antagonize
the Bbley What evil has resulted from reading.
preaching or studying Gods word? Why should
u he blotted out or its influence hc destroyed
or crippled? Are these men the friends Of hu-
manity that they claim 70 brl Have they the
good and happiness of mankind at heart ia their
opposition TO Gods word. II the Bible was an
enemy to mankind, il ii brought sorrow instead
OF joy il it opposed civilization and enlighten-
Inent; II il stood in the way OF the worlds
progress; If It opposed good government; II it
retarded tho arts and sciences, then there might
be same reason excuse for the inveterate hatred
these men manifest towards Gods word. and
their constant cry Of down with the Bible"
WORTH OF THE BIBLE
The worth OF the Bible to society is that il is
repository OF INTEL gcnce Of morals and OF hope
That can nowhere else he found. II gives
strength and stability 10 law and government.
II is support TO society and It's removal would
be destruction 10 the whole social fabric. 1t
better mans physical condition It answers
the questions OF the soul that struggle for
solution: Questions concerning God. His exist
ence and attributes: questions that relate TO
mans own being, and that pertain 10 his future
life beyond the grave II affects his manhood
aud eievates man physically, intellectually and
morally in this life
The first advantage, and comforts from the
Bible are realized in this world Where the Bible
is widely proclaimed. circulated and read freely
the poetic description OF it's results are realized
in its influence. '"rhe mountains and the hills
break forth into singing, and the trees Of the
neId clap their hands; instead of the thorn
springs up the FIR tree: instead Of the brar, the
myrtle tree. The desert reioices and blossoms
as the rose. The mountains bring peace TO the
people and the little bulbs by righteousness"
What marvellous changes have been made by
Christian civilization even in the appearancc Of
the landscape How uroductiye tho soil under
thorough and systematic cultivation. The high.
est type of civilization and progress has ever
been found in those countries where the light and
Influence of the Bible has been the most power
fully felt This was illustrated in the history Of
nations before the advent Of Christ II has al
ways been the same since that time Some ma
tions, even TODAY arc morally and mentally re-
gons and shadows Of death: other nations show
that the sun Of revelation has been shining upon
them They are elevated. civilized and happy.
In national progress We will speak of the COM
merce Of the world Now no nation without an
extensive commerce is entitled to stand in the
front rank and realize the highest success in
national prosperity Where outside OF Bible
lands do we fud great commerceY Not more
than two such nations can be found, and they
have copied from the Bible lands Barbsro,ls
nations have nothing that can he dipniiird with
the name Commerce never originated with
hcathen countries
....-
Noi ihL 'Ni'i"ChN'
An acnostic reoentlv said, .,Tbe mon who have
found some way 10 Get us halter bomos better
houses better house comforts: wbo have aI
lowed ms to make saves of the hind ,orcos =,
nature. have made tho world dt 10 live In Thev
ere tho real c;vili,crs of tbe race The men who
preach tho pih,e and tall ~ rs ,bo,,, hoI arc
not the civilizersn
But wc sav comnars the bouses and bo,,a
comforts a, t,br;s,endo,, with tboss y, ho,tbon.
don, Contrast tho mud but a, ,bo horhario,
with tbs pol.,isl ,,on.ion a, N. rhr;s,;,r W.
countries control tho torcas of natur. and wi.
them the servants of men? Where was tho noucr
n, e,ectrcity discoyo,ed and ut;,;ved On ,ho,
under 60, and ncean ovsr p,ountain and ,I,i,
and all around the world, messages constantly
linz nower to move the cars A. vol AZ tn ,ich.
dwellings and streets9 And steam with its multi
piled application in the steam engine the factory
and the shpsP
Inventive genius has had its scat in pib,.
lands II seems 70 abide In the nrecinct q, divine
lipbt And wherever this ligbt bas shown the
,riphtos, tbere inventive talent has baon ,ba
most deyeloned II il said bv those Who h,ys
examined into tho facts tbat en.eigbtbs If all
tho n.tcnts ., tho world have bcen secured hv
nponie vino have hsor raised u,der tho iparorc,
of rho RibIe
obser,c thc irpuorco ., tho pill, ,,,o, ,,o
social habits and eniormcnts nj the r,ce wbo,,
ore social viovs r,nd,ctive ,f n,or, intolIect,,
snin,n,ent nj, ,onducted an nrincinIes bonor,blo
Ia men but in lands whore the nr,clos n, cod
are known Wbnro o,.c docs woman t,te hor
rroror ,anL Q W., A. ,ha ,,,,i,,. rini,,,,
,oiroI9 In ho,tla, r,r1s oa,,,r / t
.I,ve Rr,,to forco ,reyaiIs ,bera tho pihla Il
unknoyn Sometimes she is comn.Iled IN do tho
wo,l, ot , bo,st q, burden II i not y,r,rao
,h,t ,ror,,, ,,o lac, a. ,ho cross o,d sr,, :, ~.
senr,cbro auI ars, 40 ,on ,bc ,yondo,,,,, s,or, .