The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23

The system of education may De anu 40
faulty and insufficient, for often Gou
Book is ignored or excluded by IN
Christian and foolish teachers, and Wiilie
the mind is sought to be developed anu
disciplined the moral nature is negiecteu,
and the great primal, solemn truths Vi
God are not enforced.
But again. a more healthful tone ol
public and private morals, more en-
larged system of Christian benencehce
and kindness, and purer spirit OIL gen
tleness and forbearance have been pro-
duced in society-among the people a.
large, wherever the doctrines OF lhe
Bible of the blessed Saviour have been
more generally known and empraceu'
1t is difficult for informed, enlightened,
elevated people who live at period OIL
comparatively advanced civilization, anu
who, from childhood have gradually De-
come imbued with nobler sentiments ana
a finer, more elevating ethics than the
wisest of the most cultivated and gitted
ancients professed. to realize how vast
diffusive, penetrating have been their
influence upon the habits, views, prln-
ciples and conditions of the foremost
nations of the earth. The stupehed
Caffre in the impenetrable savage wilds
of Africa, or the benighted Parlal,
crouching amid the dark. steaming
jungles of India, stands out in forceful
and violent contrast with the noble,
commanding, exalted Caucasian, with
capacious mind, purified affections and
high morals. So transmitting is the
power of Bible truth-so comforting and
reforming-that we may we'll stand
amazed a trarnnn6ouS most marvel
Gus results.
When you turn to the fearful descrip-
ton which the great Apostle Paul has
given in the first chapter of his letter
to the Romans, of the huge, brutal
denominations and the devilish, disgust
ing sins of the heather at that time-the
Romans included, the great conquering
power, and the most polished and ia
nous at that period-and then in con-
trast, examine into the life and manners
of any modern community or State pos
sessing and obeying the Bible, and
thoroughly conYersant with it's exam
pies, it's warnings, it's lessons of wisdom
and truth. you then behold what the
blessed, faithful Book has done and can
do for man.
Mere education can never change the
heart or civiliZe and eXalt nation of
savages. Wherever, in white or black,
in yellow or red race, perniciouS pas
sion and unbridled lust hold sway, there
can not be possibly any lovely, ennobling
virtues, any gentle and winsome courte-
sizes, any high-bred delicacy and refine
ment of feeling or sentiment, any chiV-
alrous magnanimity, any of the graces
and principles that throw a halo around
redeemed humanity. Those graces only
exist to any great extent where the
Bible is read. taught, lived upon, and
where it's blessings are generally diff
fused. Whilst the Word of Life has
transformed a continent, has made desc
lation wave with plenty and the solitary
places blossom as the rose, has thrown
a glorious light amid the natural dark
ness of remote islands. what spot on
this earth-whether State or Kingdom,
what island of sea or ocean. has been
made happier or better by infidelity? 1t
is after the Bible sheds its benignant
light upon the moral gloom, that ac
cused infidelity with its front of brass
stalks in with deceptive glare" it is
when the savage has been civilized and
regenerated by the power of God and
God, that the infidel begins his internal
work, seeking to pollute the very springs
of his happiness, to poison his mind, and
to cover up the beautiful panoply Of
salvation with the pail of despair. When
the bright, beautiful star of evening
takes it's accustomed place in the
heavens, and send forth its steady light,
you will see it's attendant stars begin
to glimmer too. So when the Bible be-
gins to shed it's cheerful, benign rays
abroad over any land, you will see its
satellites, the churches, the Sabbath
schools, the educational and benevolent
institutions, soon begin to revolve in
harmony and to unite a gracious, health
full and hopeful radiance.
The wonderful softening of the asperi-
ties of life; the kindling in the human
heart of keen sympathy for another S
woe: the instllng into the mind of the
important, sympathetic, and noble lesson
of forgiveness for wrongs and injuries
inflicted, and the merciful displays which
mark the progress of even the cruel
sanctuary Moloch of war, are to be
directly traced to the subduing and holy
influences of the blessed Bible Before
the Evangel of Peace had spread it's
wings over modern nations, the cruelties
enacted in war were worthy only of the
diabolical spirit whose cunning machina-
tions inspired them. Chancellor Kent
tells us THAT it is owing to Christianity
that a decided reformation of manners
and improvement of feeling has been et-
fected in modern times" He says that
the Bible taught the duty of benevo-
lence to strangers, of humanity to the
vanquished. of the obligation of good
faith-of the sin of murder, revenge and
rapacity" However much in the great
est of modern wars-that between the
South and the North-the peaceful, phil
anthropic, and merciful spirit of the
Bible may have been outraged ana
crucifed by the inhuman monster, Nc
Neill, in Missouri or by the heartless
Nero who laid in ashes beautiful Column
bia and destroyed Atlanta, one William
/ r Sherman, or by that beast in human
/ form, Ben. Butler, who so lorded it over
PROSTATE and afflicted New Orleans, and
! held his saturnalia of crime and de-
! bauchery surrounded by his body guard,
/ or by that Vandalic Alaric who ravaged