The Washington bee., 1902-01-11

Thomas l.. Jones Esq, attorney al
lam and one Of the prominent members
,,,,- bar delivered before the Second
e,ors- Church Lyceum, the follow
i,, able speech. entitled, "Is the
church Keeping Pace with the De
r,s,ds of Civilization.
arr President, Ladies and Gentle
r,-r With profound pleasure and a
a.. sense of gratitude to you for the
J.-Inggi,hed honor accorded me as
lrfH-Te-I 10 your generous and polite
mutation. appear before you at this
ba4r 10 address YOU upon the subject {:
"I,tnr Church Keeping Pace with the
Demands of Civilization?
IN order that there should be no mis-
r94-r,t,ndIng Of my position upon the
srbi--t and wiki view OF simplicity,
and that might not be recorded as
making auv attack upon christianity, 1t
mrgqr b.. well that | should pause in
the i0riDIenCy Of my argument and
5ly- bret dlhnltlOn OF christianity
snfI-s relation to the christian church;
ami also what is commonly known by
the term civilization.
Christianity, of which the church is
hgla representative a understood by
fb40IogIans and modern writer's, and
.sdshged by the new testament, it is
the religion Of christian. or the system
of doctrines and preCeptS taught by
Christ and recorded by the evangelists
and the apostles. In other words 1t Is
A system of morals as eXempllhed in
fne life OF the lOWly NazeTine teacher
before and after his CTuSihXiOn. 1t
b-g8Q It's work when Christ COmmenC-
edo heal the SICK, raise the dead,
and gye sight TO the blind; but it was
no,ua-. he prayed IN GasSemines gar
den. and was lead by his trembling
sccusers up the rugged hill of Cal
varg TO G4gOIhls bloody summit
wa-rz the whole world behOlds him
today. the picture of a suffering Lord
diving Tor doOmed world, that the
christian church was born. Itwas then
that lae church first saw and felt the
l,a, o. reason, aad being baptised in
The blood t redemption and dedicated
90 holy purposes went forth on its de.
Vg- mission for the regeneration Oi
man. TINS was over 1900 years ago.
Civilization according to Webster is
the state o. being refined in manners
EJm,he grossness Of savage life and
improved 10 the arts and learnings. II
represents The highest development oi
ma1m morals, literature, in philosophy
andn science government ICrepre-
senls a nation or a people that has
emerged from the condition of Savag
cry barbauty, and inhumanity IN
which the grOSSeSt crimes are com
miled, 10 that lofty plane of evolution
ana development where governments
are established, regulated and con-
Uo.led by human and salutary laws
.pfedcated upon morality, intelligence
and the priceless Jewels of civil anC
poHuca. liberty.
CIVILIZATION antidates christianity ol
the birth and establishment of the chri.
gan church. It's faint voice was first
heard reyer5erating among the ancient
mis- OF EtheopIa, when il was rescued
u5 lht Sable sons Of Aries, while gageC
a1q bound IN chains and held a prison
Ct Oy the giant gods Of superstition.
IL was born when the Etheopians
s-'e TO the world the first idea oi
SsOehce, masonry, mathematics, and
Ie"S OF navigation. The pyramids OF
Ls}pt their magnificent grandeur
"Iel' mastery construction, as evidenc-
cum The masonic genius of its build
TS' us government and laws are in
,t5~lselveS lndlsputable evidence OF
."e nigh degree of culture and superior
a.S'eIoPment OF It's people and could
o' nave Oeen accomplished by any
--,oH or people wanting in civilization
anu We highest arts and learning.
me history Of Greece and that of the
laSenians both with their long
l o' H'usluOus generals, statesmen
-.'o.ALs' philosophers and poets furn-
Tue world with an example of the
H-I",e't possibility of martial genius
80 ae ae'leVements in letters, oratorY,
1gee and OF prOgI eSsive and enlight-
s1s" clyIlzation. Here we find the
immortal Homer the greatest philos-
NJ. NJ. Ol ms age, enlightening the
r,',t Ga ana hrlug the hearts of the
o-''S With the great doctrines of the
,,.-. ,,,-....oIa'iIy OF the soul; and Plato sus
E-.l E'Is'E ihe teachings of this ancient
Sl,,I ''1 philosopher by entertaining
similar views.
'"e civilization Of Africa and the
A.Sal scholarship of the Etheoplaus,
".eI ature Of Greece aud the writ
Jhe Areatest men threw theil
.Ll l-.1Al beams into the Roman empire
S, 1Is'e admlst the most vigorous strug
80 - @'h ignorance and superstition
-, ,"'-1 by revolution and the great
y.-'IISS "'IS thst ever shook the eastern
4.". ClvllzatlOn maintained its asceI
CI..y I-ugy ull Jesus Christ was born. rher
Instantly received its birth and IN,
6s 6Ss-S sang over the planes Of Bethel
lorL. Feace on earth and good vii
c-ac-h Sach Is the origin and triumph O
r,,-..L.t'on up to the time when the
w-5 5.''.'n era was established. Blu
TEN CIVILIZATION differs materiall,
r2-, n mat Of the anclents. The an.
~5ri.,.t 5i.r referred to were civilized but no
drI#5.sluanzed. American civilization
Cjen, Cen mot not only from that of the an
uauon, but theoreticallyi in sd-