Evening star., 1905-10-01

faith, and ten cruel and systematic perse-
cutions were inaugurated against the Chris
tians. with the view of crushing out the
movement. The most horrible barbarities
were visited upon the Christians. Legs
were broken; finger nails torn on; ears.
noses and hands cut off; suffocation was
visited upon them by hanging the head
downward in smoky fire.
In all history no other widely diffused re-
ligion was ever put to such test. Yet
Christianity survived; nay, it triumphed
after three centuries of suffering unutter-
70 fight and the peaceful dove of Christi
anity enthroned.
The perpetuity of Christianity was again
threatened by the moral and religious
stupor of the dark ages. What religious
life and force remained were found chiefly
in the monasteries. While the mad crowds
were rioting in the cities and the great
lords were wrangling and waging petty
wars the recluse was content to gaze on
and point to the cross as containing the
pro1oUndeSl motive 10 a loIuer ne. Ceiip-
acy was a protest against the lust of the
world. Mendicancy was a protest against
the luxury of the world, against bribes
which ensnared the prelates and against
church in all ages
During these centuries society was little
else than baptized paganism. The spiritual
vitality arising out of a personal experience
of saving grace was conspicuous by its alb
sence. The degradation of Christian Ideals
was enough to kill out the essential ele-
ments of the gospel. Yet Christianity sur
vived. 1t triumphed again in the gracious
revival of letters and in the mighty awak-
ening of the great reformation The beacon
fires of truth then enkindled have never
been pul out, but are burning with clearer
radiance with every passing year.
In the eighteenth century the popular
thing was to doubt and deny everything
ence of spiritual help and solace. The god
dess reason was enthroned and the Creator
driven from His universe. Voltaire and men
of his ilk boasted of the pending death Of
Christianity and doubted whether it could
command even decent burial. Yet the re-
hgion of the Nazarene survived. Yea, it
triumphed. Side by side with the blatant
skepticism and lax morality of that age
there sprang up the vitalizing piety of a
mighty religious awakening, under the
fold
The fruits of that great baptism of renew
ing fire are ripening with every succeeding
generation.
The spirit of our age is markedly materi-
alstic. We are engrossed with the things
seen and felt. Men are impatient of every
thing other-worldly. That which cannot be
turned to immediate and practical gain is
not worth second thought. The very
the god Of Mammon. The unparalleled
achievements of invention and science are
often prostituted TO the furtherance of the
reign of the prince of darkness. Yet, in
spite of all, Christianity triumphs. There
are more Christians in the world today than
ever before The ideals of the Man of Cali
lee are surely permeating the civilization
of east and west. The principles of His
religion are dominant in Japan as well as
in America. The enthusiasm for humanity
as expressed In the activity of modern mis-
sions is the marvel of the centuries. In art.
literature, poetry, science and citizenship
Jesus Christ is being crowned king As be-
fore, so now it is gloriously true: 1.-THE
world Is gone after Him."