The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-10

finally lining up the members of each in factions
the opposition in each being hopelessy In the MI
nority, they broke away from the parent organlza-
tions joined forces and rented the old schoohouse
For a time the "Frog Eyes" were not affiliated
with any other Sect and the old schoolhouse wit
messed some of the most remarkable evidences OF
hysteria and mental disorder and emotional phe-
nomena that were ever perpetrated in the name of
religion. The manifestations occurred during sea-
sons of revival, when men and women absolutely
lost control of themselves and jabbered unintelli-
| gibly and tried to climb up the walls Once they
knocked the stovepipe down and smoked out the
meeting. Guided by the exhortations Ct the lead
ers, the people we're worked up to frenzy until IN
their neurotic spasms they became irresponsible.
Probably some good accomplished for many
converts added to the church, whO joined
in the maddening exhibition of shouting the praises
of the goodness of God until, exhausted, they fell
to the floor in cataleptic fits. And all this was III
the name of religion, its origin attributed to God.
To maturer Judgment it seems almost BIAS
phemy
The subject of religion is one which touches
the most sacred parts of mans nature. 1t appeals
to Lis intellect and hi understanding. 1t reinfOrces
reason. 1t inculcates faith 1t is the bulwark of
morality 1t is sane, and throughout the centuries
has proved the only uplifting force humanity
knows
The Frog Eyes as a schism passed from exist
ence when the little body of sincere but misguided
worshipers were taken under the protecting arm of
an organized sect. A new church building has been
erected, and the reorganization is doing eff
fective work in the town.
A schism created by preacher is next. There
established in growing city of Indiana
Der of years ago mission church, which, as the
city grew, became self supporting in short time
An eloquent young man presided over the destinies
of the mission and for several years after it had
become independent of the mission board finances.
Then he got call. Some members wanted to meet
the call, others did not. The trustees finally
tanned him for year at the increased price Things
went smoothly the surface for some time, but
there was a smoldering fire which grew until even
the preacher could not help but notice When he
called again the fire broke out. The pastor of
the flock did not know what to do, so he did moth
ing The advocates of retaining him controlled the
board of trustees and deacons, so those who would
allow the preacher to go his way, being baffled,
quit In body and organized a mission under an
other denomination Seeing the trouble he was
causing, the preacher forthwith resigned and ac-
cepted the call which had come from distant city.
That broke the congregation all up. Some went
with the first schism others returned to the church
down town, while still others organized kind of
'FNew Thought society, leaving only about third
of the original congregation to support the church
The new mission church is now struggling along
IL, l. L
many empty seats at the church services. The old
has recovered and has nearly as many
members before the break, while the New
Thoughters" hold meetings around at different
members homes and are gradually drifting into in
fidelity and atheism. Some took up spiritualisn
and are being imposed upon in that branch of -nys-
ticism.
Pride of worldly possession, Unsuitable desire to
"boss," insensate bickering-these cause modern !
schsms. They in turn lead the people to seek new
fields of activity in religious things. Always far
Their away from Christ and His Church, always into
treacherous sands, back to the Rock of Peter
Could Martin Luther and Roger Williams and
] ohm Wesley and Robert Browne and all the rest
of the founders of Christian churches improve
ments on the one founded by Jesus Christ, come
back today to view the results of schismatic teach
ing, could watch the Jumpers" and the "Rollers"
in their emotional extravagances and hear the re-
narkable manifestations of frenzied religionists,
could they return and unbelief stalking through
out the length and breadth of the land, would they
organize another schiSm would they denounce
hem all and return to the genuine religion and the
legitimate faith which has its foundation in Christ
md its headquarters in Rome? What do you think
about it?
CHURCH AND DIVORCE.