The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
THE RISE OF
CHRISTIANITY
by J. d. BUSTf.8.
thristis nsburg, Va.

history Inc cannon mas always pre-
! coded religion. During the decline
| and fan or the Roman empire, the
greatest the world has ever known,
/ many ministries Of mercy were open
| ed up for the church.
| These, coupled with the moral ele-
walton Of her training. have been able
/ 10 rear upon the ruins of that great
. kingdom an empire of love that is
fast driving to Oblivion the medieval
! effects Of pagan idolatry and tho
gloom Of heathenism. One OF the
+ greatest agencies that has been and
/ is used FOR the advancement of Chris
tlanity IS the attitude of the church
as a ministering angel alleviatins
suffering humanity through all the In
Vulnerable horrors OF wars. famines
and pestilences. Looking down
through the centuries We see the
I church hampered by the cold hand of
/ persecution; yet. In spite of all this.
I she has advanced and prospered to
such an extent that she has forgotten
herself IN reaching beyond the prImi-
! tive object OF her purpose in life, and
/ taken the initiative IN all the great
movements for the betterTuent Of hu
uauIty
1 From the fourth century for more
than SEQ years the missionary labors
among the Goths. the English. the
Germans. and others. havs aocon7l
plished more for tho advancement OF
European civilization than all the Gre-
+ clan philosophy or tho civil govern
ment of Rome The nations who
trampled the great Roman govern
ment beneath their feet and hurled
the empire from its pedestal OF world
i vide power. won their victories by
!
pei OF the "Lowly Nazarens." while
the armies OF the ottoman empire
we're hurting their missiles against
the walls of Constantinople. the lead
/ ing scholars OF that day were inaugu-
rating the Renaissance.
Following the footsteps OF this
1 great movement there was born new
spirit OF patriotism and new prtn-
cple of democracy enabling these
great leaders to divert the minds OF
the people from the allegiance of in
i solutions and to graphic with the
! great ideals OF life.
! These new ideals broadened' until
/ they reached American SOIL and there
esta bll-hed an independence and a con-
stitution that gave guarantee OF po-
/ litical and religious liberty.
j In these movements the church has
| succeeded in exerting a wonderful In
! huence and beneficence far beyond the
| sacred walls of the sanctuary by en-
| itching millions Of non communion
/ lists.
/ When the Sums" of the great cities
| were being visited hy the church the
movement did not. at first. meet with
the approval Of many of the conserv-
I alive members, but the social eleva-
! ton IL wrought has won national roc
nd today IT Ia looked uO0n
as one Of the permanent institutions
:. for the religious education of tho des-
titute children OF the world. In tho
I footsteps OF this great movement
came the Sunday School organize
lions This led to the establishment
OF Bible societies for the purpose or
( Publishing and distributing the scrip
lures into every language and to ev-
ery nation This great movement en-
larged the missionary work. and men
and women were sent to enter tho
omen door Of every heather country.
Then We see emerging from these
new organizations the Young Men
Christian Association. taking under
their care thousands of young men.
leaving the influence OF home tram
ing for college and various huslness
pursuits subjected to many OF tho en- :
ttcsng and alurins destinations OF
EVIL.
/ Again. on the verge OF this comes
I wonderful organization, the SaIva'ion
ARMY. under the leadership of General
Booth. who modified this great ar
INV OF workers. and has been NOR"
| .nccAssfuI In reaching and elevatlEE
IN. lower conditions of life than any
! other institution outside the chufch
! Today the world is facing another
great crisis 1t becomes us as Chris
tian nation 10 stop and CONSIDER the
grave importance OF the question rae
ing us and see II We are prepared TO
meet the emergencies that are pre-
! senttng Themselves for adjustment
The whole country is in state OF I'M
rest such as the world posslo'E' mas
never experienced before.
The iudustries' OF nations and EN-
pires have been tied up through the
Influence of the European war.
The rapid methods of transit and
the improved electrical appliances
I have made such immense strides that
the world is within speaking distance
and has shriveied into community.
The great Industries of the world
have met in strong competition agl-
tated by its many frictions. We Will
have to use remarkable discretion In
order to live up to the demands re-
/ OuiTfu OF us az a SHflsltdu HdtAoh'
We must put into practice the
Golden Rule" II we expect TO md
solution for the great industrial con-
f!cts that are going to test the sta
billty of the strongest nations. we
will be forced, In the near future. to
recognize more decidedly the millions
OF peoples who are yet without the
pale of Christianity.
After the great conflict IN Europe
the recognized whites will have been
greatly weakened. and not able to
make claims OF former years Then
will be needed the cooperative and
/ persuasive spirit OF the church to turn
the ways and customs OF people that
IRE detrimental to their best interest
and progress. and weave into the lives
/ Of these semi Christianized people a
! truer, better and more eieVating
doctrine.
The accomplishment Of this great
purpose lies in the cooperation or the
christian world,
This IL not an impossibls feat. as
+ clearly demonstrated on the battle
! fields OF Europe. where antagonistic
| Ideals and institutions are united In a
| common cause and flghting shoulder
| to shoulder for common interest
We feel that in the near future such
! step will be taken by the Christian