Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-05-07
STRUGGLEOF
CHRISTIANITY
IS DISCUSSED

OIGU ears DLIuSSiC u CilIi SL1du-
ity' Only those who have made
study Of this subject can realize
the work involved in bringing out
the most important points in such
an interesting theme. Mr.. Fitzger-
aid said in part
Nineteen hundred years ago there
was brought forth into the world
q society new and different in as
pect to any organization previous
ly formed. This society had its
inception at a time and under con-
ditions decidedly unfayorable to its
growth. It was not championed
by men Of power nor men of learn
ing, on the contrary they were it's
betterest foes. 1t was introduced
by one being, whose sole mission
was The establishment of it, and SO
we'll did He accomplish the duty
placed upon him, SO firmly We're
it's principles implanted in the
minds of its early followers that it
has endured through every age, has
weathered every storm, came out
victorious in every battle and is to-
day the most universal society in
the world. 1t numbers among its
membership, not only the proof
and most lowly Of Gods creatures,
but kings and monarchs, men Of
learning, men Of power and men Of
influence. The society of which
] speak, is christianity and its
founder was Jesus Christ
In order to understand the con
ditions, under which this society
came into existence, it is necessary
to bark back into the more distant
past and consider through the in
huences and tendencies then at
work in the minds Of the people,
who prepared the way for the
spread of Christianity among
them
The fore casts Of prophets, which
had been made from time to time,
last by John, the Baptist, were
accepted without question, by the
peoples. There was then existing
vague knowledge of a remote
Golden Age, a Paradise lost and the
words of the previous prophets
were among the recollections of the
peoples Of that age. 1t is claimed
by many historians that christianity
existed among the ancients in spite
OF the almost universal practice of
paganism, the worship of material
things
The church Of Jesus Christ was
established and took on visible form
on Pentecost in the year 20 A. d.,
while the Apostles were gathered
together in Jerusalem during the
celebration of the Passover.
In the study of christianity we
find many Influences at work both
within and without the church. The
Apostles, after the death Of Christ,
remained in Jerusalem, and lost no
time in announcing the gospel to
the men of every nation. With the
coming Of the Holy Ghost, during
the celebration of Pentecost, which
had attracted people from all parts
of the world, and they on return
ing home. inspired by the simple
truths they had heard so ably pro
pounded, and imbued with the spir-
it of Christianity, began to preach
the gospel 10 their own country
men. Hence nearly every primitive
church traces its faith back to the
miracle Of the first Christian Pente-
cost, and thus was the church of
Christ established
During the first thirty years of
Christianity it spread rapidly The
: all engrossing care of the Chris
tians was to either build churches
or to increase the influence Of those
already established Christian com
munities sprang up every where.
Christianity satisfied every relig-
ious craving of the human soul;
it comforted the sinner; it gave
rest to the troubles; peace to the
heart; dispelled doubt and held
out to the people Of every nation,
a promise Of world to come. The
pious and pure lives of the Chris
tians were examples of the civiliz-
ing influences the new religion had
on man.
The one great cause which di
rected attention to the Christians
and inspired feelings Of admiration
for them, was the heroic fortitude
and Joy so many evinced in dying
for their faith. The obstacles in
the propagation of Christianity
were many and powerful. The
change from doltry to Christianity
was great and it required both per
sistency and diplomacy on the part
of missionaries to eradicate these
influences. The well organized
well defined and powerful force oil
the rulers were aroused by the in