Year: 1878

There are perhaps more religious con
trov-rsialists in the world than of any
other kindt simply from the fact that
everybody has some kind of religious
faith, or those who have none become
critics of those who have. II is doubt
full, however, whether religious contro-
versies do much good on account of the
extremes to which they are carried,
thereby arousing prejudices which will
not admit Of reason and sound phloso
ply. Heated controversies on religion,
or subjects pertaining to religion, as a
general thing do no good. Usually
they are lacking the true essence Of
christianity, and are inspired more by
personal feeling than by real religious
zeal. When this becomes the case, the
public becomes interested only 80 far
as to see who is the smartest debater or
TO see which sharp diamond can cut the
deepest and the cleanest. Religious es-
says on disputed points, and criticisms
on religious doctrines, find their way
to the public through the secular news
paper press of the day in spite almost
Of the utmost watchfulness and care,
and if only a small number of the gen.
eral newspaper readers can be induced
to wade through column or two of dry
religious philosophy, the most of writ
ers are satisfied. 1t is doubtful if there
Is one out OF five tf the general newspa-
per readers who have the time to spend
in poring over such long articles or ev-
en- if they had the time it is very likely
they would feel more like spending it
A. something they might deem to be
more useful Religious communication
are generally written from different
standpoints, which everybody cannot
see in the same light, most probably in
3 sectarim spirit, and hence fail to fur.
nish that real religious food which true
christian believer needs and which his
heart and mind crave. There are but
few who care about the hair splitting
between the different sects.


As long as it is admitted that bap-
tism is really not essential to salvation,
discussions as to whether sprinkling or
immersion is the right mode, lose Their
interest to the great mass of real chris
tians. The great age and infallibilty
claimed for tho Catholic church. is not
christianity, no more than is the apos
tolic succession claimed by the Epsco-
cOpal church. The fore ordination doc
trines OF John Calvin, Notwithstanding
that the 4eligious world has been con


vulsed by them, are no more religion
Than are the doctrines of free grace Sc
for:h by John " esley. Neither do W.
think it essential to salvation to know
whether the foul sleeps after death OF
not. We might mention perhaps dozen
other sectaran views which divide tn.
religious sentiment Of tee country, but
those We have alluded to are sufficient
to afford the subjects for long theolo
gical discussions by learned Doctors Of
Divinity and some not so learned, and
which only distract and divide public
sentiment. We cannot believe that the
great Master when he was upon the
earth ever meant to make the road to
Heaven difficult to find, though he did
say that broad is the way that leadetl
to destr action and many there be tina
go in thereat; and narrow is the way
that leads to life and few there be that
find it. In the discussion which has
been carried on in this paper for somt
time past there has been but little o
the simplicity OF christian character
shown forth, but much that only be
wilders and puzzles. many sincere in
quirers after truth, but yet there ar,
few but will admit that the discussion
between Catholic" and "More Anon
is conducted in more of a christian spir


then the personal Diamond cut Dia
mond" dispute (not discussion) that ii
carried on by two leading ministers o
the same denomination in the only
religious weekly paper published il
this city.


These disputes and differences ART
fro our most learned men to whom
others are taught to look for advice anC
knowledge, but when there are sucE
wide diverg-nces on religious doctrina
questions, we'll may the masees halt
and ponder as to the right way. Happi
ly however there need be no doubt W.
on this subject. The Divine Master
made the plan of salvation so plain
that a child could understand it and
the learned scholars of that day were
told that they must become az a little
child to be good christian. A little
more Of this kind ofchild like christian.
ity taught at the present day, would dc
more good than long polemcal essays
on doctrnal points in the news papers.
The blind man who was healed by the
Savior by an application of clay made
of spittle, could not explain the philos