Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/60

 Now,—How does this spirit pervade our social community to-day, after nearly two thousand years of constant preaching and teaching?

Look round on the proud array of the self-important, pugnacious, quarrelsome, sectarian and intolerant so-called "servants of the Lord." The Pope of Rome, and his Cardinals and his Monsignori! The Archbishop of Canterbury, and his Bishops, Deacons, Deans and Chapters and the like! The million "sects"—and all the cumbrous paraphernalia of the wealthy and worldly, "ordained" to preach the Gospel! Ask them for "proofs" of faith! For signs of "humility"! For evidences of any kind to show that they are in very soul and life and truth, the followers of that Master who never knew luxury, and had not where to lay His head!

And you, among the laity, how can you pray, or pretend to pray to a poor and despised "Man of Sorrows," in these days, when with every act and word of your life you show your neighbours that you love Money better than anything else in earth or in heaven!—when even you who are millionaires only give and do just as much as will bring you notoriety, or purchase you a "handle" to your names! Why do you bend your hypocritical heads on Sundays to the Name of "Jesus," who (so far as visible worldly position admitted) was merely the son of a carpenter, and followed the carpenter's trade, while on week-days you make no secret of your scorn of, or indifference to the "working-man," and more often than not spurn the beggar from your gates!

Be consistent, friends!—be consistent!