Article April 6, 1899 Issue

Churchianity and Christianity

Lasalle Corbell Pickett

Since Adam and the serpent left the Garden of Eden and began to found "churches," the coil of Churchianity has attained a marvelous development.

The increase of churchianity marks the decrease of Christianity. There is not room, it seems, in the same world for both to reach their highest development. As the former stretches out its arms to clasp humanity in its deadly embrace, the latter recedes into the secret places of life and abides its time, sure of victory at last.

Churchianity follows the fashions; Christianity follows Christ. In one generation churchianity tells its votaries that the brightness of life is necessarily of the evil one, and indulgence in it will inevitably open the way to an eternity of darkness. By the time the next generation arrives the heart of man, turning naturally like the flower, to the sunshine, has risen above the superstition, and churchianity meekly follows, fearful lest it lose its houses, its lands, its living.

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