DO NOT LOSE YOUR BEARINGS.
By Editor
THESE words are written with reference to an article which has appeared on vegetarianism; and the caution is thrown out for those who are disposed to make so much of it as to bear them away from all their moorings on other principles which are still more important and sacred. Why is it that some cannot touch what they esteem a reform without running it to such an extreme as to destroy all confidence in their position? D. Mackay, M. D., has an article on this subject in the Chicago Vegetarian, expressing views which will not strike any true Christian with much favor. He says:— “CHICAGO VEGETARIAN: Your journal is full of very valuable reading, with a live go-ahead spirit. . . . Please let me say that the question of human dietetics is a purely secular one, and ought not to be tarnished by any religious views. Religion has ever been accompanied by the sacrificial blood of the innocent and helpless. The more I think upon this subject, the more I am convinced that religion is an insanity primarily possessing the human brain from the toxic influences of a flesh diet, to vanish like a hideous nightmare when man returns to his natural foods—fruits and farinacea. Then, and not till then, will he become sane, sound, and healthy; seeing things as they really are, in his own sensorium, and never outside of that, where only darkness and blank chaos reign.”
Our readers will want the clearest evidence by which to be able to trace to their source the utterance of such sentiments as these! We will therefore say that the Chicago Vegetarian advertises itself as the “official organ of the Chicago Vegetarian Society, circulates everywhere, published monthly.” The date of the number from which the foregoing quotation is taken, is January, 1899. We might think this was simply a spasmodic utterance from some vegetarian who has conceived an aversion to all sacred things, and so dismiss it in silence, had we not seen similar statements at other times in publications claiming to be vegetarian. This particular instance has but recently come under our notice, and it is so rank, and hostile to the whole scheme of redemption as revealed in the Bible, that we deem it time to raise a note of protest against coupling vegetarianism with any such sentiments. We hope it is not the tendency of the vegetarian system to generate and foster such feelings in the human heart. And of those who are inclined to that way, it might now well be asked, How does it strike you to be taught that a flesh diet is the great promoter of religion, and that a return to a diet of fruits and farinacea is the surest way to get rid of the “hideous nightmare” and insanity of believing in sacrifices, and of accepting the provision of the atonement, and other views which are so exceedingly precious to every follower of Christ? We can hardly believe that a veal diet (Gen. 18:7) had such an effect upon Abraham as Mr. Mackay, M. D., attributes to the use of flesh; or a fish diet (John 21:10-12) upon the disciples of Christ, on that occasion, after His resurrection, when He was instructing them in reference to the principles of the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3; Rom. 14:17. Better diet on the whole menagerie that Peter was instructed to kill and eat (Acts 10:11-13), rather than give up the great cardinal truths of revelation, which are designed for the salvation of the soul. So we repeat the words with which these lines are headed: “Do Not Lose Your Bearings.” Do not lose sight of your obligation to the principles of religion and revelation. Do not, in these days of commotion and delusion, become so stimulated with the idea that you are a reformer as to become confused in regard to the basic principles on which the faith of the people of God is founded.