FIREWORKS AND “CHRISTIANITY.”
By Francisco Cortis
Religion in United States of Colombia.
This is Sunday morning, but its quiet is disturbed by the explosion of noise-producing fireworks. For several days there has been a grand celebration in progress in honor of the Virgin, and there has existed an almost continuous ringing of church bells, and the firing off of various kinds of explosives. To-day, December 13, 1896, was to have been a big day with its procession, but the rain did not permit its full realization. However, a part of the procession was carried out according to the usual custom, and illustrates the idea that the originators of Sunday sacredness have for the day, and also how the day is to be kept. We might say in this connection, that Sunday is used chiefly for pleasure, and, outside of the early morning church services, the day is passed in visiting among acquaintances, going to the country on excursions, engaging in other pastimes, such as playing billiards, cards, cock-fighting, drinking, and attending the theater and ball. If it chances to happen that there is to be a bull-fight, it is on Sunday, because the largest crowd can be gathered on that day. In reference to buying and selling, there is little attention paid to the day outside of some of the larger mercantile houses. And as to the people, the religious leaders are little better than the common people about the way they keep Sunday. But this is a digression from our subject, and now to return to it. As we were passing from one part of the city to the other on the above-mentioned Sunday, we noticed a stream of people going towards a church called San Francisco, and as we crossed this street, we saw, upon looking toward the church, quite a number of people assembled. On making inquiry we were told that the devil was going to be blown up, or something that was intended to represent his destruction, by the Holy Virgin. Every few minutes the bells would ring, and a few sky-rockets were fired. This continued until a little after 2 P.M., when a great shout was heard, and almost immediately we saw ascending a rope that extended to the ground on the opposite side of the street, an object, which may have been twenty or thirty feet in length, and looked like the body of a fish, but we were told that it was a serpent, and that it was going to be blown up by fireworks that were concealed within it, and was intended to represent the Virgin Mary destroying the serpent. As this serpent was drawn up, and had almost reached the church, or rather was about to enter the belfry, the Virgin appeared on the scene below, and as she passed under the line upon which the serpent was ascending, the fuse was fired, and at once the destruction commenced. The serpent was made to advance and retire, as tho there was a terrible struggle in progress, until suddenly there came a terrific explosion, and the serpent swung limp and lifeless. At this point arose a louder shout than the first, and the bells gave forth their sounds, accompanied with the explosion of numerous kinds of noise in combination, until the air was heavy with the odor of burnt powder. In all of these gatherings the soldiers take part, and parade through the streets, their bands giving entertainment for the people. On these occasions sometimes it is a young woman who represents the Virgin, and at others, it is a life-size image. Both are arrayed in the style of oriental monarchs. Now, what is the object of all this display? We are told that it is to teach by an object lesson the religion of Jesus Christ. But we notice that there are many who regard it as foolishness, and they are learning to look upon it with contempt and disgust. They, in their hearts, long for something that they do not now possess, but do not know where to look for that which they desire. They have been taught that these things are the only religion there is in the world, and even tho their better sense teaches them that there is nothing in these forms, they are in the dark as to where to look for better. Now, what is the responsibility that rests upon those who are holding the light of God’s truth in their possession, and not sending it to these who are sitting in the darkness? Will God hold them guiltless? or will he not demand of them in the judgment the blood of these people? Reader, are you trying to send God’s message of salvation to those who are thus groping in the darkness of ages of superstitions and false teachings? You may ask, Will they listen to truth if they have the opportunity? I can only speak of my own experience among them, which has extended over the greater part of two years, and, if I am permitted to judge from it, I must conclude that they are not only willing to listen to what may be said on the subject of religion, but are eager to hear it. You may ask, Will they obey when they hear? That is not our business. That part belongs to them and God. Our part is to give them the opportunity of hearing, and do what we can to have them obey, but the obeying is theirs, and not our work. But we are not to judge them by the standard of our ideas of what constitutes religion. This would not be right, as can be readily seen from what I have said in the first part of this article. They think they are Christians now, and to tell them that they are not, is to offend, rather than bring them to the light and truth which you have for them. You must, by a well-ordered life, show them what constitutes a Christian. I say they are ready to listen, but how can they listen if there is no one to tell them? You, my dear reader, have enjoyed, and now enjoy, privileges which have always been denied to these people; therefore it is you who have the power of saying whether they shall remain in ignorance of what the word of God says or not. How are you going to answer the question? Will they treat those who go among them to teach them new ideas with kindness and consideration? I can again reply from experience, that I have received the best of treatment from all classes, and have learned to love them as my own. Their hearts are just as large, and hold the same feeling of kindness towards those who will manifest, in their actions and manner of life, an interest for their welfare, as any people in the world. A man who is considerate of the feelings of his fellow-men, and is willing to grant that others have rights as well as himself, we think will find a warm welcome in the hearts of the greater part of the people at large. It is equally true that there exist some classes who would oppose any movement that is calculated to give more liberty to the masses, because it would reduce their own power. This class would make war on any movement that has for its object the liberation of the people from the yokes they have imposed upon them, and would naturally use their influence to prejudice the minds of all they could against the work and worker. But the worker must expect to meet opposition and overcome it. Are you willing to do your part, my dear reader?