Protestantism vs. Catholicism.
THE following facts concerning matters in the city of St. Louis, we copy from a late issue of the Earnest Christian. It shows both the insidious workings of the Catholic power in our midst, and the evils resulting from the exclusiveness of the popular Protestant sects. And while unjust respect is paid to persons, and wealth is honored above moral worth, and the poor shut out from attention and sympathy, what can be expected, but that the evil should not only continue, but increase, and many more be driven to the communion of the mother of harlots. How unlike is the popular ministry of to-day, to the Master who was no respecter of persons, and how unlike the Christianity of the 19th century to that of Christ and his apostles, to which the poor had equal access with the noble and the great. Speaking of St. Louis, the Earnest Christian says: ST. LOUIS.—This must always be one of the most important cities in the United States. Its location is very advantageous. It is near the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi, which with their tributaries, drain a large part, and that the most fertile part of our national domain. St. Louis is the place where the immense commerce of these rivers naturally centers. Boats of lighter draft are required for the upriver trade, and both passengers and freight are re-shipped here. The manufacturing facilities of this city are excellent. Immense coal beds are found within ten miles of the city, and a mountain of iron ore is but a few miles distant. The country around is very fertile, and capable of sustaining an immense population. The present population of St. Louis is said to be 187,000 and is rapidly increasing. Here is a great field for laboring for the salvation of souls. A large proportion of the people attend no place of worship whatever. Of the religious denominations, the Roman Catholic is the largest, most influential and prosperous. They claim to have received in this city, over six thousand converts within the past two years. We conversed with one of these converts, a lady of intelligence. She said her dislike for Protestantism arose from the treatment she had received from her Protestant friends. She had formerly been a member of the M. E. Church; and all her relatives were generally Methodists or Baptists. She said that when she was in affluence, and could give the ministers five or ten dollars when they called, their calls were frequent, and their attentions all that could be desired. But when reverses came and their property was lost, not one of them, though frequently invited to do so, ever called again. As Protestant friends fell off, the Catholics became more kind and attentive than ever. Books were given her to read, designed to lead her to embrace the Catholic faith; she went to their churches, and found that the poorest were as welcome as the most wealthy and aristocratic, and finally at a protracted meeting held by some of their most zealous and eloquent priests, she, with many others, united with their church. Of the seventy-six church edifices, twenty-eight are Roman Catholic, and these are by far, the largest and most numerously attended. There are, in all, forty-four orthodox, evangelical churches. Suppose them capable of holding an average of 500 persons each, this would make church accommodations for only 22,000 souls. But these Protestant churches for the most part are upon the exclusive system. The right to attend them, depends upon the ability to hire a seat. The spiritual welfare of the masses brought up in the Protestant faith is uncared for. Multitudes are rushing down to hell. Many, no doubt, are in the condition of two young men from Buffalo, former attendants of the Free Church there. At the close of service, they came forward and made themselves known to us. They said they had not attended church anywhere since they had been in St. Louis, for they did not know where to go. Americans do not like to accept a seat in a church, perhaps grudgingly given, to which others claim the exclusive right. They do not like to be treated, either as intruders or paupers. St. Louis, like most of our large cities, is as properly a mission-field as Constantinople or Calcutta.