[32] The Rev. Dr. Henry van Dyke, Sermon.


How can such a civilization prepare the way for Christianity?
As a matter of fact, the Chinese already have a civilization,
and if our civilization is considered apart from its distinctively
Christian elements, it is not so much superior to the Chinese
as we are apt to imagine. The differences are chiefly matters
of taste and education. The truth is that always and everywhere,--

``civilization, so far from obliterating iniquity, imports into the world
iniquities of its own. It changes to some degree the aspects of iniquity, but
does not make them less. Further than that its effect is rather regularly
to dress iniquity in a less repulsive and more attractive form, and in that
way makes it more difficult to get rid of than before. There is no sin so
insinuating as refined and elegant sin, and of that civilization is the expert
patron and champion. The sin that is the devil's chief stock in trade
is not what is going on in Hester Street, but on the polite avenues.
. . . Evangelization conducts to civilization, but civilization has no
necessary bearing on evangelization; that is to say, there is in civilization
no energy inherently calculated to yield gospel facts. By carrying schools
and arts, trade and manufacture, among people that are now savages you
may be able to refine the quality of their deviltry, but that is not even
the first step towards making angels, or even saints of them.''[33]


[33] The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst, Sermon.


Lowell is said to have administered the following stinging