The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-18
The spirit of the Age-Rise of Infidel PHI
Iosophy-Decay of Christian Revelation
A new Crisis In Human Affairs at hand

The Spirit of the Age Rise of Infidel Phi
Josophy-Decay Of Christian Revelation
A new Crisis In Human Affairs at hand.
new and wonderful crisis in human affairs is
at hand Society is assuredly on the brink of re.
vouton more mighty than that OF Germany sci
on foot by furthermore comprehensive than thai
Of England in the time OF Charles II-more ener
getic, cautious aud successful than that of France
in the era of Louis XVI. In Europe, this new re.
voluuon in morals, politics. religion and philosophy
proceeds with "cautloas step and slow"-in this
Free energetic, plenteous, original thinking land il
assumes the port and aspect of an element of re-
spectacle society, and the progress of civilization
The spirit aud intelligence of the age are imbued
with infdel philosophy. Christianity, through all
her churches and sects, in danger Of utter demo.
lition. The pulpit is getting dull and monotonous-
the lecturers ros,rum draws all the intelligence,
and beauty and fashion, and wealth of the age
around its cold rapplngs,
Within the last few years. Lyceums, Societies,
and Associations have been established in all our
principal cities, and especially in New York,
for the promusati of the new philosophy,
through the medium OF lectures and orations-
In this city, have four or five of these associa.
tons in the field of exertion as follows list The
Mercantile Library Association-2nd. The New
York Lyceum-3rd. The Mechanics Institute-4th
The Fourier Assocation-5th. The Rutgers Insti-
tute; besides several others whose names we forget
These associations are got up by the young and ar
dent spirits of the day-patronized by the wealthy
and fashionabe-and are engaged IN giving
courses OF lectures every subject OF philosophy
and morals the bearing and lmpre of which leads,
under the garb of philosophy and responsibility
infdellty in religion, dishonesty in morals-and the
utter subverson of the present moral institutions of
society. Even the most respectable and wealthy
churches and congregations give their aid and coun.
tenance to these Intellectual movements, which
lead to total subverson of all Christanity--all mo-
ras-and all revelation. Religion seems TO be left
entirely to the defence of weakness and ignorance
fan itcism and hypocrisy-for what can the poor
old man Miller do, or even DR.. Brownlee, or any
other ntolerant man, to stem the great tide that is
urged with all the highest learaing, the greatest
wealth and oftest station in society,"
We do not certainly exaggerate-but if it is
thought we do, only ask for perusal of the fol-
lowing remarkable article which find in the
"Tribune" of Yesterday
DIR. Smiths Geological Lecture.
Mn. EpITsR:-
will you permit me- behalf of a class of your read
ers both in point OF numbers and
offer few structures the Geological Lecture of Dr.
j..
bune7 In this age, distinguished for its professions
transcendenta faith, the charge of nfdely may sound
harsh. Indeed have been lately taught that such
tn ng no longer exst-tha those who enough
to the name evidently mistaken as to the state
ftheir minds and that this mistake has arisen from
taking the Bible their standard OF faith instead that
aspiration after the infinite which the present day
sohgh dispensing not only with creeds and articles but
also with the aid OF the holy Scriptures themselves Hence
Spnoza an AbDer Kneeland, Voltaire and Pane,
Christians without knowing it, and hence that superabun
dance faith in every thing but the plain declarations
Bible,
quarter around But to return 10 Dr. Smith, there
some things his lecture reported which, in
honest age the charge nfdety would been freely
applied, and frankly admitted To this, however often
sive we could have made no objection had the suhor
fit express his sentiments Independent dis
CUSTOM like the worthless above mentioned who, what
else might be OF them, affected disguise to
their real opinions They did not assume an air OF bland
and patronising condescenson toward the Bible, while
seeking undermine the very iounda ions OF all belief in
Revelation. DR.. Smith might have pursued the same
bold and independent but he has chosen dereat
mode and this is the grev ance which forms the burden
OF our comp amt lecture before public Lyceum lpa-
ronised by Christian community has been made the
caon Of direct attack upon all proper faith in the insp
ration OF the Bible The Lecturer has thus also found
public through the daily press in the dis
charge of its ordinary duties reporter the proceedings
ofour public instituons-when according to its standing
rule the same press would have been closed to him had
he sought admission upon the frank and open ground OF
theological discussion.
Under the dsguse of lectures, discussions the socia
state letters from Boston, Sc with which papers
daily filed the above mentioned old fashioned doctrine,
are only Indirectly attacked, but in a still
offensive assumed to be without foundation, ut
tery exploded by the rapid progress OF the human mind
he present day write and speak a. though no one now
believed in original SIM unless under transcendenta
guse depravity or in regeneration or the necessity
Of grace the sublime doctrine OF justification by faith
No doubt the very terms hemse Ives will startle many
readers altogether strange and out Of place in the
columns of the daily presselhough they simply in
troduced by way OF example without any intended dis
cussion Of their merits.
qualification, that the facts OF geology contrary
TO the account given in the Bible. We aware
OF the 'ceptical tendencies of many biologists, yet
sun their opposition to the Scriptures has gene
ray oeen disguised under the sneering demand of
Interpretation. Our lecturer however, takes holder
ground beproceeds not merely upon the incorrectness
Of the Interpretation but at once direct contra
dction Most sober expoors have come to the concu-
sien that the existence Of the with per.
haps Living organization upon long before the period
styled the Mosaic creation, contradicted by any
thing contained in the Bible II biologists reoure n they
are willing to concede millions of wears anterior 10
period when the Almighty proceeded to reorganize and
reconstruct the present order OF things precisely in the
manner described by Moses whatever that manner NAV
have BEEN and whatever reasonable latitude nerpre
taon may have been adopted This has no, been forced
upon them by biologists for Of the mos, pous
we'll as the learned believers adopted this concu
SION long before geology science, was ever though
Of Dr. smith, however, with that profound ignorance
theology and Biblical literature, for which Of thi
class are distinguished to be entirely unaware
this re TOO must commence in the usual style, and witt
every vulgar lecturer, repeat for the hundreth time tn
attack upon Moses and then grsvely that he
merely ,epenng me assaults Of narrow-mnded religion
lists The contrariety assumed-he man of straw Is
up, and ne nen g.syey proceeds the work Of dsmol
ton One would have thought, that so distinguished
would have avoided this IL no other reason An
that had become utterly stale worn out bv epeti
ton Weonly wonder that while he was about he Al,
give the old story Of GaiIeo N woulf
least have had much ofhe merit novelty as
Of the ideas he has presented.
We charge this lecture with n6delity in the and es
tablshed Of the term. We nothing about tn
Doctors affected respect for revelation, and his bsnd
sumption that 1t not given to teach any
science We shall not dwell upon the narrow meaning
he assigns to this term He may IL he chooses in bis az
hnon Of science include espeology and exclude theol
gy He may II ho pleases give the lowest faots Of natu
ahstory precedence those sabine truths which