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

The spirit OF the Age-Rise of InfdcI PHI
Iosophy-Oecay of Christian Revelation
A new Crisis In Human Affairs at hand
A new and wonderful crisis in human affairs is
at hand. Society is assuredy on the brink of a re-
volution, more mighty than that of Germany set
on foot by furthermore comprehensive than that
of England ia the time OF Charles Il-more ener-
getic, cautious and successful than that of France
in the of Louis XVI In Europe, this new re.
voluuon in morals, politics. religion and philosophy
proceeds with 'cautioss step and slow''--in this
free, energetic, penteous, orgn thinking land, it
assumes the port and aspect of an element of re-
spectacle society, and the progress OF civilization
The spirit and intelligence of the age are imbued
with infiiel philosophy. Christianity, through all
her churches and sects, in danger of utter demo-
ton. The pulpit is getting dull and monotonous-
the lecturers rostru n draws all the intelligence
and beauty and fashion, and wealth of the age
around It's cold trappings,
Within the last few years, Lyceums, Societies,
and Associations have been established in all our
principal cities, and especially in New York,
for the promulgati of the philosophy,
through the medium OF lectures and oratons -
In this city, have four five of these associa.
tons in the field of exertlon tollows:-lst. The
Mercantile Library Association-2nd. The New
York Lyceum-3rd The Mechanics Institute-4th
The Fourier Association-5th. The Rutgers lns-
tute; besides several others whose names forget
These associations are got up by the young and ar
dent spirits of the day-patronlzed by the wealthy
and tashonabe-and are now engaged giving
courses OF lectures every subject of philosophy
and morals, the bearing and lmpres of which leads,
under the garb of philosophy and responsibility, to
infIehty 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-
tendnce these intellec ,ual movements, which
lead to toa subversion of all Chrisanity-alI mo-
rals-and all revelation. Relg ion seems to be left
entirely to the defence of weakness and ignorance
--fanaticism and hypocrisy-for what the poor
old man Miller do, or even DIR. Brownee, any
other intoerant man, stem the great tide that is
urged with all the highest learning the greatest
wealth and loftiest station in society,"
We do not certainly exaggerate-but if it is
thought we do, we only ask for perusal of the fo-
low ing remarkable article which we find in the
Tribune" of Yesterday
DIR. Smiths Geological Lecture.
Will you permit me, behalf of class of your read.
er both in point of numbers and ntelig
to offer few structures the Geological Lecture Of DR.
j. Augustine Smith, reported in last Saturdays Tr.
bunel Ia this distinguished for its professions of
rnscendenal laith the charge of infdety NAV sound
harsh Indeed have been lately taught that such
ng longer existsthat those who honest enough
"a ayo the name are evidently mistaken as 10 the state
minds. and that this mistake has arisen from
taking the IDLE their standard OF faith instead that
aspiration aer the nhne which at the present day
sohgh dis nsing only with creeds and articles but
also with the aid OF the holy Scriptures themselves Hence
spinoza an Aboer Kneeland voltaire and Pane,
Christians without knowing 1t; and hence that superabun
dance of faith every thing but the plain dec araons
of the B,ble which find manfesting itself in every
quarter around But to return DR.. smith, there
things in his lecture reported which in
honest ageth charge nhdelty would have been freely
applied AL frankly admitted To ths, however often.
sive e could have made no objection had the suthor
fit te express his sptments IN some independent dis
cussion, like the WORTHLESS above mentioned Who what
else might be of them affected no disguise as to
their real pnion They did not assume an air of bland
and paronising condescenson toward the Bible, while
seeking ermne the very iounda ions all belief in
Revelation. Dr.. Smith might have pursued the same
bold and independent course but he has chosen dferea
mode and this the grievance which forms the burden
OF comp lecture before public Lyceum ,pa-
tronsed by Christian immunity, has been made the
casen OF direct att ck upon all proper faith IN the insp
ration OF the Bible The Lecturer mas thus also
the public through the daily press in the dis
charge its ordinary duties reporter OF the proceedings
public nsutionswhen according to its standing
rule press would have been closed him had
he sought admission upon the frank and open ground Of
Under the sgue of lectures discussions on the social
state iron Boston, SC, with which papers
daily filed the above mentioned old fashioned doctrines
are not only Indirectly attacked but in a still
more offensive assumed be without foundation or ut.
tery exploded by the rapid progress OF the human mind
within last fsw Many authors and lecturers
b nresent day write and speak as though no one now
believed in original SIM unless under
guse depraviy or in regeneration or the necessity
grace, the sublime doctrine of justification by faith
No doubt veiy hemselve will stare many OF
your altogether strange and Of place in the
columns Of daily pressslthough they simply
troduced by way OF example, without any intended DIS
il correctly reported, DR.. Smith tells us without
qualification that the facts OF geology contrary
to the account given in the Bible. We are aware
OF the seePtcal tendencies OF many BIOLOGISTS, yet
aill their opposition TO the Scriptures has gene
rally been disguised under the sneerng demand of
interpretation Our lecturer however, takes holder
ground He proceeds not merely upon the incorrecness
Of the interpretation but assumes direct contra
dction Most sober eNpositors have to the concu
sisn the existence Of the of the EARTH with per-
haPs living upon it, long before the period
styled the Mosaic creation, is contradiced by any
thing contained in the Bible Ifgeologst require it, they
willing to concede millions of anterior to that
period when the Almighty proceeded reorganze and
reconstruct the present order Of things precisely the
described by Moses, whatever that may
BEEN and whatever reasonable latitude of nterpre
tation have been adopted This not been forced
upon them by BIOLOGISTS for many of the pous
we'll as the learned believers adopted this conclu
SION long before geology as science was ever thought
theology and biblical literature for which men Of this
class distinguished, to be entirely
this He too must commence in the usual style and with
every vulgar lecturer repeat for the hundreth time the
attack upon Noses and then gravey assume that he is
merely Iepellng the assaults OF minded religion
lists The contrarety Is assumed-the man OF straw SET
up, and he then gravely proceeds the work OF dmo
ton One would have thought, that so distinguished
NV"o nave Uooed Tor no other reason tnai
that i had become utterly stale and worn out by Tepet
ton Weonly wonder that while he was-about t. he did
give us once more the old story Of Calico Ii wouh
at least had much Of the merit of nov ey ms many
Of the ideas he has preseD8d. u
We charge this lecture with nhdeliy in the old and
tabished sense Of the term. We nothing about the
Doctors affected respect for revelation his bland as
sumption that given to teach any truth Of
science.p We shall not dwell upon the meaning
he assigns to this term. He may, If he chooses in his
hnon of science epeology and exclude heolo-
gy He may II he pleases give the lowest facts Of
raj history precedence 70 those sublime truths which