New-York daily tribune., 1842-11-04
VOL. HH. no. i7s.
Parker,s Second Lecture.-The slave Case.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.

BosTos Nov. i, 1912.
THEODORE PARKER delivered the second of his
series of "Plan Sermons for the Times" las,
evening, at the Marlborough Chapel. This spa
cious building obtained in consequence of the
disappointment experienced by a large number of
persons who could not gain access to the fremont
Chapel on the previous Monday evening, and who
were therefore deprived of the privilege of listen
ing to the Introductory Lecture. The Chapel,
last evening, large it is filled in every part
by one of the most refined and intellectual audien-
ces that ever congregated within its walls, or in
deed in any other place in our city. Mr. Parker
appeared to feel very sensibly the responsibility
involved in his peculiar position before such an
assembly; but he acquitted himself to the entire
satisfaction of his friends, and to many who lave
heretofore stood in doubt of him. Those who
have denounced him as an infdcl, and done what
they could to give him bad name in the world
if they were present last evening, must bavc fcI,
how great injustice they have done him, and tn t
odious epilhets might, with quite as much pro1r-
ETY., to say the least. be applied to themselves.
Mr.. Parker's text was, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart &c "and thy
neighbor as thysclf." His subject therefore, was,
Morality and Religion, and their Relation to
each other. He contcnded that they were dis
tinct from each other, although the latter includes
the former, as the greater includes the less.
Morality he considered in two aspects first as
a Principle, secondly as u Sentiment. 1t was
Principle, it might be observed, like the laws of
tbc al ~ |, IL
rdtions. man might observe its laws because
they are fashionable, or to save himself from the
penalty of transgression. With such man good
ness was means, not an end. His virtues might
be set domn to his shrewdncss. He obeys the
law because it is law, and not from love of it.
Not so with the man who is in love with moral
ity for its own sake, and with whom it is Scnti-
ment, and affection, not less than Principle
The motives of such a man are as pure as his
acts. He makes no bargain, for consideration,
but loves morality for its own intrinsic excellence,
and hates vice for its inherent ugness; and he
feels grieved at the offer of a reward for doing
that which he would not, to escape any suffering,
leave undone. His love of Morality is not the
cold, calculating emotion which man feels to-
ward servant but like the warm affection which
he bestows upon wife. Hc is true in speech and
in action. Conscience with him is supreme, and
when it speaks all else within him is silent.
There were those who admired Morality as a
Poet admires beautiful cloud. There have been
Atheists who resolved mind into blood and brains,
and God into Principle, whose morals would
put TO shame many Christian Bishop that makes
long prayers, but does little else TO honor his pro.
ession. That they saw and admired the outward
laws of Morality was not to be wondered at. The
wonder is that they did not go farther, and trace
all things back to the Great Cause. There are
questions which mere Intellect and Philosophy
cannot answer. Faith guide us where the
torch of knowledge goes out. There are wants
that Morality does not satisfy. AS the planets
vole around the Sun, so should we revolve around
the Great Soul of all our souls Morality is too
cod and cannot sustain the soul amidst the trials
which besct it. The brightest flashes of the
mightiest human intellect are not sufficient to
light our path amidst the storms Of life. They
are like the sigual-gun, whose light reveals the
vessel struggling with the waves and vergins upon
the hungry rock which waits to dash it to pieces
The Religious element lies deeper in man than
any other. The yearnings of a soul which feels
its relations to the Infinite cannot be satisfied
with cold obedience to the outward law. AS,
however, some men are mora not from love OF
morality, but from fear of the consequences ot an
opposite course, so there are men who are Reli-
sious from similar motive. Religioa with them
is Principle, in the same sense as a rule in
Mathematics; but they have no love of it as
Sentiment, or for its intrinsic excellence. They
serve God for fear Of He'll, or for the loavss and
fishes; and think more Of the baptism of water
than of the Baptism of the Spirit.
MIR. Parker applied the principles developed in
his Discourse to the state of things 1.-THE present
time. in manner as just it was scerching
but have not time to follow him farther. Indeed
l fear that the slight sketch above given will DO
him injustice, and that my attempt TO give some
idea of his train of remark had better have been
omitted. Nc reporter could dojustice to speaker
whose every word is gem.
Great excitement still prevails here in relation
to the Slave case. OF the disturbances at Faneml
Hall on Sunday evening there is but one opinion
among respectable men. Tho Bee is doing ITS
worst, by misrepresentation and falsehood, to in
nuence the passions of the roscdtes, OF whom II
is empha,icaly an organ; bu, the other papers, so
far as they have spoken all, have uttered their
voice in favor of Free Speech.
Yours, truly, fEvlLo.