New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-22


OF human society-to Fl al social conditions, With
examples Of all possible excellence-to aaorn ths
toll and the lsbors of Eervitude with virtues bor-
rowed from above-tO taAe all social positions and
suspend in all the graces and the charms Of Christian
temper painting human existence aud adorning
human chsra ter in the colors Of Heaven,--ths is
one depsrtmeL 1t Of the home work Of the Church.
Let my people stay on the captured held
says Christ and stay to do for me and for Society this
appointed work Go ye into the world, dispense and
scatter yc urselves into all human conditions, and
stand each in his place, and stand through the
Ages of Time-exhibit to the world all possible
examples Of Christian excellence-al possible
traits Of genuine virtue. Go forth as the lights Of
the world. Go forth to shine on every orbit Of
life. Go and star the darkened armament OF Earth
with glorious groups and spreading galaxies of
Christian virtue. Let your good works kinde again
in every human condition, its light and its joy
replenish the plundered skies with new forms OF
radiance. and guide the voyagers victorious to open
harbors OF peace. For SUCH work is the Church
detained and stationed on the Home 6eld-tbas she
may weave again into all the faded fabric of Social
existence the ten thousand traits and colors Of
Social virtue.
II shall intrude upon your patience but one other
view Of the Home work of the Church. The
disciples of Christ are detained in such numbers
on Christian soil, that they may deposit in the
minds of the race, and perpetuate TO remoter ages,
those truths, principles and moral impulses, which
are the dynamics of the Spirit, the forces approved
Of God to work out the ultimate renovation OF HIS
tory.
The moral disorders Of History are disorders,
having their sources in Mind. The worlds mind
is in disorder, and therefore the worlds history,
which is but the action Of its mind is chaos.
The regeneration and reconstruction Of human
history is possible, then only on one condition
Can you restore the disordered mind OF the
word7
1t has become q common opinion, common, at
least, within the circle OF civilized though, that
the race is on its way to predestined stages Of
improvement and elevation, terminating 10 mil
epial lights of ripened intelligence and univer'
sal virtue. But now is such q contamination posi-
blei The nations Of heashenism make no per
ceptible progress toward better state. They
charge their government. They remodel their
religion. They pass over to new Institutions
and new acts But In all their vicissisGde and
alienation, these old Societies like rocking stag
pant be sting their desert shores with the same
ever.swinging pulses and everrecoiling surges
achieve 10 progress, originate no upward move
ment Of the popular mind toward brighter aud
better future After the acts. the efforts, and the
ceaaeless fluctuations OF sixty tollsons centuries,
the nations of heathensm have failed to ripen one
new virtue in their history, to ascend one stage
on the great stairway Of improvement And yet
while gazing as disappointed spectators upon these
fruitless struggles of blinded race, we venture to
expect, and are in haste to foreten, coming era
of improvement and renovation. How is that
prediction to be accomplished Not BY mere
classical repairs and artificial experiments, piled
over the social framework Of this world. Not by
new inventions, new sciences new arts, or new
Governments. Disordered mind can never be
renovated from without. You mast weave into its
texture and mix in all its currents Of affections aud
sympathy, such sentiments, truths and principles
as sbsn grasp, and assnilste. aud sway its sew
ersl powers and work out ffom within the ronova-
ton and the redemption desired And where in
all the universe Of thought and opinion, are the
truths and the principles destined and competent
to this great work renovation and regulating the
disordered mind Of the worldl In whose possession
il this treasury OF truth-this Pharmacopia of Sa-
walton for the mind of the racer The answer is
trite one The Church OF Christ is the trustee Of
this divine legacy of truth In her gospel are
treasured doctrines, principles, impulses, which,
lodged in the worlds mind and kept there, shall
work, as laws Of life, as methods OF the Spirit as
secret processes Of redemption and recovery, shall
work the ultimate renovation and restoration Of
Society. Eighteen centuries ago, the disciples Of
Christ at his command, remained on earth
and went TO their work, depositing in the
great heart of their age the new sentiments
and new impulses Of their religion. These
sentiments lodged in the mind Of Jew, and Greek,
and Roman, and made the care and delight of
al genuine converts-were fostered and propa-
gated on every side The devout mother distilled
them like dew into the budding soul of infancy;
the believing artisan talked Of them to his fellow
az they piled together their common tasks the
pious traveller spoke Of them by the way side and
At the doors of cottages and cabins the sailor be-
euiled his evening watches with rehearsas Of truth
and SONGS of Christian devotion and the soldier
kept alive bis camp fires that be might dist into
the ear Of bis mailed companion the new truths aud
new offices Of piety. Thus the sentiments planted
by Apostolic ministries in the mind Of the first
Christian Age were fostered and disseminated by
the power, assduities and the aaectionate care Of
the ChurCb And these new sentiments, planted in
mind-in mind that for centuries had been only an
cial suggestions like cargoes Of lava emptied into
the sea, had gone down together never to reappesr
the new sentiment planted by the first christians in
the Mind Of their Age, began forthwith to work in
themselves out in all forms Of social amsioration
and public improvements. The old suPers'itions OF
the Age crept from their gloomy DEMONSTRATION
l. L.. "A 4or,nIa and worahiper % the