New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-25
LECTURES.
Dir. Henry James's Lecture on the AecOr" 0i
Nature and Revelation.


The controversy between Natural and Reveal
ed Religion. said Mr. J has hitherto proved BAR
rem OF any positive results. The issue naa oeeu
drawn battle. The reason OF this imPoten1 con-
cusion s that each party secretly ieels tnae ne
cannot do without the other, each maintaining
truth which furnishes a necessary complement OF
the other. Applying the lights OF science 10 tne
controversy, we may be able to give It satlsiac
tory reconsideration. Natural religion IS based
upon an undeniabe fact veracious dictate oil
nature Revealed religion is equally based upon
fact that is a veracious dictate OF man spirit
The dictate of nature upon which natural re!lg-
ion il founded is that there is being superior to
nature while the dictate of man spiritual expert
| ence upon which revealed religion proceeds Is
/ that the mode of bis being is exclusively human.
! Thus, there is no discrepancy between the facts,
/ but rather an agreement, the agreement oil more
and less of high and low, OF Foundation and super
/ structure. The conflict that has existed between
/ them proceeds from the immaturlty OF science.
| The scientific conception Of humanity which IS
/ now dRWnng, will put a stop 20 that hideOus re.
/ lgious warfare which has hitherto marked hu-
man history
Mr.. James then went on to show that to the
mind of science there is not only no dlscOrd, but
q plenary accord between nature and spirit and
tb6t hence perfect religion, or religion adapt
ed TO the scientific intellect completely reconcues
! the natural dogma of the divine existence, with
the revealed dogma of His existence only within
human conditions. In very elaborate discussion
/ Mr.. j. sustained the points, that the conception
Of the divine power IS suggested 70 as by the va
riety or opposition OF natural phenomena-that
man is prevented from identity ing this power with
humanity, when.he first becomes acquainted with
it by the fact that he is still subject TO nature
and that the development oil his spiritual life, con-
sequent on the experience Of nature's oppression,
constitutes the real germ and pledge OF his hnal
Acknowledgement Of the divine humanity, or OF
/ the essential unity of God and man. The next
] efa IN Mr. Ifa ARGUMENT To show the cOQd1-
/ tions Of the gradual expansion Of this germ into
/ the complete recognition of the truth. This, he
contended, was the method of exact and orderly
science Science is the light which iustihes every
religious instinct Of the heart, by proving the
/ complete subservlency OF nature 10 human use,
and hence avouching the essential humanity of the
| power from which 1t proceeds, OF the power by
! which IL is animated.
The science of human unity, the science Of man
had its germ in the literal Christian fact that
Jesus, the carpenters son, the friend OF publlcans
and sinners, living In ignomlny and dying an &C
cursed death, was yet the true Christ of God and
| heir of his empire in Heaven and Earth. The
letter OF this doctrine indeed bears to the careless
observer a special and exclusive reference to the
person OF Christ yet the least attention is sure to
beget a conviction of its exclusively spiritual and
/ therefore universal import.
Yet even in its literal import, the Christian doc
! trine was an immense armOry for humanity. FOR
/ here was the divine power gathered IN from all
u nelds oil creation ana concentrated III Out uO5b
/ ineligible and consistent life. Here was the
| great and unknown God recalled from the void
/ name whittier none could follow and rome could
discern him, and Internationally made over to
one of the humblest, and IN respect to himself,
one Of the feeblest OF men. Henceiorth, Pagan
ism, the conception of God IN nature and
spsrr from man, was at an end. To worship God
in natuTe, to see him either In the calm or the tenn
pest became superstition, for his sole abode was
the heart Of truly loving man, and his power eX,
clusively exerted in the direction OF his spiritual
ePeTandsement
Mr. j. then presented several impressive state
ments in regard to the humanitary influence OF the
Church in the early ages, accompanied with copl-
Gus historical illustrations
We understand that Mr. James has given his
consent to repeat portion Of this course, at the
request Of several individuals who have taken a
lively interest in his philosophical views, and the
powerful and Grgumentative eloquence with which
they are supported.
Col. FOrbes's second Lecture on the Italian
Srusgle.
We give a brief outline of Col. Forbes's second
Lecture:
In my first lecture l endeayored to show you
the condition Of Italy prior to the Revolution;
that the effects Of the Papsl policy might be I'M
derstood and the righteousness OF the popular
cause, together with the difficulties that the Pat.
riots had to encounter might be appreciated The
various provinces Of Italy, though distinct from
each other and governed by their respective
princes, had each Of them a large number OF po-
htcal exiles. After the news Of the Papal Am.
nesty had spread over the country, preparations
for general rising were discontinued, and the
eyes of all were directed toward the new Pope.
Many, however, being acquainted with his vas.
cillating character and having in consequence no
faith that he would complete the promised re-
FORMS still continued TO watch the course OF events
and endeRyored to guide the Pope into compliance
byrespectful manifestations ofpublic opinion. The
most conspicuous among these popular leaders
was Angelo Brunett, native of the Roman
States, and for many years vender OF agricul-
tural products at Rome. No man was more es-
teemed for his patriotism intelligence and domes.
tic virtues. His influence had been always for
and his sympsthies with the People. In the
public demonstrations in honor of the Popes re.
forms, be was one OF the directing minds. Cardi-
nal Massi, Bishop Of lrrola, although almost
stranger to the People, was elected TO the Papacy
on the 10th Of June, 1916. 1t was singular and
unusual Circumstance that the election was COM
pleted on the ID day Of the COnclave The Peo
pie bad presented petitions to that body for
reforms, and it is very probable that the fear Of
popular instruction fastened the Pope's cleo
ton.
After the amnesty OF the political exiles had
been proclaimed by the People, the cry was taken
up and repeated in all the cities Of Italy mingled
with the shout Of Viva Pho This procedure
OF the Pope placed the Italian sovereigps in a
most embarrassing position Plus had an unques.
tonable night to grant amnesty, and they could
rot gainsay It without reversing their own al.
tbority, while their very existence depended
upon their alliance with the Pope and the Priest
iOcd. Some msgined the aim Of Plus 20 be the
itr,ne Of Italy. 1t was it is true within his
reach, and had he dared to be friend Of the PEG.
pie be might have secured it. The Princes were
perpetual fear that q thunderbolt from the Vat.