The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-10

DIR. Moriarty's Lecture.

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DIR. Moriarty's Lecture.
A lecture was delivered, on Thursday evening, at
the Stuyvesant Institute, by the Rev Dr. Moriarty,
of Philadelphia, on "The Agreement between
Science and Religion" This was the opening lee
ture of the SO cond course.
The Rev. lecturer observed that when we under
took to prove the agreement between science and
religion, We were SO far relieved from any danger
of disparaging the excellence Of liberal educa-
tion that We found subject eliciting admiration
at the study of the arts and sciences, and our
thoughts were led into the most pleasing disquisi-
tions, submitting to our view the civilized and en-
lightened world from tho remotest period Of anti
guilty. The liberal arts and sciences had risen from
ignorance into knowledge and refinement, into the
glory and celebrity Of the future of the people and
realms into which they had been introduced, and
by whom they had been assiduously cultivated.
What was Greece but horde Of savages, who dis
puted with the brutes of the forest, until lnachus
brought among them an Egyptian colony! What
were they until lnachus and Ceorops executed the
noble design Of subduing the rude propensities of
the people, by general culture Of the liberal sol
ences. What was Rome until she became truly The
mistress of the world by her spirit in the arts and
by their bloodstained victories, which cast around
ruin and dismay? Even the ferocious Scythans and
Sarmatians, and other barbarians OF Northern
Europe, who seemed as impervious to mental Gull
ture as their fathers were to the cheering sunbeam,
and as unacceptable of culture as the barren rocks
even they had experienced the humanizing and il.
luminatve powers of the arts and sciences they oo
had produced as many profoients in every depart
ment of knowledge as might rival the boldest orna-
ments ofantiquity, whilst also once happy Egypt the
source and Fenser of life to all adj AGENT realms
of intellectual education, now presented to view
the painful spectacle ofthe worst degr adation; and
how fallen was unhappy Greece-once the prolific
parent Of the wise--once the industrious cutivator
Of an everlasting midland now oclipsed in night
Thebes, Athens, and Carthage, now presenting a
waste wilderness, where once dwelt the happy sons
of Paul, would teach q lesson to modern unitarian
wisdom. The prosperity and social happiness of
these nations formed period when their people
INDUCED in the free culture of science, and their
history became shrowded in the gloom Of barba-
rism as we glanced at the time when the multitude
was esteemed no better than degraded serfs. Per-
haps he may be permitted to say that if French,
Hungarian, and American chiefs, and others front
ing the numerous and shining pages of history, had
not communicated with classic lands, the public
feeling in this truly favored land would be Of diff
ferent kind; perhaps bex Of tea might have been
considered of greater value than liberty Of judg
pt and instead of being there, he (the lecturs)
might have been shedding hopeless tear over tho
ravages of despotism in another land, where also
the images Of whetted fondness are all reversed,
and the emerald gem of the Western waters shone
only in the morning of the world. Too much
war weakened the Roman army, and when
the. people turned rebels, they became tho
serfs of the Scandinavian chiefs. 1t was
only when Christianity scattered the seed of letters
that freedom was resumed in refinement. Next
to Christianity, we placed mental cultivation as the
cause Of the greatest happiness When we read
the page Of history-whicn gave us kind of mas
terry over time, dwelling among events and impor-
tant truths, and pro6ting by the experience of
former times-when man drank deep at the foun.
tain Of knowledge, what he enjoyed In the de pths
Of the forest he held communion with nature-ia
calm solcitude he heard her sweet voice-in every
scene there was q calm or charm for him He did
not con6ne himself by the past, but he was occu-
pied with the dark mysteries OF the future; he ex-
amined the laws of government and of the universe
conscious of his own lofty origin he sped thoughts
hey ond the maternal state, 10 the divine, holy, and
exalted realms of eternal wisdom. Cultivate the
mind. and sacred ext assured them that they would
find not only length Of days, but also riches and
honor. The great masters Of eloquence and poesy
were admired, but without the accomplishment of
religion there would be failure in most essential
point Intellect would divert society. or contribute
to its happiness, but the favorable impression on
mans nature would be smothe'ed within new con
fines of selishness. The mere utilitarian might
become q stole with .Zeno, cynic with Diogenss,
and might bring himself to worship fire like tn.
Persians; or, like the Romans, adore as q d
every root in q cabbage garden. True kao Wedge
was power, but without the virtue of religion it
Was the power Of the demon. 1t could coesSrrct
the schemes Of Machigel, but it never could pto.
Lounce the oracles Of Washington Rel ou; edu.
cation was spoken Of with sus picon, scorn, and
too IN any acted up to the notion that if men were
well instructed in human things, religion might be
left to chance, or be taken up in some leisure IN
ments Of mans mature age. He abhorrei a
theory that would leave mortal science ia
the depths of dark research without CLEAN Of
heavens life that would guide the obscure mind-a
theory reckless of results, and like Sanpsoa Of old
en- time, who, blind to danger shook the pillars
that entombed the relics Of his strength. Our in.
teligence ought to be more spirltualized and not
like that Of the pagans, who set the highest value
on the arts of life, and not such that couli find
altar except that of Ceres or BAG ,hus Combining
the mind to articles of trade and scientific instru
ments, aud the development of natural history,
would be paganizng it. The laws andnatrral con-
nection between the scources of science and relig
ion, though parted, they desc ,nded into differ
ent channels, were the same. The reverend lec-
turer dwelt upon the pc religion afforded in the
Investigations of science ard kno Wedge and a.lud-
ed to its influence in correcting sensaality. Oar
architectural magncen nee WAS a result of an atten
ton to religion He passed high eulogy on the
Jesuits whom he desig pated MS tue best teachers in
the world and advertcd to the perse buttons they
had suffered He dissected the talents Of men of
learning who had Acknowledged religion and these
who had reviledit, and showed tho superior stand
ing of the former He commented upon the moral
and intellectual state of some parts of England,
ana cited an extract from the writings OF the late
Rev. Robt Hall, to prove the extent of amentable
ignorance and brutal degradation that existed in
that country He aiverted to the state of feeling
which existed in the English universities regarding
religion, and condemnes the impiety which cha-ac.
terzed their students. He examined the beautiful
properties Of the fine arts and the mass, and asked
how religion could be separated from them-and
concluded an able lecture, Of which the above ia
nc cessarily but brief abstract, by charging npon
the imperishaple qualities of the human mind
City Intelligence.
EIGHTH JANUARY,-rhe anniversary of the battle
of New Orleans fought under the command Of General
ackeon In 1916 celebrated Thursday by parade OF