New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-10-09
.Nepa1ork DAILY Gribn,na
NEW PUBLICATIONS,
fRAysoENDHNTALlsS Anr CATHOLICISM.

fRANsCENDENTALlsI ANr CATHOLICISM.
ALTERATIONS or tsAryRE ByL I. Kscsrs. l2nso.
pp $50. James B. EirkeT.
curious interest il attached ~ this work 40 the
production of an eminent Catholic divine, who,
having passed through the various phases Of early
piety, skepticism, characterization, humanitarian
ism, and other modern novelties, has found psus-
eea for the ills Of Life in the bosom of the afallioe
church. Father Hecker, as he is now called, was
once prominent man in the ranks Of social re-
formers. Combining q remarkable ingeDuousness
of disposition with sangHine confidence in human
nature be dreamed of speedy millennium BY de-
veloping tho natural harmones of the race. Dis
appointed In this anticipation sfer years Of search
and inquiry, he has adopted the faith Of the Catho
lie Church az the sele condition Of hunsn progress
In this volume no states the grounds of bis present
convictions, comments on the methods of bis for
mer associa4es, and proclaims bis new found
remedy for human evil with tho enthusiasm Of .
generous neophyte.
= The work 10 founded on the assumption that it
will attract the attention of large body of our in.
telisent countrymen, many Of whom, as the au-
thor states are born and brought up without any
definite religious belief and who, when the religious
aspirations Of the soul awakened start forth in
pursuit Of religion which shall satisfy those sspi-
,stiops, without contradchns the dictates Of req
son. There are still others, who, on coming 10 tho
exercise Of reflection unable to retain the doe
triDes which they were taught in childhood and
youth, and are endeavOring b find or construct a
religion commensurate with al the wants Of human
nature. A third class, who equally destitute Of
vell.srounded faith with the two former, kctake
themselves 10 the different movements Of the day
in the hope Of finding the satisfaction which their
religious instincts demand. To thinkers and seek.
ass of this character the author addresses himself
10 this volume.
With regard to the connection between reason
and religion, be argues that man possesses an in
teIgeuce which places him in relation with spirit
nal realities jas. be is introduced BY bis senses to
an acquaintance with the material world. 1t is the
destiny Of man TO search for truth. He has a pos
sion for its discovery, which in itself Is proof Of
its existence. He hiss also tho capacity for its
attainment. In the endowment Of reason, above
which there is only the Most High, no has the
essential condition for the discovery Of truth. But
and mt 81 sovereign reason Of man. But the relation
of the soul with the Infinite is religion. Religion
Is the answer to the combined want Of the reason
and the heart, which all creation cannot supply.
Where, then, asks our author, shai We hDd re-
hsion1 This, according to him, is the grea. ques-
ton Of the age. There is nc want OF religious sea-
tent, or religious esrnestness, even in these days,
which have been SO loudly accused Of matorialism.
The class of men who cherish the lofty aspirations
Of their nature and are loyal to their religious con-
vietions, comprise large portion Of our adut pop
uation. No people more in earnest in all thst
regards religion than the American people. Their
interest in the subject is shown in the countless
churches, the numerous Bible, Missionary, and
Tract societies and the other institutions for reg
ioas purposes which overspread the land. No man
can charge the American people with Indifference
10 religion, who does not misunderstand the genius
Of the nation.
But how ean We explain the strange phenomenon
Of people sincerely sshgious sud yet with no Fixed
Christian belief In this way: The prevailing
systems have presented religion IN such light that
men Of nature thought could not submit to their
pretensions Reliance on the rational convictions
Of our nature 10 tho FIRST Of ali dutes Hence, it
is no wonder that men who cherish Loyalty to
reason prefer TO stand sloof from all religious sects,
ssd worship the Creator in 6 msnner scoordsnt
with the instincts Of tho soul. They share the
conviction that tie only stable foundation for re-
hgion IA the human intelligence, and proclaim ~
the world that religion is Jet 10 be settled on it,
kym foundations in the nsture Of man. The re-
hgion, accordingly, which is TO meet tho wants OF
the sse must tale its starting point in human ma
ture. 1t must combine reverence for God with re-
spect for the diyinely gifted intelligence and the
beaven-borH freedom Of man.
How then, have the men who have boa,tsd Of
their allegiance to reason succeeded in the search
for religion The sum total Of their endsayors
In the opinion d our author is zero. The anc'enss
made no progress in the solution oi tLs problem
Nor have the modens surpassed their predecessors
Emmanuel K4s., the fa:hsr Of modem Gesn,u
philosophy, arrives a. the CONCLUSION hst ressOa
ia inadequate to dee dc TIE qoes..5a Of rals ou
His Distinguished ii'c.Y's Wch:e. I-'ae6 -. eoo