New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-01

for their past uses, they gather such prc.,Ee
the popular Imagination from their boar anhqu'y,
which makes all modern things seem Comparatively
upstart and ppant that the Protestans themselves
have insensibly forgotten what manner OF spur"
they are Of, and accept Of ruiBous compromise w
stead of an uncomfortable victory. We do not ieel
these embarrassments Our Church and State are
wholly without authority, and il 10 their boast to be
80. They are not fixtures with US, as 10 Europe.
In fact, the American Church and State are ~ho'ty
unfXed, the popular will moding them exactly
it peases. As a people, we recognize oniy .P'E
ual priesthood and spiritual royalty; that
say, our priest and king are they who exhibit most
Of the spirit Of human fellowship, and bring iorln
it, heartfelt fruits in their hives. Hence our ChuIch
and State freely dispose themselves to express the
advancing life Of humanity, that life which implies
complete union OF the Divine and human natures.
Thus it 10 that our Reveals, which are the clear
est because they are the most spontaneous, express
sion Of our religious lfe decisivey antiqnate ana
stultify the Old European hometIcs. The European
Church says, through all its pores Conjunction Win
God means disjunctiOn with the world, means the
voluntary remuneration of all its bonors and eo'u-
ments as ends of life The American Church al
mits this 10 be true under the European ev0iuuoh
of humanity, which subjects it 10 the regime OF
force and consequently forbids it to display Its best
attributes. But, on the American side OF the wafer
this regime of force is fast passing away. Enforced
relations between God and man, and man and Ms
neighbOr are giving place TO those OF periect Tree
dOm-O relations Of the utmost spontanelty In this
nfallible way, the kingdoms OF this world are rap
idly becoming the kingdoms Of the Lord, 80 t'at
the American Church does not hesitate to say oy
the voice of all these Reyvals, "Only acknowledge
1.-the Lord by the open confession of His name, ana
there liz no limit but His own love to the blessing
"yOu may reasonably expect from Him even IN
" this world" Look at our most distinguished AND
successful merchants and bankers. DO they not
enroll themselves under the Church's banner Are
they not actually or prospectively converted
men; that is, men who acknowledge the Lord oy
dutifully observing every ordinance OF pubic "or
ship, How tiresOme and contradictory, then, to
dole out still that purely Old-Word talk of eter
nal contrariety between God and the world when
the obvious truth is, that all the resources OF the
world have become the fairly learned heritage OF the
Lord, and il belongs ~ Him alone Ia dispense them
as He pleases.
IL is impossible to account for this superior gent
atty of the American Church, for this enormous
difference of aspect which it wears toward Nature
unless We admit, under the teaching OF history, an
immense spiritual revolution, ProvIdentialy wrought
in the human mind ITSELF such revolution as en-
cages self love in the frankest and most cheerful
service of brOtherly love, makes II benccfOrth
the interest of man, less than his duty, to con
suit in all things the welfare OF his feow-man IL
is the legitimate glory of the American Church to
attest this stupendous revolution, to show the hher
TO despised and rejected wording instinct and even
plump with piety, to show him ready indeed 10
sing Gods praises with far better will than ever
befcll any technical saint Of them all, because he
does 80 from full stomach instead of an empty one
that is to say, no longer from the impulse OF uu.
gratifed desire merely but from the inspiration Of
the amplest actual possession. have always
boosted to my European acquaintance, how much
better class Of people the church attrac.s with us
than with them. There is shocking Odor of old
clothes in most of the European churches, oclOthes
that get only one days ventilation out OF seven;
while with US Arabia and the iarthest Ind combine
to shed upon our worshiping assemblies their cost
lest perfumes and their most gorgeous dyes. 1t
is decidedly disreputable in America not to 20 to
church, and one feels himself so sopped-up
as it were and authenticated by the great life which
is astir there, as when he finds himself on Sunday
morning making one OF the we1dressed and shin
ing throng who are Fastening to fill our luxurious
and beautiful religious houses. In Europe, if
wish TO see distinguished writer politician, Sun
day morning will be about my best time to call upon
him. But who at home thinks of calling upon MIR.
Bancroft on Sunday morning or expects Gov.
Seward on that day TO meet him at clam-bake on
Coney Island Why not Because, as said be-
FORE it il the fashion to 20 to church, and this fash
ion obtains, because every one in our country
vice. since God there reveals Himself as full of be-
nightly, not merely toward mans spiritual interests,
but toward bis material interests AZ well.
Viewed thus largely, our revivals seem full of an
undenable comfort aud promise; but when you
come down to details ] confess do not my
way SO clearly. For example they write to me
that my old friend Forrest is converted, az well
ss Blake and Burton, the comedians / knew
Forrest intimately in my youthful days, wheu he
was manly, cordial generous fellow, Immersed IN
his profession ambitious OF distinction, over
sensitive perhaps, to what he deemed injustice,
but lover of truth and nObeness, and | an sure
10y nature open 10 every good inspiration as a
misguided world permits any OF US to be. ! am
Glad he is converted" if that event implies, as it
should, his becoming more nterory qulckened in
every manly grace. But if it do not mean this; it.
on the contrary. il merely means lively persuasion
on his part, that God loves hun now more than He
used 20 do, ia consequence OF some change wrought
in him, no matter how then | shall take the liberty
of Withholding my Fluctuations til he grows more
humble minded.
So, too, when you ask me To fancy a converted
Burton, nv imagination goes Instantly adrift with
out polestar or rudder When think of the inuu
merabc bebefcent sde-shakings that Incompatible
mimic has given me and mine; when recall how
often brain and heart and senses have drunk in IT,
freshment aud health from his exquisite drollsry |
bless God with all my soul for his great Gift of
genius aud deprecate nothing 80 much a. its iniu.
dicous blight. AT bottom, there is nothing so sacred
In man, nothing truly God-glyen, his genius or
faculty of use; because by this gf. God will vet
bind the worlds in one. and make all races kin. |
pray therefore that Burton, though be he con.
yerted ever much, may only give himself with
new devotion 10 his art, and commend himself 10
God and all good angels by the heartiness of his
efforts 10 extend and humanlze its empire
And Blake, too, the dear cosy aud rosy and com
Portable old gentleman Surely all the world will
agree that he scarcely be converted into II bet
Ter actor, while have my private doubts whether
i is not being overfastdious IL want him converted
ntO better man. Who that remembers him in
~ Jesse Klra :" OF ln the "SnlIir, uard1sstlom ~