New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-23

spirit go far hos 90 welcome II, because 20 Tar
il abides the tee, of reason
INT mus. bring this too long discourse to close.
Nv effort the last few year. in behalf Of the religion
81 reason have been construed by many into attacks
upon Christianity. Nevertheless they were Intended
a. an humble means toward saving IL. Love To GUd
and love to man are the essential elements OF Christian
iiy; and as rOtbiug can be more reasonable than
these. il il impossible that reason should make
war upon Christianity More than this: the Religion
of reason and the Christian religion
necessarily one ! admit that the religion Of
reason is a different thing from the spurious
Christianity which prevails in every part of Chr-en-
dom. admit that AL its artillery IS directed Sgans'
that wick ed and ruiuOus counterfeit Bat the true Chris
,iauitv-the Christian of the Blbe-the Chris
taLity taught by the lips and lie OF Jesus-nas o"
truer friend than reason. Indeed 1t - alone by TIE
force Of reason, guided and best OF heaven That false
ChrstiaIi can be beaten back from It's usuTpdtOns,
and the true IeentbrOped.
The religion of reason is indispensable, not only for
the purpose Of putting to fight counterfeit, ou' al'o
for the purpose Of preserving the genuine Christianity,
md gaining Il hold for il the public heart IL Is IN
dispen.sabe not only TO show how worthless Is the
Christianity which is in fellow ship with Slavery aud
the dramsbop ard other denominations, but also to per
-uade men Of the truth and preciousness Ut that INNS
anity which allies itself to no wrong, and su'talns
every right To persuade them ] mean, by proofs
addressed 10 their understanding and not by appea-
20 their superstitOus credulity.
Because of their deep sense OF It's excellence,
Christians have been wont 10 challenge al unques-
tionipg and Undertaking faith in their religion They
have promptly sentenced to endless woe all who dare
doubt the truth Of any position OF the Bible, or 70
call in question any OF the principal eccesiastlcai IN
teIpretalOns Of II. True, many OF them nave hc-
knowedged in words the right to investigate the popu-
lar views of Christianity: but with very few eIcep-
tons. they have all abured 1t In practice Even tnose
who tolerate this investigation do ~ with the Under
standing and advertisement that whoever shall dare
come TO a conclusion opposite their own, will, for
daring wicked merit everlasting punishment. but
the growing intelligence OF mankind WI not inuGh
longer Iepose blind faith In the best re-
gIon II will soon insist that even such religion
must be more than alieged-muSt be prOyed-to De
true before will be bound 10 believe IN IT, In the
ages Of superstition, and in tie subsequent ages OF
speculation, through which nations pass, relglon
does not need 10 be backed with logic in order 10 gain
currency even with the intelligent. But Christentom
has now become philosophical and practical that
nothing except religion can longer pass IN It without
proof: and before mauy years more shall have
elapsed there will be no longer even this exception
Ey the way this assuming the truth Of Chr-tianity
the churches and their men bers DO, If not a Dey
suppose it to be, hononDg Chnstanty. IL as
honorng il. Truth is honOred not bya blind assent
To her claims but by that acquiesceDce ia them which
she Wis from those who faithfully investigate
Them The Bible is nsulted by being assumed to be
true but hOnOred by those who think It's claims upon
their faith worthy to be investigated.
Our claim of superiority for this age will be admitted
only with qualifications. Oursuperority IN general SCI
eLce vii be admitted but not in the science OF religion
Is not however the deluion a. great AS Is common
proposition tue always Keeps pace with the other
DO you say that France, while on the one band making
RAPID progress in general science has on Tue other be-
Bhdel admit i, especial inrespect 10 Inc intel
ecual portion Of her people. But clam mat her inh-
GETTY proves her great progress toward the true Te'
gon; for IT proves that she Is passing out o the super
rtiious aud speculative ages that every nation VIII ye'
bass out Of AID that she longer be satisfied with
religions that claim faith without making good their
clam. Her call is for religion which can be
proved to be true and uLhappy, her belief to very
great extent is that Chntapity cannot be proved 10 be
true Such also is the call aud TO such an extent the
unhappy belief Of Italy ana OF some of the German
States. Such, too Of vast numbers IN England aud
America who in common with vast numbers IN other
lands have either become, or always were inhiels.
But while rejoice IN then escape from the supersu-
tjOus and visionary are nevertheless not blnd 10
their mistake-thelr great and lamentab!e mistake
that Christianity cannot be proved to be true what
if the chuIches and preSt ood do assume tne truh OF
it. virtually forbid the bringing forth OF Its le
citimate and conclusive proof Nevertheless tue
proofs exist and tue religion Of reason will take them
up aud them to the scattering oi al skepclsn anu
to the sure and successful planting Of the blessed faith
III the waste places and talOw grounds oil inhielty.
The religion Of reason viii prove that nature teaches
love 10 God and love TO man, justice and mercy, aud
all the elements OF Christianity and that, therefore,
Christianity is true. Or to Use another form OF state
uelt the religion of reason viii show that ChIlstiany
ia true by showing that Jesus was, a. we have already
said the true moral Interpreter OF nature.
such will be the service that the religion of reason
will render to Christianity. OF b0undess importance,
however as this service will be, 1t will nevertheless
be but an incidental, one The direct otlect-the sole
ainl-o the religion of reason IS; First, 10 convince
every man that bis Is TO be allowed Tor his rea-
son alone is authorized to decide what shall be his
conduct and character; and second TO Keep nm by
means of his strength and OF all the aus OF heaNeh
and earth IN state of answering hdelly to tins hgn
conviction. God speaks III His creation and Prov
dence Jesus speaks a. "never man spakc. HIS
ministry will cease to pour forth HOOD OF igbt.
TIE great and good men and women OF every age con-
tribute their measures of enlightenment. But these
are all voices for the ear oi reason; and not one OF
theu-no not even that of the Great God-has a night
10 be heard in the sanctuary Of the soul except through
the influence Of such voice upon the reason. have
been wont to say that the reason OF man Is the voice
of God within him. If this not literally true, never
theless that Gods voice reaches him through his rea-
son is literally true Save that which hes through our
wrought CONVICTIONS there Is not Tor the Chnrch
nor for the Priesthood Tor the Bible, any roai 10
those sacred chambers where the mind under It's sole
responsibility because sole master OF ITSELF forms ltS
Judi ment and comes TO It's decisions. II Is God himself
who has ordained this supremacy OF reason; ana not
To ackIowl edge tins supremacy constantly ana Piau
ticaly and gratefully, is to be guilty OF rebetiug
against His government. II Is God himself who has
made the bringing OF all our appettes, passions and
pursuits into quick aud glad subecuou 10 our reason
the great law OF nature and therefore not 10 obey
this law is TO prove ourselves traitors TO our own ma
ture. 80
Ye, awhile the religion Of reason will continue to
be derided and hated. Bat 1t VIII be neither dlscour
aged nor impatient. 1t viii be OF good cheer and blde
time. Yet awhile, superstition, bgo,ry and preJu-
dice will continue TO daken mems minds, anu corrupt
their hearts and ndispose them to the reign OF reason
But the falacy and failure of every religion when
does not make appeal "a reason, become every day
more and more manifest and thus every day - tue
way becoming clearer and easier for the progress OF
the religion OF reason. Ii may not soon prevail but II
surely will prevail Lipger however IT may, tue day
will vet dawn when men the earth over will believe
tha, they must let their rule then IN al things
especially IN religion. Ii will yet be acknowledged
that the most reasonIuled man is the most religious
mantha, to be reasonable Is the highest possible A.
may hat