Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-01-27
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:. We haze seen no evidence ,hs, the
grea, aud excellen, Tienbola, va, a
Christian be has surely passed sway
wiihou, leaving behind him the slightest
testimony for Christianity. lie MAS the
very soul Of honor snd upriRhincss--
smiable. humane and gehial, bot without
any particular religious opinions. lie
|, was philosopher, and 50 ended his days.
Not 10 be able to number man Of 50
. much intellect, research. and personal
! excellence on the side Of rvvraled r~li-
qion, Is much to be regretted Bot The
Great Teacher, eighteen hundred yesrs
ago. declared, ,hst these things are hid
from the wise and prudent, and revealed
to babes
! Humboldt completed his academic
studies ai the Unisetsily Of Go,iingen,
and vas ushered in the business Of lie,
just at that junc,ure when two revoIu-
tons were in progress. A revolution in
popular opinion respecting human rights
was disturbing all the governments OF
Europe and revolution in religious
opinion was agitaling the learned world
of France and Germany. The last re-
suited in vide spread Ratonalism in
Germany. In France, il produced In.
fidelity, the New Worship { ga.
published by Barere, aid the later St.
Simonism. Humboldt was much in
France in those unsettled times. lie at.
taehed himself, Of course, TO the philoso-
J. pliers, and with an ardent, unsus spectine
l. and contding mind, imhibed from the
oayans too readily, their skeptioism. lie
. suffered himself 10 adopt the common
mistake Of judging Christianity by its
? imperfect professors,
II was the fate Of this remarkable
: man, 10 find, in bis subsequent wander
ings, no cause to abste bis prciudicts
against Christianity. Its worst aspects
BE met him in his extensive travels. In lis
residence and iournryings through Mex
leo, Central and South America, be Wit
messed scenes OF eeclesia>lical prohigacy
that served only TO disgust the ferling-
of a young man of naturally chaste and
pure sentiments, and to throw into great.
er diSfavor religion in all its forms.
The long life of this great man, sub
sequently passed amid the complications
oi church and priesily power, as connect
ed with the establishments Of Continent-
J., al Europe, seated the aversion to relig-
# ion, which he had suffered 10 take root
h in his mind. Looking composedly from
p his central post Of observation in ih,
heart Of Germany, for more than half $
!, century, on the same unending conflict,
+ and aspirings Of ambitious priests. and
absorbed the meanwhile in lis own in.
dependent studies ia a very different de.
partment Of inquiry, no wonder that the
;, honest hearted spectator ccnfounded these
demoralizing scenes with .he religion ot
the Gospel.
o Humboldt was a philosopher Of the
= broadest east within ,lte limits Of natural
!. science, and his inquiries we're eonpre.
: hensise and thorough. But from lis tx.
? tensige works we gather no evidene,
that bis inquiries were ever turned in an,
proper sense TO religious truth. lie en-,
ployed the convenient, bui unfair method
j. OF judging religion by is professors
!. without discriminating tie principe oI
i. Gospel trul. from iis srelcied rxp0neats
! without examining Christianity and il,
i. Author and revelations. viii any ad
- ~qnale aiieniiyusor eonyersing wifh ilio-,
> truly learned and piuus mem WHO we're
. its ornament, and sone Of ssllum were O.
be found ia lh- UHiyerssties around him
II this great man eonciBdea 10 kerp aloo
J. from the wiiolr. and live and die phil
y osopl,er. Tue mistake d HDmioldi "a,
perhaps natural, bat lafneulable onr
j, Il charaeisr 20 genial, asaissls aud igse
; ~. nesded bas the superadd-d grace o
Christianity 10 hage been sl .lsat i ex
c-llrni, To the nsiurui Instincts VI sgel
a soul. Christianity WAS fitted 10 dsgelo,
'Foodrrfui beauty and enjoyment. III.
eo<mosony u llis world which be lnbsr
ed 80 comprehend and expouad. 4as 10
deed incomplete without the sxplxaaorJ
light q Christianity. bot we fsar thai
be died wahoul the sight.
Nog many wise men alter the fssh
i not many miglay. 90, msny nobls, are
ealIed.'- coHgssgas.osalist.
ca An unjust acquisition Is Ike !
harl,ed affo<, Nliell faass r. drava back
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