New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-15

which he showed Of past hstoI! anu Wy uie aPHV
and mower with which he applied Christianity 10
the social problems of the present age. The young
listened eagerly 10 his delicate analysis OF the hu-
man heart, and hing upon the solution OF those
deep religious problems which had only then begun
10 agitate the mind of England. The working
classes were kiudled with reverent affection for
man who spoke as if his whole being were in his
words and who seemed to sympathize with their
lives as none had ever done before.
The town Of Brighton presented suitable Held
for the exercise Of his manly earnestness OF charac
ter. and the liberal modes Of thinking, which were
its natural fruit. It's population was full OF sharp
contrasts He came in contact with every extreme
of religious sects. A bold freedom OF thought pre-
vailed both among the upper and lower classes,
tending in the former TO silent contempt for Chns-
uanity. and in the latter TO open iniidelty. lie
mingled freely with persons of every shade OF Com
seryatism and Liberalism, and among the working
men with hot and eager Chartists. lie had pre-
sentiment that his work would Kill him IN a lew
years, lie resolved 10 crowd into tins short TINE
as much as he could. lie had long felt that Chris
tianity was too much preached as theology, 100
little as the religion OF daily life, and he determined
to make il bear upon the social state Of all classes
upon the pregnant questions of modern thought.
upon the great movements Of the world. In the
execution of this plan, great cry was raised
against him. Almost every party was excited to
terror and wrath. He was denounced as rcvolu-
ZIONIST and democrat. Some even complained to
the bishop that he was preaching politics in the
pulpit But supported by his faith in truth, Mr.
Robertson cared for none Of these things. He left
the seed which he had sown toi;s own vitality. 1t
cost him ease and finally his life 10 speak, but he
would not be silent. lie was acutely stung by cen
sure, but il could not sting HIM into faithlessness
10 duty. He did not seek for martyrdom; no man
ever shrunk more from publicity; but he resolved
to fulnl his work and 10 bear his cross.
The frank and manly spirit which furnishes the
KEY. note to Mr.. Robertson's character was stink
in.lv illustrated in his catholic literary tastes, and
his wide and genial studies. He appears to have
been above the reach of prejudice in his intellectual
pursuits. No man ever formed judgment ofhooks
and authors as well as systems of thought, with
more signal impartiality. The authority Of great
names had not feathers weight with him beyond
their intrinsic value. Nor was he deferred by any
popular odium from doing justice TO writers who
hadnotyet been crowned with public favor, or whose
questionable opinions made them the objects
OF dread and reproach. He found wholesome
stimulus 10 bis Intellect in the writings of Carlyle.
{" have gained good and energy from that book,
he saws. speaking Of f" Past and Present History
l.: In ari NJ, "A
course of lectures on the books OF Samuel, he did
not resort 10 commentaries but 70 Niebuhr Rome
and Guizot's Civilization OF Europe, and 10 works
on political economy. Dante and Tennygon were
the poets Of his choice. He had committed the
whole of the Inferno 10 memory. He devoted
much time TO German metaphysics, extracting
what was of practical value and LOVING TO play with
what his biogrupher oddly enough calls " their fine
woven gossamer of ideas He speaks Indignantly
Of those who endcavor to taboo all earnest thought
by the insinuation of German ncology. English
men." he saws, seem 10 think that the Redeemer
died exclusively for them, and that light shines
nowhere ese.' He delighted 10 turn to Shakes
peare. Wordsworth, Coleridge and the author OF
PHILIP Van Artevcde for "yiews of man 10 medi'
loanitv." The study of Plato, as he says, gave
MIN an impulse which can never end through
eternity" The idealism Of Fichte was as precious
to him as the scientific exposition of Plato. For
the writings of DR.. Charming, he had the most
enthusiastic admiration. lady Of his parish
was horror-stIuck at finding ono day copy OF
"Cbannings Memoirs GU his table. The
-. vhi on n.
coyery is best related in his own words.
al am sorry TO see you read this book, Mr.
Robertson. replied, DR.. Claiming was one OF
The highest Of his species. For minister 10 refuse
to read such book would be miserable. am not
so senstiyely afraid of error as that. throw my
self on the Father Of Lights, read all, and 'rdst
that he will answer desire for light. An immoral
book refuse TO read, but book containing merely
false doctrine, or what is SUPPOSED TO be false,
dare not refuse to read; or else could not, with
aDy consistency, ask a Roman Catholic TO read my
book Of Protestant heresy.' But DR.. Charming
could not be good man, because he did not be-
lieve in Christ Pardon me, he did-he loved
Christ wish / adored him half as much as DR..
Claiming did, But he denied that he adored
Him. Il cannot help that. If the lowliest rever-
ence. and the most enthusiastic love- constitute
alteration, Dr. Claiming worsbped Christ.
care not what man ssys. His homage was more
adoring than that OF nine out of ten who call Him
God. Besides, do you remember the story of the
two sons, one OF whom said, 81 go, sir" and wen,
not; the other refused to go. and wentl What
care if Dr. Charming sdores, saying that he docs
al I iati be abn m
self much more returned, that some passages
in his Diary expressed the deepest sefabasemont.
'woll, probably he had high ideal; hc was morti'
fed at not attaining that before tho world DO
Won recnllnctt ansHerod thoY the Pharisees got