The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-08-16
A New Sect of Moralists in
France.

ror. whether religious, moral or social, {
aud how can we be surprised! no {
mauism is now diseredited on account t
of its childish legends and clerical in {
trieies. The majority Of the French,
at least of those who possess any intel ,
lectnaI culture, have ceased to believe ;
in the teachings of the Papal Church
and as they are not acquainted with the
Gospel, they have no longer any rellg-
ion. What can they do then3 They
are carried away with every wind OF
doctrine, and some adopt the most ex-
travagant and dangerous ideas.
We have sad proof of this to-day
in the formation of sect or school
which proclaims the theory OF an "me-
pendent morality. And what is this
independent morality? And what are
its essential bases? r.. ~.
These new moralists have adopted
the ideas of positivism, that is to say !
naterialsm. The have rejected the
doctrine Of the existence Of God for
God is a word Of little weight, accord
ing to M. Renan. They have also
renounced the doctrine of the immor-
talty of the soul, and probably the soul
itself seems to them mere fancy. In
a word, they are avowed atheists,
But if there is no God-if the future
life is a fable-if the soul is vain hy-
pothesis-if man is merely an organized
machine, what becomes Of the moral
law? Are not all the individual, do
mestic, and social duties struck by the
same blow? And will not a frighttul
chaos cause the breaking up Of relations
which have always existed in the life OF
the human race?
Such is the natural and legitimate
difficulty which the new mOrallsts pro-
nose to meet and remedy. They have
therefore invented the system of an
independent morality, Of which am
going to try briefly to give the sub
stance.
Morality has been united with and
subordinate TO religion. But this is
gross error! Moral laws ought not to
depend in any way upon religious be-
lief Believe what you please, or be-
Iieve nothing at all. BE Roman
Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Mussulman,
idolater, or atheist, it matters not
Morality is science which must exist
and act by itself; it merits the name ol
science only on condition Of its being
absolutely Independent of all religion
"But then what are the bases OF YOU
morality what is its origin! or 1T
sanction I" say sensible men.
"Nothing is clearer or more simple, )
reply these new sectaries, "moral SCI
cncc is based upon the sentiment an(
respect of our own individuality w
grant to others what we claim for our
selves. This mutual respect OF the hl
man person is sufficient for us;
secures the accomplishment of ever
duty. We no longer need God, or tn
life to come, or an economy OF retrlbu
tions beyond the tomb! Morality be
comes independents it assumes
scientific character, and our virtues wi
become moro noble and substantial whe
we recognize no longer the interventlo
of supernatural Being, northe sanctlo
of future judgment"
I have correctly stated the theory
these independent moralists 1t woul'
indeed, be superhous to begin Ion
discussion with these strange reasoner
Their system cannot bear close examlI
alton, and your readers are not in dan
ger Of adopting such absurd opinion
1t is proper, however, to make son
short remarks upon this new school al
its inevitable consequences. -,
|. Into what an error have part of u
French people fallen What!-jou
nails like e fsmpS,ie ie Steele, = ArenT, al
even to q certain extent the Journal
Debats, openly extol materlalism a
atheism! Doubtless, there have be
in every age, among all nations, IN
who have been just as infdel as thes
but they have not dared to publish
open daylight their negations; I'll
were ashamed OF their own sceptiols
Voltaire himself, who had not much
serve or shame, constantly affirmed
necessity of admitting the existence
God for the maintenance OF social Q
domestic order But these barriers
broken down to-day, and atheists
not ashamed to show their utter in
ETY.! IL this then tho progress
which our country and our age be
with so much pride
Cd. Observe next, that this preten
Independence OF morals is contrary
theIananimous, universal and cpnsI
sentiment of mankind, Not 9
Christians and Israelites, but Gree
Romans. aud even the most barbar
hoardes of Australia, the most say
tribes of America and Africa, b
sought in their religion tho origin
sanction OF their moral obhgati
Open Hemers Iliad, OF The book
Zoroaster, or the writings Of the 4
ancieaE historians, philosophers
legislators, and you will find ev
where taat justice, probity, the rel
for public and private engagemc
national alliances, conjugal faith,
relation Of parents and children,
are founded upon the belief in
mora or less elevated and pure,