The New York herald., 1868-04-06
SCIENTIFIC RELIGION FOUNDED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF cumrE.

select intelligent and quite numerous cOngrega-
ton assembled In the Music Hall, at the corner OF
Fifth avenue and Fourteenth street, yesterday fore
noon in response to an invitation "to attend the
first of course OF lectures the scientific religion
originally promulgated by August COmte," by Mr..
Henry Edgar, one Of the apostles designated by
Comte After referring 70 the nature and scope Of
the design had In view by these lectures Mr.. Edgar
said:-No social institution, no custom no opinion
exists or pronounced but 1t Is called In question;
nothing escapes the CALLING criticism OF the nine
teenth century. All mankind seem possessed
well as in the Western hemisphere. Civii-
zation Is continued progress with GER
tain definite goal. The whole existence OF
us matter OF special inquiry. A peculiar agitation,
deep and UNIVERSAL pervades 1t differing from that
existing anywhere ese The year 1889 was the outset
of the modern or revolutionary era; and here would
be interesting to trace the connection which the
events Of this year had with those Of i756 and they
other. The French Revolution began the era Of new
societies, as the English Revolution began the era OF
new governments. Modern development seeks not
new forms OF government SO much as new forms of
society. The true historical significance OF 1870
the elimination Of. OF the idea ,,.e Of local inde-
above all, Of foreign domination. 1t prepared
the way for the great communist movement
of Robert owen among the British wOrknen
the first step towards their social emancipation. The
various forms Of socialism In France although crude
social problems which can only be laid at rest by
thorough understanding OF the laws regulating human
existence. The Improvement Of the condition OF the
common people is fast coming to be the great ques-
ton OF the day. The present Emperor Of the French
owes his continued occupancy Of his throne to his
schemes inaugurated for the amelioration Of the Ills
which affect the mass OF mankind is that they have
been generally limited to mere material happiness.
have failed 10 take into account the wants Of his
moral and intellectual nature. A reconstruction Of
unity IN opinion is needed Religious sceptlcism Is
the m ain sprt of the present aQe The indelity or
neRatism Of the eighteenth century is out of date
now: but men do not believe. The fdea of progress
with many seems to be only TO tear down; the idea
to reach celestial beattude by aboshing first one
thing, then another, until nothing remains. One
Ssa ns4e
some good aspirations here; but no genuine aspira-
tion can be satisfied by mere negations. Nothing
was possessed with this idea that Auguss
Comte gave his mind TO the study Of social
and political problemA Comte set out wkh
attainment Of certain end and another thing to
accomplish it. The people know best what they
wish for but S not 90 easy 70 determine What
reach that desire. He met the greatest dnculfy In
his work OF reconstruction In the intellectual dis
order that wer i%a .snt ss
anarchy. The teachings Of theology and scientific
conceptions being at variance was the cause
was gradually gliding into metaphysical abstrac
ti0ns, antithetical and absurd, while scientific
truths grew stronget belief In the latter being CO.
August Conte dedvced from this that II the lattec
could absorb the whole range OF human thought IL
would abolish boh the others and secure the anarchy
Of opinions rqL which all the social disorder re-
suited. Are social phenomena anenaole 70 i'm.
mutabe natural lawsf became the grand Question
needing aotwer, and In its solution he pr3pounded
his docrye Of the three states that every human con-
r.ss, s.ns tneoiozcal Of eS.,,oas: ssvOua. rss