The New York herald., 1869-06-15


extent been victorious IN their first struggle with
tine errors OF that dark and cruel government.
earth. bus there was now at least some hope for
future light for the adjustment OF slavery under
her rule for religious federation and a greater
breadth OF freedom-the freedom OF truth aud JUS
tice, which were the foundation and source OF true
and happy existence as nature intended for The
time, however, was fast coming when men should
know very little of religion their relations with
each other-when they would he governed by some
other law than that OF Christianity. aud not 10y
help us along In this world, except we exert our.
selves TO lind out what and where we are and what
Is Intended Tor us.
A PROGRESSIVE EPIsTLE.
Mr.. MILLS then read and submitted TO the meeting
the following document for their action as circular
vi the rrlenus o frogtesS =
To THE FRIENDS OF HUMAN PROGRESS, THE LOCKERS
AND WORKERS FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND LIsERrY
DEAR BRErHREN--It seems to us fitting that in
thus hour we should send you greeting. Never was
there such an one before.
The signs OF our time indicate plainly changes,
great changes, at hand; q new era dawns, new
page is turning in the history OF man. All the Omens
pOrents that have foretod the great epochs that
have marked signal steps In the growth and ADVANCE
OF the race are essentially present to-day, and with
Christianity came. proclaimed and prepared by
heralds and harbngers, unmlstakable preachers In
Kingdom The world seemed ripened ana stood
culture qnekeEned, ~ fresh contact with
insight and repOse. had taken on new life and In
spiration; there was intense mental activity all
abroad, the Old forms and beliefs had become eilete
and juggie revolving to the worshIpper There
was wave Of inspiration upon the world, deep soul
Iess sna aa Of his Se s % Of the e
Age, while also Son OF Heaven, and the finest
rpeness OF Jewish thought ana love. lie had parent
age running back not only to Jerusalem but also 10
Alexandria and Athens. The wealth of the world
was poured INTO HIS soul He met and fulfilled the
wants and aspirations OF His age-came for them
and came Of them. Christianity had its origin and
found its reception because humanity travaled and
humanity expected IT, circumstances not dissimiiar
obtained In Europe, IN the fourteenth and fif-
teenth centuries and proclaimed the reformation.
Great improvements In the material condition,
increased protection and comforts to physt::
cal life ana well-oelng, the enlargement OF
individual and social freedom. invention of printing
the compass, maritime discovery. Coperncan
awakening IN all ways OF mems cOnsclousness-
these were the parentage from which sprung Luther
Faust and Gutenberg. Like facts, doubtless, we
should tnd could we penetrate the history OF that
period In India, in the sixth century before Christ
paving the way for and necessitating the great re-
form OF Buddha. These epOchs OF human enlran-
chsement ali come through aneliOratlons and Bap-
tlst ministers making the paths straight and the
rough places smooth for the advent Of the Most
High. Not less but more distinct are the Omen5
that mark our. time. The old Hebrew word
roretold that In the latter day many
should run TO Seve and wa so tara 9"ledg
dIment a. now the mental ''eI actv,tS u' OF to-.
day is unexamped, wlde-ranglng, and what Is Of
far more worth than all, largely charged with prac-
ments In the material arts astOnish the eye day by
day they stride on, outstrlpplng all anticipation.
Tncy bear Tor man. go to tighten labor to elevate
physical condition. 10 reduce or abolish the rough
tolls, and bring liberation. New light Is constantly
being poured on the relations OF man to the earth,
the laws OF hls physical life and well being, the
causes oil disease Its prevention or cure. Religion
Is seen more practical affair." concerned with the
human creature here aud now, seeking his redemp-
ton from the bondage OF present evils, respecting
and reverencing the human body as the appointed
shrine and temple for the soul and 80 reilg gion
a In tS
science and warmly welcomes 1t TO this haliowed
domain. The telegraph and the steam car are
drawing the ends OF the earth together, c0mrnng-
ling the nations, bringing closest intercommunlca-
tlon, and must unspeakably hasten the hour OF
versal eniranchlsement and union.
Physical science Is Tree and dauntless, breaks Ut
terly with the popular theology, pushes It's eXplOra
tons every side, and the eartn and The heavens
are successfully and surely yielding up their secrets
to It's hand. There are no barriers it shall not sur
mount, no depths OF knowledge 1t shall not pene-
are being laid-as vOtve offerings upon
the altar OF humanity, made free Tor the approprla-
tion and enjoyment ana exaltatdn OF the race.
The treasures or wisdom from the deldS OF litera-
ture, especially IN past ages, are being renewedly
sought and cherished. There Is unprecedented de-
the philosophers OF the olden tme-especally tnose
as some OF them were, who had genuine elevation
TO soar 10 the realm OF substance and rest alone IN
the worship or being. The hints, maxims and Scrip
clous legacies, profitable for the enrichment and
qufckenng OF the spirit. There Is now more OF a
true worship OF the life and inspiration OF the past in
tins regard than our world mas ever be-
fore seen. The ethnic scriptures, TOO, the
ancient sacred books of the Gentle world
records OF the religious consciousness and
beliefs OF the oden time have for the part lain
unknown and unregarded, deemed unworthy the
notice OF those who OF all men mad the sole and final
revelation. The very existence OF some Of them was
until lately unheard Of and 1t Is only within recent
period that the sacred books OF the Zoroastrans, OF
the Brahmns and the Buddhists have been even
partially known TO few scholars IN Europe. Al no
previous time has there been TO any extent IN Chris
tendon the liberaiity that would approach them
with candor and treat them fairly. The prejudces
fall away and these books are now being studied and
with great care and the day Is not dls
tant when may each read them IN our own
tongue wherein we were born. It Is, perhaps not
to be expected that when fairly interpreted and
brought near tney will enrich religious literature
To the extent that some anticipate; they VIII DOUBT
less be found partial and unsatsfyng, overlad here
and there with darkness and superstitions, mainly
however the growth OF ages subsequent " their frat
writing. but their study will 20 far towards infusing
cathohcity into the minds or Christendom and
breaking the chains OF ITS naughty narrowness and
exclusive assumption. Cleans OF diyinest wisdom,
priceless gems OF truth shall be round, which must
go towards making up the volume Of Inspiration
and Lie that Is some day to be gathered for man.
KIND. As the broken fragments come more and
more to light genuine scriptures shall be seen IN all
the records In the oracles OF syblls and priestesse5
Greece and Rome In the liturgies and burial ser.
vices OF the Egyptians the inscriptions upon their
temples and their tombs.
And coupled with tins IA the freest examination
and criticism OF the Christian records not now un
affirmation, determination to purge away all the
dross, eliminate everything partial, temporary or
unworthy and rest In the fact and verify alone.
Never such questions asked, never such stern,
searching catechsm az now. 1t Is not destructive,
but constructive, In its character and tendency Con-
triDutiOns are constantly being made from which
the science OF religion will ere long be successfully
treated, the genetic development OF the religious
idea among men shown, and the relations OF the
Jewish and Christian religion to others and theirs
II exhibited Within the last quarter Of a century
We may, indeed, say within the last decade-the
languages OF the world have been subjected to far
more fruitful examination than ever before and new
principles OF classification ascertained. deep lines OF
affinity, hitherto unsuspected uniting tongues re-
hottest IN place and frequently in time together In
one SINGLE stem, discovered Large progress has been
made towards reaching fundamental science OF
speech, the laws Of its origin and entire growth, and
this shall quite probably eventuate In the devsing Of
single universal tongue, which, so FAR at least
writing IL concerned shall serve as medium OF
communication for all throughout the globe. Per-
haps II Will be finally realized again that the whole
earn shall be OF one lip and one speech. How much
a universal written language will facilitate the ad-
vancement OF man. the dlfuslon OF light and know