The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-10

The salient points to be noted In the con-
vention of atheists, infdels and sssecularists, I"
who met last Sunday at Philadelphia are, first,
that the delegates numbered, all told, but
seventeen; secondly, that one Of them-a
special representative Of societies In Illinois,
Wisconsin and Missouri-frankly admitted
that there Is not so much interest in the cause
out West as there might be; thirdly, that the
President of the Convention declared that
''the clerical power Is on the increase" and,
abiding to the lavish expenditures for the
erection Of new churches, thinks ''it Is about
time that we liberals should try to get some Of
this material support for our own cause" SO
it is a question dargent-a money question,
after all-with snti-religionists, as we'll as with
relgonists OF every denomination; and the
unpleasant impression that infdelity is spread
ing among the American people Is disproved
by the slender attendance at this Iniidel Con-
venti0n and by its manifest lack of money for
the propagation Of the abominable doctrines of
Voltaire and Tom Paine. The fact is that
these doctrines, which, 1t would seem, have
lost almost all their influence over intelligent
minds, were no less superficial than pernicious.
Rationalism, which the adherents Of the strlcter
forms of ancient orthodoxy abhor as the latest
form of inadelity, is at least free from that
faint Of vulgarity universally associated with
the drunken blasphemies of Tom Paine. The
more ''genteel professors Of modern infdelfty
turn up their noses at Tom Paine, notwith-
standing all his acknowledged services to the
wings of the American revolution in particu-
lar and to the cause of human liberty in
general. They avow themselves disciples Of
such profound philosophers as Kant, Hegel,
Comte or Spencer, and some of the weaker
minded among them have lately formed
Carlyle and Emerson Association" which
evinces rather blind admiration of 'sthe
savage philosopher of Chelsea and the mild
and mystical sage Of Concord" than clear
understanding of the peculiar views of either
one or the other. Spiritualism, moreover,
with the millions of converts claimed for it by
Judge Edmonds, has largely diminished the
number Of old-fashioned materialists who
honestly enough rejoiced, with sometimes
martyr-like spirit, in proclaiming themselves
disciples Of Tom Paine and Abner Kneeland.
Secularism is still an exotic and is cultivated
here, for the most part only, by few English
immigrants of the working class
Meanwhile almost every religious denomi-
nation, from the Roman Catholics to the latest
Christian sect, is Boosting, not without reason,
Of fresh accessions. The essential principles
of Christianity, as announced in the Sermon
on the Mount, are more heartily and more
extensively recognized than ever. Dark and
uncertain as the future is, according to Father
Hyacinthe, he is nevertheless justiHable In his
determination to "obey conscience to the
end" and in his belief shat the true Church,
embracing all who hold Christ as their head,
is far wider than any earthly organization.
Whatever outward characteristics this true
Church, the "Church of the Future" may
possess, no infidel conventions can destroy it,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
the rock on which it is founded.