New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-26
THE BOSTON RADICAL CLUB.

BOSTON,
the Radical Club occurred Monday the DIST ns at
the residence OF tho c. A Barto who shares with
tho Rev. John T. Sargent his neghbor the pleasant
privilege OF opening spacious and inviting parlors 10 the
Radical authors and their listeners on monthly occasions
There were not so many Of the eminent ladies and
temen who frequent the Club meetings present on that
occasion usually the The essay read was the
same one that was publicly read by the writer the Rev.
Samuel Longfellow. in the horticultural Hall lecture
course on Sunday, the 18th. The subject Theism,
aud without being at all polemicaly treated the essay
curious contrast with the lecture delivered
the previous Sunday by tho Rev. o. b. rockingham,
and which attracted much notice from the religious
press AS defense OF pure Theism 1t was perhaps the
ablest that has been recently produced.
The speakers plea for knowledge OF God; for its
possibility and reality that form an idea OF Him,
and that this idea represents deluson, but reality
1t may be inadequate, but il is valid. And further, he
argued that only have rational idea OF Him.
but that have to Him. and live IN intimate
communion with Him. He did not mean to say that we
what God by the physical Senses but by the
spiritual perceptions. and this point he spoke al
length. He said
But am persuaded It delusion when we have be-
leved that we knew Godnot only TO be- but TO De lnn
ntey good loving just BEAUTIFUL 10 be the very
OF goodness, love, Justice beauty. persuaded that
It is not delusiOn when We have felt mat IN our mo-
ments of goodness love, Justice ana spIusI oeI9y we
were very TO Him and He TO us-even that lie was
dwelling in us Witness the glow tat nows nSe Inv w ,h
r"mini"ceHce of sGch experienced Witness the
b aud tbe desolatng sense of loss with which we hear
ourselves denied that access TO Him! that nex
tugushabe longing OF the human soul TO know God ana
feel Him not afar or testified to N the wh9e long history
of nedatOrs iuercessors reyeacIs which human need
has constructed TO bridge the ehasn and Dnd seiI 70
God, when lis crceds have taught HIM 10 DC roinVu
inaccessible or ahenated Only so can inc he Sbris9
becomes His manifestation II He be nexOrable a
loving Jesus or euderer Mary Mother viii be maze 70 III
offer their interccssion If He be hopeessly far away.
hosts of discmbOdied spirits VIII men sees W Ian nnd
beyond anu themsclves History tells US that the
ise those most infested by supestiiions. and prodgies
and nominations When the true Goa was taken ,
chung anything that might connect them % "
right 10 the nearest counterfeit not even e
conpanouShp Of the wise ana good OF earSh V sasy
that aspiration which Yoaris beyond ,no eaI.h
AGa Wa the dsvotee Of Christ Of Mary has prayed
10. cluug to- spiritual power aud love hgneT
bid YOU give up the idol idOlOR image) OF Christ It Is
that you may md the God whom he has imaged to
manifestation. but In Himself 1t is lie that has been
hearing your prayers why not address them TO HIM II Is
Have you, from cedhOod on been saying daily your
prayer. "our Father who art in heaven ana never
believe the Father could receive IT. every day
ended it with mention Of inercessor through whom "
" and have Won never believed thai il could So reach
HINT You may have fOndy believed that you could
t5sS Tog could S eeWhere ind But look up and in
your own eye the whole blue heaven is mltrored. You
YOU may touch the Fathers hand and. folded In His en-
brace, and looking his KNOW at IN
whom you have trusted For it was He that was with
you and with whom you have talked though you knew
Him
Quite otherwise Is It, when you would take from
a deusOn my faith that can know God and in some
near 70 me- There Is 10 higher run for which can ex;
change that faith and OF which II the imperfect and
expression. To give humanity is 10 give mo
less To give me myself aud my ideal as the image OF my
possibilities is TO give me lower not higher IL
be true indeed will accept and bear best may,
bear all losses. But II II be not trueI thank
God for the assurance have It is not Dir Long
fellow
Scriptures as Divine revelation to the usual tests OF
of access 10 GOd-prayer and obedience.
THE DISCUSSION
In the subsequent discussion the Rev. J. 7. Sargent
said that he supposed all felt the futy OF trying de-
fine and grasp the idea Of an infinite God though we
dream not Of limitations in regard to the lllmabe.
the unknown. and the unknowabe. None by searching
find out God aud the nearest the Scripture Itself
is simply this asseveraton: Blessed the
pure heart. for they shall God" Howf Why. it
only comes to thistbey shall have better understand
ing Of God
WHO ARE TBEIsTsf
The Rev. Francis Tiffany claimed that the term Theist
could not be arbitrarily applied to simply
count Of their belief Whenever there exhibited
spontaneous worship Of the heart when any mans soul
filed with gratitude and thanks breaking forth
rrepressbe tempest Of feeling like the Laus Deo"
would call that Thelst, whether Protestant
Catholic The note has risen up through him. and It il so
much vaster than his personality that he cannot |
claim It TO himself Ii would be robbery, aud he
thanks the person through whom 1t came, just as We
should thank for saving from drowning. At the
present there thousands who call themselves
thests that are not We do not have the living sense
OF the working Of God through US; DO not have |
the Of utter dependence belong 10 Analysing
age We get at all the different springs and
from which emotion may flow. This Ango-Saxon race |
which belong very largely Invested OF any
OF dependence. There Is vigor and strength and
men have the feeling that each one 1--we can hardly |
q and |
acknowledge sort OF dependence but each one Is
Of separate existence spriugng from himself. doing
self aud Thanking no one but himself The longing OF
man OF this sense Of dependence has always
flowed out the affection that was in his mnd-t mind
satisfied with analysis feeling that life is rich
and glorious and that inspirations are coming TO us
the more these joys experience. the richer the
our personality in that OF an Infinite being. When we
talk Of not knowing what God is In himself II IS very
teTal universe Is IN Itself do not want TO know what
males the perfupe and the waller in the gives forth
Us flashing light and beauty The power that makes 1t Is
away below IT, and feel that all that Is something we
Miss r. p Peabody afterward made some remarks In
which referred 10 the value OF silence IN worship
sT in The Isht Of his opinions What he said was sub
sequenty very briefly disposed OF by Br Longielow say
ing he was sure 10 one. who had lived IN com
muniOu with God, could doubt His power OF pardoning
sin directly aud without the Intervention OF any thid
party
Mr. Aaron NJ Powell spoke OF the silent Quaker wor-
ship that referred 10 by Miss Peabody He had
seen plaindressed Quaker sharp, polite business
maD who attended certain silent meeting and when
friend expressed surprise that he should spend his
tDe he replied that every silent meeting worth $500
20 him. He was carrying on his business plans, and
always succeeded in them He was Quaker IN form
and dress but not in spiritual feelings. The speaker
firmly believed that the source OF the highest Inspiration
was in absolute silence, either alone associated In
the bond OF spiritual relationship friend with friend
But all persons do not see ts and are not capable az once