The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1870-01-04

sldered to be beyond the reach Of any doubt
or criticism, The stern makers OF fact, re-
vealed both In nature aud history, had either
| to be distorted and perverted In order 70 DO
accommodated to the letter Of the biblical
text, or TO be denied At all. Every attempt
at free inquiry was silenoed by the Churchi
every new discovery which upset some bibll'
cal theory was condemned, aud, 40 heretical,
punished. The Inqulsitlon was wide awake
to crush the young spirit Of modern science
and civilization. The clergy was over
bnsled In Whispering into the ears OF the
| political rulers that this new spirit was sure
TO undermine the power both OF the throne
and the Church, and State and Church con-
| aplred against the progress Of the human
race. Instead Of the bright light Of science
the flames Of the stake were allowed to
blaze. II was terrible lighthouse that
warned the men Of that age against pursuing
their new road, aud many a tlmld mind was
scared back into the old darkness.
But "E pur 81 Nu0VS'--"lt moves any.
how"-Gaiileo said to his inqulsltorlal enc.
mica; and his word became the motto OF
modern salvation and redemption. Science,
once the poor and persecuted Cinderella, has
become the queen, the beloved bride, the
endeared spouse Of the modern man. Her
emancipation from the Iuqulsltlon, from 10
superlntendence OF the church, has AayCl
aud secured the progress OF our age. And
II so, does modern science owe its rapid ad-
vance to Christianity, or has she accom-.
pllshed her task 10 spite Of all the difficult
les theology has thrown In her way
Again, religions liberty, this brightest
boon, this most precious gem, this greatest
treasure Of modern civilization, was u ever
merely thought Of as long as the church
relgnod alone and supremef No matter
whether the Old and New Testament de-
elared the love Of man TO man TO be the
supreme, all-comprislng command; no mat
ter whether Jesus himself had said MAT
thew Il 49, Love your ensmlesi bless
them that curse you, do good to them that
bate you aud pray for them which despite
fully use you"-the motto Of that church
era was, burn the body aud save the soul.
Would to God we could obllterate from the
annals Of history the blood stained pages OF
fanAtielsm. Would TO God We could eradl-
cate from the memory Of men the fearful
tales recorded IN and BY the history Of the
ology. But there they stand, fearful, crush
Ing spectral Witnesses, shaking their bloody
locks and uttering the lamontable truth. Re
llgious liberty Is not the Offspring Of love
boaStlng theology.
Religious liberty 10 precious plant, but OF
slow and tender growth. How timid was lie
beginning, when Joseph II flrst proclaimed
the law OF liberation 10 the Austrian empire
The Pope himself hurried 10 Vienna, TO |
effect the repeal Of the law, 90 obnoxious to |
the Church, and how bitterly had the young |
Emperor TO suffer for refusing to comply |
with the demands Of the Holy See. How |
much rldlculed was Frederick the Great, OF |
Prussia, when declaring that In his kingdom |
everybody should try to enter Heaven &C.
cordlng TO the dictates OF his conscience. |
How fearful were the rayages and the re-
Venge Of the gulllotlne against the hierarchy
aud aristocracy, before France was able to
ASSERT that religions liberty was the law OF
the country. No, no; history tells US with
lrrefutable proofs religious liberty, the frat |
born OF modern civilization, IL not the dAugh- |
ter Of Christiauity.
Or can Christianity, perhaps, boast Of hay
Ing advanced the cause OF civil llbertyl Has
che produced that mighty lever which Gu
tirely changed the conditions OF modern So
eietyi Has she created that power which
arst undermined all privileges OF castles and
sects, and proclaimed the sublime principles
OF liberty, equality, and fraternity Noyerl
Search the records Of the past thirty years
aud hear the verdict.
Who opposed the emancipation OF Jews
aud Catholics In Great Britain The delo.
gated servants Of Christianity. Who CD
posed the reforms lately introduced In Aus
trla for her badly needed regeneration The
Cardinals and Bishops Of the Empire. Who
tries TO exclude Jews and Protestanis from
spainl The clergy. Who declares civil aud
religious liberty 10 be a SIN and revolution
against God and his holy church, Who per.
iecutes Catholics, Protestants and Jews In
the gigantic Empire OF Russiai The holy
Greek Church, governed by the Synod and
the Patriarch Emperor. Everywhere the
same factsi everywhere the gloomy verdict,
that our modern civilization not only does
not owe anything to the theology OF the
various denominations, but that II has
effected all the glorious changes for the bet.
ter ofsociety, In defiance Of all theological
sectaTiarism.
No, brethren, let us frankly aud cheerfully
acknowledge the truth, that our progressive
civilization 10 neither Jewish nor Christian.
Il is something greater, something broader
than all these sectarlan termsi Ii Is dI,lpe
and providential. II is as deep End bene.
ncial as Gods unfathomAhlr wisdom. Ills
as encompassing As GodS paternAl love. Il
. as mighty as 911's unllmlted power.
Hence, t pesSSdes all departments Of life
aud husAn action. According TO the divine
plea laid down for the education OF the
human race, II leads man onward, upward
to higher degree Of happiness. Ia the
gradual development OF all human faculties,
every nation has Its mission, every religion
sashi NfNAy luulNAuuuA us uukl 70 lululls
However dlVerging the opinions, however
contendiug the opinions, however clAShlng
the interests, they still must cooperate for
the harmonious execution Of the divine will,
which works out the happiness OF all the
members Of the human family.
Away, therefore, With all sectarlan AFRO
gance Away with all denominatlOnal pre-.
tensions Away with all such names as
Christian Jews, or Jewish Christians !
Awed by the thought OF Gods Justice aud
wisdom, humbled by the consciousness Of
mans frailty and shortcomings, inspired by |
the noble spirit Of brothsrly universal love,
let US work aud toll and cooperate for the |
glory Of God and the happiness Of man.
Every one at his post, every one doing cheer.
fully his duty, We will accelerate the coming |
Of that time In which fanaticism and bigotry |
will be numbered among tho things Of the
paSt, and love and Justice will reign supreme.
Amen.
DIsGRACEPuL TREATMENT or FEMALE
OPERATIVES IN The PAINTING BUREAU.-
Anma TINA ann nnnraa n