New-York tribune., 1870-10-10
RELIGIOUS.

VITAL PIETY, TIE ORTHODOX, SCIENTIFIC, SEN
TnIENTAL, AND LIBERAL IDEAS OF 1T.
Here is the picture which the Free Religion
Isl finds unroled TO Heaven o. Sunday mornings in Lyric
Hal-a large, plain dim, quiet, with certain sug
sston Of intellectual austerty about the uucusioned
seats and the cold blue Of the organ pipes cOugrega
ton mostly OF mature thoughtful and women;
really remarkable i'm the number Of well-shaped heads
and cultured faces il includes, and against artistic
background Of crimson and brown the tall, scholarly
figure, and Gue, strong iDterrogative face Of the
preacher The picture has little of fOrmay in it, but a
great deal Of simple, natural dignity.
Mr.. FrOthlgham yesterday talked OF " vital pety'-
pety word which is longer the favorite it used to
be have learned to hold il in distrust sayOrng
.f and Journalism As expressing the love Of God
pety is mpara.vey indisttnctve term; there are
many gods and toward each the sexpresson Of love is
naturally different The orthodox Christians idea Of
God of Person individual one outside the world
outside men, outside History, outside the Universe. He
abode GA the circumference of space; He lives
not in time but on the Confines Of time; He supplies
TO ends men do; He thinks, in short as Man
raised 70 infinite power He looks your shoulder
and pulls the strings by which you guided and in all
respects conducts himselfto you guardian parent
Natures laws are suspended at His viii; He communi
with by OF angels, spirits. apostles He
writes a book; He establishes Institution and admin
listers its affairs.
What Is the expression Of love toward such an indvid-
uaE III - 10 MI soul tOhstfu his
obey His commands. But al Christian plety centers
about CHRIST the personal visible, tangible God. The
expression OF sye toward Him s apt 10 degenerate into
fornalsm II j. easy 10 90 through modes Of ceremO-
ny until they mere modes and nothing else There
must be fatal defect in the piety that can become
ritual SO easily s 81 caTicatured that word petv
actually suggests cricatme The great fault this idea
Of pety s that u ha no necessary connection with good
life. According 70 this form Of H. religion Is one thing
and business Anotner. IL l. the parent Of much
downright atheism hst Is almOs, reluctant speak
There's another form Of pieg based on set another
world literary ana scientific chiefly, to whom Cod il not
Person dwelling IN space aqg holding particular rls
t0ns 10 human beings but Force Efelgeno4 vast
Presence great OyershadoUing Power They peak II
Him Nature as the Heart OF the Universe Will many
other grand Impressive, ana hhmeaulhg terms They
never pray because there's no uso in praying to
they don't expect 10 meet Hin 'there. They
draw away from forms IN religion and call them by
pOcTsy 1es t4eIS r o F a., a. " -, @
even IN those who think OF God thus We find these in
men like Darwin Huxley Agassiz men OF genius who
Try 70 ind the subtle links which bind te hidden causes
oft =ings They have life IN their WOik winch an angel
What shall we say Of the sentimentalsts who make
great boast Of worshipng God IN nature SOrsmpng
ing on grass This idle scandal OF cCunty piazLds,
this gOssping IA HIS groves, TINS picnic p,ety-E,ha,
auytbng Have they any profound OF sweet feeAng an
thr heaTtsi To teud flowers and dress up gay m sum
piety Only a great soul can worship IN great WOHd.
I2s foolish for trhers 10 ak OF "Orshpms III 'eHPo
There Is another form Of piey which call Vital Piety
based on more definition Of Coda hvlng COO, Duv
not person. Him you will not ind az any COMMUNION
table in any temple He j. not idle force, Dnd un
conscious law. lie Is the Being OF beings Fepreehng
human perfectiOn in human form. HIS truth Is what We
mean truth, Ills justice ustIce Hs love what our
neal Tel us lONe ls ana must DE- lie Is l1 me OI %
maay that works IN aud through men. lie lives moves,
and has HE being in the grand principles which are the
safeguards ~ society, the regeneration OF the world
lie n not the personal God OF the orthodox
Christian, the material God OF the scientist but the bu-
God Of all hpan souls. The expression Of love to
saId HIN r0nasts 20 knitting your btle life with His