New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-28

bnatio1 of tho highest possibilities of human attain
varies in the OF each individual and on
its individual capacities Free religion hohs up or
imperfect but perhaps the grandest known sa mr.
Of certain virtues zach Of he two Characters il supe
rior to the others in certain points helther ls
pss: Of 6 On kaowe4ss with regard to he speak
er referred the lack of direct aud hor9qgny b
OF them left anything In writing INT VINE tne NJ iO 9 t
pels which furnish all the knowledge OF IS p cIeenI
and the illusions to him aud bis tefchngs ~ con-
rary nom Christian writer's are scrty ana obscure cU d
corning Socrates We have accounts which are ul ana
nt in oIder 70 compare the gospel character OF Jesus
which is held mp by chri ,iat tS socrates,
Which might nty stand in some very important re-
spects the best individual exponent OF Free Religion te
equal value and proceeded TO point out some striking
condolences in their characters aud careers B9th were
pener the other scuptorand both received the ele-
9nIs o m az, T cIas in soccfv which has
given mankind almost all their greatest beneiactors'
and thew both respected labor aud reprObaed dleness
Both also conceived higher idea OF their own
special work than that OF practcng the mechanical arts
10 which they were Bred and accepting with equal cheer
funess the priyaOns before them. They sacrificed the
ordinary ambitions and common Injuries OF maDkni IN
order 10 devote themselves to universal ends Neither
dad they make any distinction among those whom they
] % Gem abont dong good socrates no less than
Jesus was prominently moral roformer and aimed at
men. Both Stood aloof from politics, and
these doctrines into politics wouldl have insured them
speedy death. Again. both cherished deep ana settled
prejudice against influential class In the communities
In which thoy yed-sOcrates against sophsts VINO re-
ceIyed pay for their instructions, and many 3i whom
we're excellent men, and Jesus against the Pharisees
who probably quito as good as any other class
among Jews, and we're prominently the national parry
OF the Hebrew nation The natural ana JustihaDle ih
patience OF their conservatism led him into the
common fault of radcals-blttenes3 and injustice 70 IN
dIyduas his contempt for their principles passed over
Another striking point OF resemblance was the pro-
fonnd aLcontrollng faith which both OF these great
III Jesus believed himself called by his Father to the
great and unparalleled task Of establishing on earth the
Kingdom Of Heaven no less was Socrates convinced that
me was sent by Gods the AthcnanS to labor for
their good, with all the differences between them and
were greaU we recognize N each the same ncor
rumble allegiance to the best and highest III his own
soul which cqualizes all who possess IT, and establishes
forever all spiritual distinction Of higher or lower From
the hands OF their own counrymen whom they had done
their utmost 20 benefit and bless, they met their DOOM
but with the same magnapiInOus ana Deautlul SpIit
they died with words Of kindness on thclr ups Jesus
prayed God forgive his murderers Socrates to!gaVe
Tho sneaker next noted differences between them.
Jesus spoke to the multitude parallels aud reserved
their explanation FOR the inner circle Of his disciples;
distinction OF erOeric aud cS0'ec which has its origin
everywhere and always in dlstrust or the common
0conIe But Socrates kept no secrets in relglOnhad
mysteries sacred for all except the initlaed-tormed
no little royal court OF apostles 10 receive announcements
roo bgb for the common ear In claiming be the Mes
sah or KING OF Humanity Jesus depended for the sue
cess OF his mission the public recognition OF MS cdl
by mankind. He could be in no true sense
ACKNOWLEDGE their allegiance We cannot but contrast
the fact OF his outward failure with lis despair upon the
cross Ny God My GOdl why hast thou fOrsakcn me ~
Words more full OF pathos mover fell from human Ups,
for they the confession OF rretreyabe failure Nuhg
from the depths Of his soul But Socrates depended on
himself alone, and therefore could not fail lie sought
no confession from others Of any personal claim OF hs
IL was his duty instruct the world the high wisdom
OF humility and the knowledge OF It's own ignorance, but
IL not his duty that the world should be instructed
The predominant aims OF Jesus and Socrates and the
methods which these aims required were then contrasted
The conception OF Jesus, that power was ms by Glvhe
appointment and right, was wholly free from all that
could with proprey be called selfish In any bad sense OF
the word but 1t was eyerthciess intensely eGol5tc ana
peryaded his whole consciousness His entire method OF
instruction that Of dogma lie does not appeal TO the
reason OF man. but TO ms receptive Iacutes Tue
intended rcproach Whatever 20 Jesus by saying that
slon. The Church honestly by ITS peculiarly In
and air of dogma, and its most marked character
was the reverse. The Divine mission which nc be-
heyed to have been assigned to him was in the hiSn
cation Free development Of the human NINA s waS
inc iieai U loi MILO tTVIv man any other
human being lac has earned the title OF the Great Edu
Gator Of the Human Race the father OF modern
civilization as truly of ancient philosophy, for his
method and the only one that can develop tue u-
man mind The speaker lastly compared tho conception
OF Socrates with his actual method pursued III fulfilling
it, finding therein the same correspondence as IN inc
case of Jesus He related the incident OF Jesuss reCep
ZION OF the poor woman who poured box OF costly
spkenard upon his head and the parallel story OF the
friend OF Socrates who brought him nue. woven tuhlc
and mantle praying him To put It on that his body might
be hy arrayed after death and Socrates refused IT,
The anecdotes illustrated the very Striking dIeFehee IN
characters. With the egotsm nseparaDe from inc
Messanc consciousness, Jesus accepts without par
tcle Of hesitation the costly Offering OF the woman as his
rigtful due, and promises the woman the reward OF
everlasting IL is important that the body Of
the Christ be richly auOnted for his burial than that hu-
man tears be dried and human hearts be bound up
The more beautiful the womans impulse, the moro
beautiful would it have been in Jesus 10
have tenderly restrained it aud refused homage
which human being should never pay 10 another.
We turn with relief to the mauer Socrates, gently
rcpcng and equally loving but equally foolish, tribute,
aud preserving tho dignity of his sefrespect with
ont wOunding the heart OF his friend In the supreme
virtue of for universal spiritual freedom and
respect for humanity, tho speaker counted Socrates
superior TO Jesus, and Free Religion superior TO
Christianity. Yet he would accord To each superiority
m his own sphere. Each occupies partial standpoint,
and the future must combine them both. The true
culture OF humanity must be integral inclusive both Of
Socrates and Jesus the Intellectual and the spiritual
sr,ates stands for the larger liberty, Jesus for the
larger love and these must yet be joined forever IN one
lLls c.n be done by Free Religion alone.