The New York herald., 1870-06-06
THE PROGRESSIVE sP,RITUALIsTs.

Large Audience and Eloquent DISCOURSE
Free Will Versus Destiay-lIrs. Nellie J. Il.
Brigham ON Deck.
Mrs. Nellie J. T. Brigham occupied the roslrum at
the morning service Of the Society OF Progressive
Spirituailsts at Apollo Hall on yesterday. large
and respectable audience attended, Dut the usual
array Of curiosity seekers and nondescrpts who
thirst for the coming OF the spirit were on hand.
The latter may properly be placed in the category
Of those whom the ''Boy Preacher'' disposes Of in
the following facetious style:-"They are
THE CRUISERS AND BLIsTERs OF RELIGION,
their breath never cured an i'll. Religious lunacy
and rabid fanaticism have imprinted an lndelible
brand on their brow, but God pity even those"
Mrs. Bingham conducted the exercises with grace
and power. she was plainly but neatly dressed.
and her expression breathed devotion and gentle
ness. She is an orator OF nature. When speaking
every muscle in her face moves, but even when
using the strongest denuncaLory language an air OF
calmness possesses her. When at rest gloom creeps
over her countenance, ner hands twilch and her
eyes roll and she sinks into revery, as though pos
sessed by some supernatural power. Her presence
inspires respect ana
SHE IS A GIANT
when allied with the spirit Elm his march on the
worldly minded. Mrs. Brigham opened the exer-
cises with a solemn invocation to Heaven, inter-
spersea WIN H. poetlc imagery, age Se prayed ior tne
herself The fine quartet OF the society then gave q
hymn, with harm0nium accompaniment, commeRc-
Ing with the lines:-
When we think not they are near
Are to angels welded here.
Mrs Brigham selected for her discourse the diffl.
cult question OF Destiny. She dipped into the sub
theories In vogue with mucn skill, without adyanc-
ing positive theory Of her Own She said, there is
Goa who rules and ordains all things. Some are
sent to nell, while some receive complimentary
ticket TO the realms OF peace. II the doctrine or
predestnaton be true, then the Bible Is in vain, all
the acts and schemes OF men are In vain, and man
has no absolute duty 10 perform. The theory OF the
Church is that God Is inspiring man and assisting
ana guiding him to his heavenly home, while the
devil Is arrayed against Him, seeking to compass
ruin. This theory necessarily brings up the question
OF the power OF God. Ii nine-tenths OF mankind walk
in the road to death where Is GOODS omnipotence?
There Is contradiction Ia tins which the churches
have not answered or explained. The chlldren OF
Satan, who sent all evil but their theory was ridcu-
lous ON lis face as It acknowledged the continued
existence OF two almighty rivals. The belief tnar
GOD IS NATURE
carries with 1t more force than any other theory ad
vanced. He is infinte so is nature there Is no
vacuum in creation. God Is in every part OF the
material world in the running stream in tile blazing
comet. on the hillside and In the valley, and the
questions OF destiny and free will can only be solved
from the belief each has formed of the character
of:the Divinity. Different views OF the same landscape
noso derent IT S simply w. question Of
certain events the result OF tendencies which we
cannot control and we are led TO believe that there
is Divinity that shape our ends rough hew them
as we may.
But let us look forward, and this is the proper
course, ana we become convinced that we are free,
responsible beings, with passions and dispositions
which we have the power to repress or develop.
The doctrine OF predestnation Is begotten Of indo
lence, and however pleasing it may be in theory it
should be discarded in practice. man should work
and shape his own course, and not noat down the
waters like
DEAD FISH.
Meet misfortune with determination. Opposition Is
the music that cheers life, the rocks make music
In the stream. The sweetest feeling that humanity
knows is that OF the t0iler who sits down to rest
alter his combats with difficulty and danger. For
the sake OF all that Is dear earth let throw des
tiny into the past and take up the WORK OF ilfe
that no fancy theory can excuse a
wrong action.