New-York tribune., 1871-06-22
THE BIRTH OF FREE RELIGION
BOSTON RADICAL CLUB-DR. BARTOL ON THE
GENESIS OF FRADICALIsM-CONyERsA BY
A. b. ALCoTr, JOHN WEISS, COL. HIGGlNs0N,

BOSTON, June 2U.-ln he bnOWeIsi "Hioh pi'hS
out the grass and bring the blossoms, seem to have
opposite effect the Radicals; for the SMALLEST
audience at a Radical Club assembled yester
day at Dr. Bartos though they knew before hand that
they to listen TO the discussion of that subject most
interesting TO human vanity. their own geneaogy'
Doubtless they liked better 10 :" sit and hear the
Summer rain intone." as Robert Buchanan said,
musically, before praise and port had dsordered
his wits. Tho audience. though small, was
composed OF bright particular stars A. Bronson
Alcott there, with the noble sivercrowned brow OF
an old philosopher; Dr. Hedge, with strong massive
head and brain keen to take note OF the weak points in
any argument; John Weiss with the strange black eyes
that challenge you before trusting ycu; and Col Hg-
gnson martial Of mein but kindly of heart; also, Mrs
Howe escorted by handsome and gallant cousin, who
OF course came from NewYOrk; and score or two
beside Of lesser lights To this audience ut though few,
DR.. Bartol spoke eloquenty THE Genesis OF Radi
casn." The origin Of most things Is obscure. Jesus,
Paul, Parker. Strauss Abraham, Lot-who the first
RADICAL But the real originator will always resign
in favor OF the spirit. 81 do not like tho word Radical"
thousand persons say. Wel who Is responsible for iii
Which side called it frsl 1t ar-born, cloudborn
this thunderbOlt. As the tOrtoseshe Is frightened
by long polishing condemned names lose their odum
by long use. Wing, Democrat, AbolitiOnis Radical.
each under the knife of criticism and after long hand
ling reveals its preciOusness. have things to say yo
cannot bear said Jesus land men have drawn from hs
true time to tell thought Is when you have itgye it to
the world when God gives 1t TO you. When six years
ago, churches summoned to send TO the first
Unitarian Convention In New-YOrk delegates author
lied to represent their convictions, and
pledged to pay great respect to the decisions
Of that body thus putting personal and congregational
freedom under threat certain Of protested against
the insincerty of conounding diverse opinions, and
labelling them solemny with one name. At this epoch
distinct radical movement began. History has already
vindcated the protest of Methodist Puritan Congre-
gationalst but step to the Radical protest
against Unitarian dOgmatism, and we are among the
breakers Put about shipw is tho cry. When our
guides made the mistake of fixing verbal bases OF Chris
an belief and thus the harmony they would have
bound at touch as light as that by which the touch
menot bursts 60 persons chiefly ministers, met for
consultation in these That first meeting in favor OF
fair play was followed by Others and became the parent OF
two organizations since known TO the public throughout
the country the Radical Club and the Free Religious
Association Some of had hand in their formation,
and others who with to-day aided it; but at
this epoch they To these hints to the motives
and circumstances protest let add decara
tion TO what the Radical protests against First.
against any final wording. The prevailing theory even
OF Liberal Christians is that have in the Bible tho
perfect expression of the mind of God In the Old
Testament, supplemented with the New. is writ and
bound up all has to say Shall only declare with
Robertson that light is TO break out OF
Gods Word, and not add that there is to
he more wordl Is not God inspiration still : Shall
we insult Him by thinking that he has grown dumb,
come under bonds delivered the whole Of His infinite
wisdom in the few sentences account holy printed
on the ancient pagcl Does not the sailing hold
chart and quadrant ready to give directions at every
point OF latitude and longtudei 90 the navigator Of
humanity has fresh orders for US at each degree OF
the voyage Secondly: The Radical protests against any
individual authority for truth is its own authority and
Gods note is good without any indOrser Jesus Is not
authority for IL. but is authority for Him. Because
He was impersOnaton to sound louder and clearer
than ever before, He became transcendantly the
Teacher; but as well say that the atmosphere can
make music through but one wind instrument az
that the Spirit, to which all breezes that DlOW
are but flaws, make melody only in single human
breast II i'm the splendid of the old masters we
read aught that does not chime with the string Gods
finger touches in the harp He has tuned in our own
breasts must call 1t disc0rd now sweet soever as 1t
may have sounded once Doctrine OF corrupt brth ar
bitrary choice OF the saved hopeless woeI do not find
It within the sacred lids; but would reject quickly II
did. if It the last crude novelty of this rash
speaking day. Lastly, the Radical Protest is against
any contradiction of science by socaed religion If
discovery the constitution Of nature contrary to
what passes for religion the religion must give way.
Once Calico the only to say the earth moved
round the sun, and the whole Church against him.
Now he has a unanimous vote. Did it to
day.
Radicalism negatives but to clear the way to affirm;
vetOes less than It signs. IL is an architect tearing
only to build My friend The Spirit is born
Christianity" answer, Christianity IL born OF the
Spirit" He says, "Christianty covers the whole
ground" stand in the Christian lines, gladly the low
est private in those ranks but looking out from the
grand army to whence and WHITTIER its march, own
its origin and object greater than ITSELF Thero are
larger words even than Christian. Life Is larger. The
Divine Humanity larger. Spiritual comprehension is
the first article in the Radical creed Tho second is the
forward march OF character Respect the past we are
told Yes but let us respect the present too Do not
lie down the past bed or repose in ancestral
achievement as in an easychair In time to como the
Church composed ess Of ritual and more OF life
1t will become Christian society Conversation VIII take
the place of that gaOp of words called eloquence But
the Church will suryiyethe worlds benefactOr parent
OF future Improvement Of past But for her tnG re-
former who reproyes her baekWardness "oud not ha'c
been. -.
eusslon, because for the greater part me we
together In unity. Mr. Alc0tt subtle, masculine -phSnN'
put the inquiry how Old we dnre heW w Of o nat in
communicable age called unceTtan; and he Weh on 10
fed years how know we that we are lnlmOralI II our oni
beginning here within the last three score years ana
this IL not our origin and ce older than bodies.
Mrs Howe had been most struck IN the essay 10y It's con,
sghing "There is room for you in our niue closet
says sect after another to the ousiders Bnt ON, one
in the great house OF God outside where are many a
sions and God himself is in every room. -
Mr. Weiss thought the essay expressed the real primer
ples of the Radical movement but ne wOud ike 70 er
H. genesis vet further back and suggest our obligation
to-that transcendental tendency which eummated 80
beautifully In Mr. Emerson. Transcendenallsln had
bcen horne Of old NcwE gland In many goody snip
the Kant the Thomas Carlyle, and many anOtner-
which had sailed grandy up Boston Bay, anu pu, IN az
Long Wharf It's essence was the luea OF communion
with the Divine Person. without ad or ntervehton Gi
mediator This transcendentai concepon hfeu onS an
the Unitarian Church, though 1t did not leaVeh the
whole lump. .--. A.. ..o o,oao aud ~,
elusive association of the genesis Of the Radical move
ment with JJntariAnism. He spoke OF the magnificent
I'm favor OF free thought OF the Quakes ns OF
the prORressiNe FrlennS.