New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


religion the light of modern literature and philosophy
II makes no preensions the character Of profouno
and systematic treatise in which the doctrines vi INV
ec are discussed according TO the methods OF scehcei
but it consists rather OF series Of suggestions III
snce TO the ideas Of certain prominent writer's VI l
DAY whose opinions have affected the general
thought less by the originality OF tneii r,
than the novelty of their conclusions Tue a'O 49,
nothing that is positively new 10 'no uiSo
Christian evidences; his materials I'D i"o' "io " Nv
less ancient date than the fathers OF INC onu'" Uu
fresh turn OF the Kaleidoscope in MS hahus arrays '"e"
a. aiaorapt shane and gives a brilliant colorng 10 inc
unusual combination Of old forms one OF the earnest
,npressiops made by the volume on the nina Oh INC
reader is its catholic recognition OF the manhOd aspecIs
a, ,ruth even when presented by names with which the
writer cannot he supposed TO cherish wide sympathy
or cordial communion Thus, in the very first chap'er
we are told that Schleermacher and after him Theodore
Parker were not from the truth In basng the primary
essential principles OF religion on the feeling OF depehu
ence Unlike Professor Tayer Lewis and other despair
ing philosophers who nothing in the most conspicu
GUS scientific movements OF the present age put 'he
disbursement of the GOdhead from the kingdoms Oh
Nature Dr. Townsend maintains that modern science and
philosophy have tendency 10 atheism. "Ihe 1ou-
idea is SO overwhelming that 1t pervades the PosuviS
School, including all its phases from Comte TO Remain
AS soon as the mind rejects the popular idea OF
God II proceeds az TO manufacture another INC
Grand Ere OF Comte and Unknowabe ofspencer are
but names that at bottom signify God. Neither Oar
win nor Huxley professed atheist but II the contrary
were case the suggestions OF Deity involved IN DC
yelopment" and Lifestuf" are inevitable In fact In
the opinion OF author every human soul to certain
degree is a6ame with God" Men have not been able
20 escape the broodings of the Oversou Every form
of poytheism panheism theism shows That Goa mas
stamped his ndelibe signature upon all human hearts'-
3d. too the author finds the instinct OF InedauoD EN-
bodied in every form of religion and philosophy Low
can the Supreme Being reveal himself is problem Tor
Elclt0
diaorial scbemers have sought solution 1t was per-
fectly natural, according TO Dr. TOWNSEND, Ihat 'nc
ancient Egyptians should seek an object OF reVereht
worship in the bull the cat and the alligator crocodeD
black cat. stealing by Us in twilight" says Hegei
brings minds an impression as OF something
preternatura" The shepherds of Arcadia. regarding
Pan as the representative god listened TO brook breeze
and tree hear him pipe his reed There must he some
thing mediate between humanity and the Universal
Heart Modern skepteal thought ia included in the
saIne category and has by no outgrOwn the
principle. The Eternal Repose must in some way be-
come active and visible force. Goldman in humanity
demands recognition To retain this sentiment, not
few have sought the divine manifestation in the feminine
element OF human nature. Comte accepted woman Us
the supreme genius OF the coming age. Iheodore
ParkerireiectsIthe Godman hut seeks mediator in an
Imaginary divine woman. Z" May the Infinite Mother"
he prays. "spread wide her arms to fold us TO the
universal heart" The Catholics, in worshipng the
"Divne Mary" and the Shakers in adorng " Mother
embody the ideal mediator of Comte and Parker The
Desire OF all Nations" by presenting IDEAL has de-
velOped all that sublime and glorious in the race or
man. Carlyle in his Hero Worship" has touched |
reverently upon the bounds of immortal religious truths
Mr. Emerson shows that he lives by faith in his per
petua undertone of sOrrOwfu and unappeasabe doubt
the product not OF an ncurabe skeptcsm which sports
with themes Of grandest import, but Of earnest and
even agoniziDg inquiry.-The final conclusion OF the
author that all primary religious ideas are the irt OF
original intuition. Souls see what eyes seek In Van
1t the essence modern philosophy that the rational
methods of divine and human intellect are one and
the same We are not remote from God. The pulses
of his heart are felt in every throb-Deat OF human
heart and being"-In the remainder OF the volume,
the author devOes himself to the illustration OF the
GOSPEL history showing that the universal yearnngs OF
the human find their ideal object and actual full
nlment in the revelation and person of Christ An in
terestine portion OF his argument this subec-and
In perfect accordance with the general plan OF the work
consists in the testimonials to the character Of Christ
that have been furnished by the opponents of modern
evangelical Leasing for instance, speaks of Christ
as the great teacher who snached the worn-out horn
book from the hands the child and for the first time
taught with authority the Immortality OF the SOUL
Bchelng describes the advent OF Christ as the turn
ing point of the worlds history Richter calls Jesus
the purest OF the mighty, the mghtiest OF the pure.
who with his pierced hands raised empires from their
foundations turned the stream Of history from its old
channels and still continues to rule and guide the ages"
Even Renan says Jesus is unique in everything and
nothing compare withhim man OF colossal dimen-
fons the adorable One to whom the universal conscience
has decreed title of the Son Of Cod Carlyle con-
fesses that the life of Jesus is perfect ideal poem"
The tidngs of the important event transacted
IN this world the Lfeand Death Of the Divine Man in
Judea at the symptom and Of immeasurable
changes TO all people in the world He walked in Judea
eighteen hundred years. shis sphere melody flowing
In wild native tones took captive the ravished souls OF
nd heir NJ a truth there
sounds though with thousandfold Accomplishments
and symphonies through all hearts, and modu
lates and dvinely leads them."The perpetual quota
ton Of striking passages from celebrated writers gives
the work something Of the character of piece Of gay
coored and spanged patchwork instead Of the simple
expression the authors convictions. It perhaps
however adds 70 the popular effect othe work, whchis
evidently intended appeal to the feelings rather
than an argument to the intellect DR.. Townsend sets
forth thoughts with certain persuasive Junction. but
with little show OF logical sequence His book contains
much eloquent defamation but does not reflect much
fresh light the momentous themes with which it |
grapples 1t insnuates what the author deems to be
truth with gentle suavty Of manner, but fails TO sus
tain II with demonstration OF the Spirit and with
power" The kindness Of its tone. and the naive
charity Of its appreciation must however recommend 1t
TO catholic tastes spite of It's frequent approaches TO
rhapsody and its amiable feebeness of argument
FTRR INSURANCE CASES BDxusp H. BENNETT. Vol evo
Up, sO% Hard HoaghtOn.
In preparing this work, the editor has aimed |
70 present complete collection Of the reported cases
upon fire insurance land, embracing the English, |
Scotch Irsh and American repors together with those
British Provinces arranged In chronological order
The volume issued period of more than |
century, from 1879 1882 Considerable space is de-
voted relating iusolvent companies and
the powers duties OF receivers topic OF peculiar