Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-01-28
History Of the EswYOrk PO,ltivlst sOolsty.
Al Analysis of a POsRIvIst Primer.

Special Correspondence of the Appeal
NEW YORK, January "a, 1872.
This is day of new departures, and the
one which 1 am about to chronicle, while
mo the most startling, is such q curious
item Of news that I propose to give a brief
account of it. Every reader Of newsps-
pers in this country, and nearly every at
tendant upon popular lectures and Pro-
testsnt churches, has heard at some time
about Positivism and Positivists. Ex-
sctly what it is, and who they are, few
know and few care. When n learns
that the Positivtst doctrine Is contained
in twelve volumes, each as large as q
Bible, his heart sinks within him, and he
inwardly grosns that he, at least,
has no time to master it, ever if
his souls salvation depended upon 1t,
which he is sure It does not. The Posi-
twists of this city look upon the matter
in another light. If they are not sure
about having any soul to be saved they
are very positive" that society Is in q
state Of anarchy and deserves to be saved
whether IL win or not. This body Of men,
8 brief history Of which will be given be
low, have held very recently two meet
ings which have been so successful as TO
have inspired them with fond snticips-
ions of the immediate future. The INST
of these was a celebration st the residence
Of one Of its members of Christmas" IS q
human institution, of which your readers
have doubtless heard. At that meeting 1t
was proposed { celebrate, with all the
public eclGt possible, the birthday Of Au-
Ruste Comte, the founder of POsitivism
As It would not be agreeable TO the ma
Jority 70 assemble on the evening OF the
18th, the banquet was postponed until
Saturday evening, the 10Th, snd l have
very good reason for saying that this IN
ique meeting wss n OF n most PLEASANT
an airs which has evef been held IN this
city.
This banquet was given at the houss Of
g wealthy merchant Of this section at bis
cosy uptown residence. Alter the per-
SONS present-sbout one hundred OF both
sexeS-had discussed with evident relish
''Crust Of Oomte,9 which nRd been toasted
for the occasion, was passed around with
9 glass of water.
The persons in the dining hall then
pledged themselves, and h following
tOasts were proposed and responded toi
l. The temple Of humanity, built by her
includes al, is the home OF all
AIn my fathers house are many manslCna.
a The day we Oelebrats the birthday Of Au-
guEte Comte, tbs ineOmparable man, forlt Waa
be who first founded for US,
A faith resting upon the philosophy Of POSI-
tive sci. nee, |
Ahops restnGon the proved laws OF human
progress.
And, greater than AL, Above ever fed by hu-
man needs, and ever Rowing to supply them.
Corinthians, Kill
s. ClOtilde de N6ux-the eternal compan-
iAn rLNF IVTFTHaW-aW tho hTnn WENFn /
Through her was struck new chord IN the
heart by which all human love was raised
above passion, interest, or mere intellectual
platon1sm TO that pure moral and ennob1ng
and devotion by which one sex must
Iustain the other In the duty Of Life.
l. The new golden rule-"Livef for others'-
AMI The past Lives only as II lives In BY
md for the whole.
sin Guten Gauzen Wahrsn
ResoIut "a leben." (9oethe)
g. The new moral safegusrd-"Live in the
pen day" A thing that one is not willing
he whole world should know is wrong.
g. The Fam Ily-The foundation and nurse
II all human society. Our Free Lovers "
must be made to know that man is as reSpon-
iols fer bis passions as Ior MS actions and
nd method OF training both and al for social
instead OF selfish ends.
9. Our men of Wealth-the material provi-
lence OF our race. There IS no title to proper
y or power but It's sOclaluSe. To whom much
Ias been given much is required.
"Meat cometh nom the eater,
Sweetness frem the strong"
Judges xiv, N,
s. The Working Bees OF the Social Hive-the
Observation-Disclosures to include the mass OF
nanktnd-ths source Of wealth and the OBJ
TO whose welfare 1t should be chiefly de-
me day OF their rise to dignity, comfort and
onor approached The Crust Of Comte need
ct always be 8 memenbO OF their misery.
8. Woman-the queen and priestess OF the
ome-the spiritual and creative providence !
fmankind-the source ofloye and life. Only
Z" survival Off or \ "reversion Of savagery " {
Tould enable our men to see her driven by {
ant nom homes TO compete with them In r
Ibors which only men are fitted TO Peform. ;
10. Our Men of Special Science-ths exren- Z
OF their methods over the whole of hui |
knowledge Snd conduct is Posit1Vism,
neither they know 1t and intend 1t or not. [
ye hail their discoveries and rejoice In their
he early adveHt OF s true spiritual power Z
the normal organ Of public opinton-which Q
lide and inform our ives by the religion Of {
amanity, love and duty. I
II. The refOrmeE striving, however b1nuly, =
letter The state OF man, 20 remove poverty =
I'd Ignorance; we SympathiEe with their m Z
1lses and Intentions, but beg 10 ask, can hu- I
be elevated except by the religion of {
amantty, which can insure the cooperation
al hearts, heads and hands7 =
lS. To our brethren mt friends, the theo- !
gisns, CHRISTIANS, materlalistsI s~pirttuslistsl 7
.helsts, rationalistS, etc, still bound, as We L
ink, with the bonds or deniSls OF the old
divisional faiths. May they have patience q
tth n charity for us until they find hat =
bslien aTe fading INTO mythology and '
1etry, and that only q faith according 2
can further sustain human pro- 8
and hops. h
You will agree that this was a long bill b
get through with by twelve O'Clock, il
i'd that without wine and liquors Of any b
Ind to give 1t q AavorS still 1t vas done. q
he speak4hgsI have been assured, was q
sry spropos and of course well received @
eat some of your readers should be 81
norant, Ifmay remark tbst the 't0rust q
Comte" had the following origin. In q
b latter yezfs this remarkable thinker {,
I'd been In the habit Of partaktngl OF q q
ust Of bread Rndacup of cold water on q
Irtain occasions In order to remind him. Q,
III practically 81 the poor, who did nos Il
I'VE even that. It was certainly appro- Il
dsts 70 celebrate his birthday By speak. II
q to sentiments sftsr partsking Of his ii
yorfte tssacrkment," for such I believe i
|, called 1t The tfaithful whom I met v
were loud In their praises Of OF
Saturday nights entertainment, and s
sert that no sucn Oomtist mesting has ai
or been held in this city or country, and "
the birthday OF Oomte was never cell q
rated In such style. would not hs at Il
surprised II their present flushed feels pl
do nos lsad them to Lake 3 rnore ~