New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-23

The peculiar title OF this volume, which Will nat
urally awaken the curiosity Of the reader Indicates
that in the opinion Of the authOr many forms OF III
fidelity contain certain fraction or segment ~
truth. 20 which justice has rarely been done IN
polonic discussions. IL is his purpose To treat oi
popular infdelty in its relation to the Christian
system, but he undertakes the work in no partisan
controversial spirit This is perfectly in accord
with his widespread reputation as dlvme oil
OrthoGoX opinions aud liberal sentiments. Although
the pastor of one of the Oldest churches IN BOSTON,
which has always been considered bulwark against
hcrcsy in religion and radcalism in politics he has
taken q prominent stand in favor of social move
ncut and progress The present work is an ilustra-
ton of the breadth of his views and the capdOr of
his judgments. He believes that the human intel
lect has natural craving for truth, and that ac-
coplingly no body of doctrines which has been put
forth by earnest thinkers is mdiuted error Hence
he makes it business 10 point out the merits OF
writers who often exhibit n calm spirit of inquiry,
which their c..tcs might do well 10 initiate, but
whose tcncts on the whole he feels himself bound TO
condemn.
The criterion OF nfdclity. rs the term is used by
DR. Manning is the rejection of the ultimate and
supreme authority of Christ on all questions OF
religious faith He employs the word in no inyldi-
ons sense but gives il what he considers far ana
honorable application. II might he objected TO inns
definition Of nfdcty that It excludes from the titIe
Of Christians those who hold the substance OF the
Christian faith although they have received it from
internal conviction OF It's truth and not from eNer-
nal authority. even that of its founder. man. for
example might properly enough be called Carte
Eian or NewtOnian who accepted the philosophy of
Descartes or Newton, although he made his own
demonstration of its principles without reference TO
the methods of the respective masters. But we Will
not let this point detan from the interesting cX-
positions of the author
The iufdety of the present ace, according to Dr.
Manning nav bc reduced to two main branches
namely. PautheiSm, represented by Spinoza, and
Podtyism as represented by Comtc. In discussing
the former subject TO which the present volume is
confined. DIR. Manning shows freedom from
VULGAR proudiCeS and catholic appreciation OF
beauty and nObleuesS Of character in his description
IF the personal qualities of Spnoza. In this respect
he fully adopts the cui0gstic account of of his
most ardent admirers Mr. c. II. Lewos who exhibits
such attractive portmiture of the great thinker
in his History Of Philosophy" Spinoza, repre-
scntcd 10y DR.. Manning, was man of deeply tender
and susceptible nature. No one ever felt more keeny
and profoundly all those interests which most stir
the human heart He had genuine kuightly sense of
honor. which was manifcStedm the romantic episode
Uf ms youthful love. Early disappointed in the
sphere of affection. he devoted himself with absolute
conservation To the pursuit. of truth. His unscltSh
ness IN common things wonderful His self pos
scsSiou and bravery were gifts OF nature On one
occasion when the house in which he lodged was
attacked by mob who suspected him of some
secret sympathy with the enemy. he went ont To
meet them, instead of attempting 10 make his
escape Ovcrawcd 10y his calm and fearless
dcmc3uor. they stole away from him. afraid TO
touch a hair Of ms head. He scorncd the least
sppr@lch to deception or unfair dealing. He would
not even make converts TO his own views at tho |
expense Of the orthodox party. Nor was hc less |
independent than maguanimOus lie would not put |
himself IN the way OF temptation, which might lead
him 10 change his views, or become the tool of |
another He would make CONCESSIONS to
power for the sake Of patronage, although his pow
rIty was extreme. One day he would have no food
but dish 81 soup costing three half pence and pot
Of beer, worth three farthngs. Another day he
would be- content with a basin Of grucl, with some
bnttcr and raisius which cost him two pence half
penny. lie rarely accepted invitations to dinner,
trefcrrinp hs own scauty fare to dining umptuOusly
81 the czprnec 81 another. H. wa never heard to
mnruur ~ complain silent thoughtful. smiling,
f,cf patient aud ever tolnp. be lived ou ~ his
solitary chamber.
with rrraId ~ tic pos.'iou ~ rpInp/a ~ ph.lo.
sorl. ,al thinker. Ui Staining tDorIlH fhat to him
belor1, he hopoi ~ fajtt 'ir pflr'plr 81 former
iupr,ssioue alG f'r.'n'ss. a,d GlltR lofrycr the
ilws atd .imiit - rtr'br stn'rlaiinn. H"tu/ed
tie ,sa.n,, NJ tho ~r.Ig r1 ttasip I,s influence"
~ tIc bI.irrs = tnrH,.s. i..IkJrV way b. rom.
paf'd fp ihr rfrat I.r5 ni,'h h'Wa through ih"
rnnttaI .ail,. ~ fit .UlitJ tfafrs. HE mud @as
tie point f.. rp 30 utt'odd'n Wild. vb'fr m"fious
trdef,,.a fsi' fret na,b',od iulo snvl' f"ruiaiu
head o. sos tbr r. n biz p'u.u. ilat gave unity.
direction. 1rd momentum 10 the stream.
Gmpur lh' modern repre- sentative of the iauthc
81. g.. ....,, ala. LIN.
Gnil,lt nuI imri.op. concerning 'lcb 81 which en-.
ir,ut vpt'is &c. oIptn taurif Of oIlti'al wpRcs-
tiona nut have tb' mont # iroahu'p and point.
nthuu,h thcy pssuinc MOI" o. Ilicit position for
ttc ,.,four named thuu thcy hnV" ever claimed for
th,msrl,,a on authoii7od PCS their dc,lntatioua Mt
Cml,io be- ,uusidcrs no tho advocate of the worship
nf rt,li men. DC hoidf place rccoud Ia bat few
IN the Tuplish literature of The last generation. IN
optic ol tho ouiciy 'aoainH his ptlc he has
Thorough know ledge of tho mott,r tongue, aud
whites when hc ch,orcs To- do 80. win classic Gle.
pancc aud power ot cNriofhon. which our best an
tl,ors tpllNt Wen coNot His ,oiunpc of words
md plruec. often reveals ,iurulAr Gucss
aud Vitality. His education had been planned
with view io the uiusttv m the Scottish
clur,h. lut p, I,ruil,d ttolp the ualIuw duties of
that cti,c vb,u he had ou,c drunk at the slcam uf
TIVE tlcurjt that had hodlN hu,et torth on the con
tincut Re t,lt ths, hc had found the door to anew
would III, uud cemC INTO contact with thC Fan.
tbcsn ~ the daN. anil as hcuc,fctth nrcdWith
It, s,,nL Philosophy, hovc,cr VIA not his p,c,.
inee a. d.,s NOT ar,,al that be had ANY immediate
know ledge 81 Sriuo. SIN ot ot ITS cNpo>torS VA Cor
mauv Hc rather imbihcl its essence. as q WIS NJ
tered tl,cryh he works Of more popular class ot
authors Rat though not champion nor c>cua
tcachcr ~ rauthcsm. We may always detect IN his