The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03
LYRIC HALL.

Traditional and RationaI RELIGION Con.
trasted-Dfscourso by Rev. William n.
Algcr, OF Boston.
There was the usual crowded and intelligent
|assemblage at the services yesterday morning ut
Lyric Hall, opposite Reservoir square, on Sixth
avenue. Rev. William r. Alger, OF Boston, occu-
pied the pulpit. He took no text. as is the fire.
quent custom OF Mr.. Frothingham the regular
pastor, and his discourse was likewise marked by
the same striking characteristics noridity OF
utterance, antithetical epgrams and occasional
Undesirable mystery ofprofundity. The theme OF
his discourse, as he announced 1t, was "the
|superiority OF religion built out OF the conscen-
tous experience Of Its discipesn This superiority
was the superiority OF q face over q mask. The
experience OF orthodoxy was like the waters Of a
tank, while that OF rational religion was like drink
ing from pure, limpid stream. Religion was the
reaction Of the soul on
THE UNKNOWN, THE INEVITABLE AND THE INTERNAL.
The truths Of the universe rest on unknown
grounds, unknown beginnings, unknown ends. A
traditional religion contrasts with rational religion
as q myth contrasts with clear scientific dictum.
Eccesiastic and theological religion largely trans
mits In an development Of fiction. It Ia religious
truth that God created man. The Hebrew account
of creation by God is that GOD came personally from
somewhere and made man out OF clay. The obscu-
|rity Of the myth obscures the myth. God does not
now really appear on the earth and with indirect
hand manipulate creatures into existence. God
created men by q process Of law. The Hebrew
count is sheer arbitrary picture OF fancy. The
they are and leaves God stin at work In his great
laborat0r and does not dismiss God from the scene
David Jesus hlmself did not Worship God because
1t was the established custom and because they
were told they would be shut up in Q
PERPETUAL PRISON OF FIRE
unless they did. They wOrshipped God In the full
ness oftheir SOULS worshipped him in the silent
Z deep shadows Of mountains. Certainly the reading
Of prayer books thousand times, the crying aloud
God be mersS to u.s. miserable rae SWING
. form, religion only OF hypocrisy The devout
nationalist knows that religion Is the
REACTION OF AN ATrUNED SOUL
view is full OF sublimty After describing Mt length
|; ancient Hebrews and as based on science he went
q on to say that the average attendants at fash
churches dare not was Their
q creed will come tumbling about them in an
N OVERWHELMING INTELLECTUAL sLosH.
4 that do them no good, although they Imagine it
u does. Ena ging on this point he uniolded the re-
yotares o. traditional and rational religion - The
n one believes In God as despot. II they obey their
God they win be rewarded e by place IN heayen
aperpetnal hell OF burning dre. Such view OF God is
familiar to all from childhood. Many OF them, hap
y Oily, nau OuCgrOWN TdllOudlSLS DeieVe Ill u
q God of love, in God who Is Father or all He saw
HOW INCARNATE IS EVERY MAN
y In proportion to the goodness and truth and sin
cerlty OF that view. He saw Divine Inspiration in
all wel-written literature equally with the words
contained within the lids Of the Bible. Mans con-
" science was the oracle OF God When they are pro-
pery cultivated In mind and heart they will respond
harmoniously to all the ranges Of good. Our acul
hope OF the millennium, the promise of the Eden in
the far future when all the worll will he cOverted
y with happy family who will enjoy everything in
ira unl, onyl
turtles, dragging its garments dripping with blood,
Il before this millennium comes; but come 1t Will.