New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-02

The Radical for April contains significant
article by the Rev. o. b. Rockingham on The Religion
OF Humanity" which cannot fail to attract the attention
of curious religious readers a lucid exposition OF tho
ideas which form the basis Of the socalcd radical or
free religious movement In making OF the phrase
! "Rellgion Of Humanity" Mr.. Frothngham disclams
any connection with tho philosophy OF Auguste
Comic. II the was OF Comics inventon'
the thing not His conception OF the
solidarity of man was announced several years IN ad-
vance him. This. and other kindred principles, were
elaborated by Conte, who produced mechanical ar
rangcment OF outward apparatus rather than develop
ment Of spiritual capacities. With Lin 1t was an aIuh-
cial, mechanical system. without vitality or soul
Comics Church OF Humanity modelled In every re-
spect on the Catholic plan, forming IN ambitions maui
solcum which was 10 take the place Of tue
Church OF Rome. 1t was the mechanism OF the
old faith without the soul OF the new, tho Roman
ritual without its theology ST. Peters without Christ
But the true Church OF Humanity il founded on certain
great ideas. which lie at the heart Of all religions These
Ideas not the property Of one faith, but the common
property OF all mankind They arc not tho discovery OF
Moses or of Each found them in existence, and
built upon them the system which bears his name
They give life to all religious speculation, and
warmth 10 all religious feeling. Among those
cardinal ideas, The conception or Goa hOds
| the supreme place. If this idea, for a brief pc
Rod has lost its hold thinking minds 1t has In
cvitably returned with fresh power. Definitions Of
God have vanished from formulas OF faith but the Being
has been steadily coming forward from the back ground
taking possession OF every department Of matter and OF
mind. But while the existence Of God Is affirmed as an
essential conviction OF the human SOUL II must be
affirmed with equal decision that He Is unsearchabe.
This IL less universal doctrine OF religion than the
other. The o'd Hebrew Bible is emphatic this point.
The prophet hides his face before the Lord.
Christian teachers have with ono voice pro-
claimed the doctrine OF hidden God
But the conception OF God simply Being il Of vast
moment to life OF mankind. First. mentally. The
thought that the upper spaces OF the world are flied
with mind Is immenso value. II the word God 4"
did nothing but make us look up and not down. 1t would
deserve place in the vocabulary OF mankind, for
would break the tyranny OF Organzaton and open the
eastern windows divine surprise" Next, the idea OF
God, especially OF hidden Cod Is Of inesmable value to
the spiritual nature which asprcs, worsps, and adores
1.-THE most uninteligiblo sayings about God are the
most impressive TO the religious mind: God Is spirit
In him live and and have our being; God is
circle whose center Is crywhere whose circlmies
| ence is nowhere; Il am alpha and omeaga Il am the
raudsire and preserver Of the world; am the holy one
worthy to be known; the comforter, tho witness,
the restingpace, the asylum, and the friend am gen
Grafton and dissolution the plaza where all things arc
deposited and the iDcxhaustible seed from which all
things spring Christian minister found one OF his
parishioners in time Of deep bereavement, comforting
her heart with the mystical phrases OF pantheistca
HYMN The vague words that Gcfed the understanding
had an unspeakable charm for the imagination: she did
not want 10 think; she did not want TO feel; she
wanted to be hushed and quoted, and the soft eecy
language folded her heart about with sweetest cOnso
ation" The thought OF tho hidden Cod moreover, Is
source Of inc xhaustibe inward strength Enough that
He is at the center, that He t. the circumference also
The that lie is there gives US perfect conf
dence in the world live In sense or absolute secu
y complete faith that nothing beflll amiss TO him
who obcys the benCnant rule OF the invisible and eternal
permanent and inmancnt Father Of the Universe"
| Mr. "A
examinations with regard to the position and influence Of
the Bible the religious faith OF Humanity, suggesting
many novel and impressive thoughts, which. though
they will doubtless fail Of meeting with general
acceptance will to rejection and stimulate
inquiry.