New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-27
THREE ENGLISH VISITORS.
1pcrupp ny ogRa,.D MASSEY.
rHE DEVIL IN DIFFERENT AGEs AND c0UNrRfE
TIE LIGHT or gpTRTTUAfl.SM,

hundred -twenty Oh hthst near FoTrfkaye, isst
evening His subject was, Why God docs not Knl the
Devil" and history Of the orthodox deyn 10 dfr-
ent ages and with different Having proved thu
devil 10 be myth he proceeded 10 show that the only
evil spirit created by themselves, aud
that spiruslsm throws ths most lzht upon that sub
iect Mr. Massey clear. rapid speaker, with good
command OF language aud Aow Of thoughts.
In tho opening portion Of the lecture, be stated hat
the human mind had been dwarfed by the shadow Of
ideas, the real meaning or which bad been lost
great deal Of that which had been forced upon
Gods revelation mass of Inverted myths, ana We
have nothing stulfying ~ taking these things
from people uninspred aud bigoted as the Jews
According to the Jews the Almighty walked and talked
with man and told him Of the devil or he'll unless
1t be- admitted, as claim tina. He was tho deyil
himself disguise. The devil Is not the natural produe-
ton OF unperyerted but Of theology In tracing
those myths have TO through great deal OF I'M
purity As got the fountain head the stream runs
sparkling with purity but further on II has
gathered mad like a river Tho myths devil included.
personhoatoDs Of natural phenomena pertaining to
man him Off. Religion began with nature with tho
Egyptians the male element first the higher Aooher
age changed that and tho female element Wa, the hg1
or The lecturer here spoke Of the ancient religon,
and deities, chasing them msio female.
speaking particularly Of tho Egyptians, Assy rians.
Ph@nicians and Hebrews. In manner which wa,
rather confusing He seemed TO foreseen this
suit, said that he had created confusion
the Old Testament regarding the Creator Tao R)mlsa
Church built upon the female element tho mother
hood the Protestant tho male. tho fatherbO0d This
serpent at first not recognized symbol Of evil.
| but bonefCent. later theology Of the feminine
persuasion denounced him as evil
The devil acquired his name from the Egyptians, and
has his worshpers The old French represented good
devil The good devil was lost because theolOests have
always done their worst to Witty preceding religions
Here elsewhere certain natural facts we're first SYM
bOs Of goodness and afterward changed into things Of
horror. and gave blrta hell Ia tho book Or job.
which held be Arabian work. Satan is Of tho
| sons Of God. aud goes forth 10 DO tho temptor OF
MAJ. As go further. I'D
a satanical influence lying behind tho serpent.
This poor and wrotched devil OF Christian The
ology Imagine spiritual Being who would seem 20 be
created by God expressly to torment humanity Tho
Devs OF most ancient tradition in whioh Nature In
her darkest moods persOnihed and portrayed.
pretty much Played out until It revived by the tho
oogy Of Luther Calvin The devil OF the Middle Ages
poor enou Oh indeed, and has become groesque Image.
the poor ignorant peasant cunning enough TO
outwIt him. Jack always triumphed over tho Giant
then and indeed both Devil and Giant had origin
Our forefathers the Eorsemen had very lto respect
for the Devil and thought o; He'll the next best plaza
10 Heaven. The EOrsemen knew nought " a Hell Of
Everlasting Fire. II they had heard OF IT, IL might have
proved the attractive place OF the two. gooi
man once went out among them to enforce thaS
theory but found himself in tho wrong latitude.
When he had pictured tho burning lake and the fire and
terror Of the place. no looked about him and Wa
the Instead Of seeing tears OF anguish
and expressions OF dsmsy, he discovered they vera
blubberngi quite different fashion. for their faces
had frightened into full moons OF happiness and they
sat rubbing their hands spiritually warming them
selves the fire which warranted never TO 30 out
I.aughterJ For the picture delightful change
from tho life they led in their neenent cmate, rbey
ready had willing to go TO such place AZ once.
1t remained for Luther. Calvin, and Milton, N
citste the devil, and this they did with vengeance.
Perhaps they oyerdd It, for they certainly doubled tho
devil by putting in hell and the other In heaven.
The effect OF their doctrines might be understood pretty
clearly from the dialogue between acoioed preacher ana
his aock! Remember" said he, impressyey. dere arc
two roads only open you. leads to destruction
| and de odier straight to perdhon" 4" Hold on. Brad
der" cried Of his hearers, Do dey boe load dat
wayi" Yes" the solemn response. Den," said
the frightened man. under d. sc perpexing and dim
cult dis niger makes tracks for de
woods" Laughterl IL Is not the religion Of the world
1t Is the Old lay figure Of theology swedenbOrg and
others. who have been. believe. as familiar with
spiritual life with that OF earth. the dey
IN way The devil there is one that does not need
TO be Killed. but only needs ripping up IN Order 20 SEQ
the sawdus can imagine people who are not at all
Of their souls who would feel the world TO Dc rather
hollow affair II there devil IN It, The truth Is
is necessary for humanity as for bghted aud bar
rem rntrees to get certain roen TOOLS ., inns ds
based by false interpreters that u has almost Decomo
|
der 20 appreciate che beauty and significance Of the s
OF Christ We have talked of the devil long enough
ing the hereafter than any abstract idea OF
Hell and the 6 6sy eaq b ooT mos, Tine ,.r TeI'
activity asd playing me ls very dey %n an a
faith, and the devil has been DIGGING indeed its
not spiritual creature created for the purpose OF drag
gng down, but the devii to be realized IN hts IKE
mulaed gains of seshness The evil shadow Of self u
! the devil and wo have the basphemous impudenco To
cast the blame OF an existence OF devil Ike
| sponsibity for certain natural conditions which
inevitably result IN much that we call evil nor Will He
shirk His responsibility in that matter. We are apt %
look things at first sight as evil, which wo hnaly
ind to be blessings IN disguise. The moment we reeok
evil aud the consciousness OF It's existence tho re-
sponsiOity becomes Here is problem for US u
| solve by way of education Here Is Zoe TO
| fight 20 the death, no matter whether ~
| be individual or a nation. Here is something to
be turned into good Pain, mental or corporal Is essen
the perfeetng OF conditions 1t Is Gods reminder
that Is something wrong, therefore something TO
be remedied. The loest pleasures OF our spiritual e
continually flower from rootage In the deepest pain.
Pain Is passing necessity and "a the imperfect condi
tons pass away follows that the pain must pass
God there Is al awful deal Of suffering la this
world that cannot be considered mere individual
question suerings that We do not individually cause
aud individually responsible for suneTiuRs be-
oueathed 10 individuals and members OF the state.
We have bear the accumulated burdens OF eenturies
and centuries OF ignorance and crime aud Cod appearo
| TO be blind mans special He works
] immediate miracle for us when we suffer for
! the sius Of others. God has instituted certain
laws that deal with In spite OF our manifoh
diyerstes. Establish what private relationship YOU
can with your Maker derive what spiritual Succor YOU
may while bearing your burden the laws that deal with
humanity In the gross will grinding on with their
larger revolutions, and will subserye general interests
while crushing smaller claims Of IDdiyldual life For.
mark this. God intends to show you that humanity 70
one family moro than the individual member.
II IL ptiable for you 10 pray God for His Kingdom
| TO come earth when You are doing all you can to
prevent IT, You sent here 10 work for that pur-
nose and the cannot come is because you
stand in the way. merely standing and praying with
folded hands The orthodox arc responsible for helping
tha