New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-15
THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK IN AMERICA

ADDRESS BY THE REV. O. B. FRoTHiNGHAs.
The Free Religious Association presents itself
for the first tune in NewYork but by means for the
first time In the cities America Six years Of existence
entitle II TO recognition Of the organizations that
exert an influence the religious condition OF the
country. BY frequent public conventions by numerous
printed reports essays addresses, 1t has eneavored
faithfully to make its purposes and spirit understood III
there any do not we trust that these
meetings will enhghten them. We trust that al who
attend will bear witness to our sincerity Of ooDyicioD
oar drectness OF ain Of perez ptoo.
generosity spirit 1t will be seen and Acknowledged
that we company OF speculative philosophers
debating matters OF immediate or practical concern
TO mankind or band Of dreamers amusing ourselves
with the plation OF certain inaccessible castles ia
Spain. or a clique of sentimentalists who .mistass
emotions for ideas and feelings for facts or small
army OF iconoeasts without faith themselves. who
bent destroying the faith OF their neighhorss
group OF goddess Materalists" disciples ~ VOltare'
Followers OF volney Pane" who, destitute ot
banished from society We hope to show thai we are
practical men, whose aim 10 70 effect resorm IN the
diligently received. We religious. not an ir
religious association We advance no false claims We
make no false pretenses VIC simply wish that oar ~orh
should Justify itself
By general admission the religious question rs stii
foremost IN modern society II IL debated IN toe highest
places; is the OF empires the gravsst Affairs
Of state hang upon It, II Is the question which at pres
France; troubles England; threatens perpetna disturb
aDce IN America, IL lie said. with entire run.
TO lie beneath the political controversies tnat sen tse
old world less tnan the pew the social questlohs
that are under de bate all involve IT, aud imply some
ture betrays consciousness OF even IN ts blebess
productons; philosophy cannot escape irom the consd.
Grafton Of It. More books written about SUI wan
are written about any other sinse subject WIN tss
multitudes Of people Religion yes the gfons toeine
of dixcufson, the sunec0 interest, the Rreae
practical concern of fe With the Few who are uainese
ard ted deeply Interesting IN the problems
It brings forward and the promises IL holds ou1 No
snbect therefore, ought 10 be more Interesting t0
shomrbtful people than subject propose speak
oa--fhe Religious Outlook IN America.
The regio1s OF the fuds expression
.evsrs srest Religions each Of which covers vast re-
goa OF The planet and protested by millions Of human
beings
esbaism, ChnmaDism, the lowest most literal nzr
ture worship IL professed by than. I000o00o
The religion OF Zoroaster aud Confucirs. 40000yooo
Brahmsnsm. tho original faith Of India. 100000
Bnddhism, The reformed faith. .IT0.UQC Up
monAmmenshism -..-... i......--...-.... SsunyoW
yuussn -..--... s-..-...-....- AcOeooD
Inc Gteok Church. ..-.................. e2,0oo010
The Roman Chufch. l39. 0000Qo
The scots OF Protest antsm. ............ so,mooOo
These numbers profess 20 be approximations msrelv.
They make pretension % exaCtness That Ia vnass
lainnbe, exeepi In small and seets hardly IN
tbese. But they exhibit the proportonate distributon
Of belief BY these ngures may he that by far
the larger part OF the human hss not enteress
within the lines OF Christianity, Christianity couns.
fewer sdherenis than Buddhism alone, ana eeeomes
almost iDsignheant when compared with an the rrss
together None of The primitive cults has Disappeared