The New York herald., 1873-10-20

Views in Particular Upon Religion in
General by the Rev. O. b. Frothfng.
ham-Churches, Crceds, Ministers and
Prayers of No ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Christianity and Free Religionists
Contrasted.
very large congregation assembled at the SER
vices yesterday morning at Lyric Hall, on Sixth
avenue, opposite Reservoir square. The Rev. o.
B. rockingham preached, taking for the subject OF
his discourse the rather comprehensive one, "Re.
ngion.n He took no text, but commenced with
referring to the recent meeting OF the Evangelical
Alliance and the later meeting OF the Free Re.
ligionists. A gentleman, be said, remarked to him
at the close OF this last convention, Il am tired Of
religion; the very word nauseates me. / begin in
short, to think
RELIGION A EUIsANCE.-
To this gentleman religion in its modern accep-
tation means our modern costly churches that drain
money from the pockets q Dhe people. communion
that is no communion, baptism without the symbol
OF purity. And yet no one is more ardent in his
love OF the good and pure and true. This question
OF religion, and what 1t Is and should be- Is an in
teresting one. Religion has been defined as the
effort OF man to perfect himself This, he insisted,
carried with it the Idea OF unceasing and annoying
struggle, sort Of carrying out the idea embodied
in Longfellows "Excesior;v that is to say, get to
the top OF the mountain finally, and then lie down
and die. DR.. Johnson defined religion as "tbe at
traction OF the finite mind toward the infinite
mindu After showing the objection to this defini-
tion, he gave his own definition OF religion "the
seek to purify themselves By sacrifices, and in this
way hope to get wings so that they can fly above.
Some retire from the world. and very sweet and
pure lives they i've, but they get no idea oil the
THE USExPREssED GOD
scientific man may present to his mind the
whole cosmic universe. all bound by one law. He
may feel the relation OF himself to this whole. He
Is a religious man, no matter II he never utters
prayer nor enters church. But this Is a broad
comprehension. We must come down to simple
people and have whole that viii suit them. To
the positivist the race OF fhumanity1s whole. This
worships no God, makes no PRAYER, sacrifices.
He lives in his ideal is willing to live short and
poo, e Ra works 1sa at ns his ds craft raft
wasted. And yet the conception OF this
class demands imagination. We have not, there
want. A man knows nothing OF the infinite and
has no idea OF the religion OF humanity: but he
knows that he belongs TO particular nation. he
loves his country, and will be loyal to death. lie
win see his nome impoverished, suffer anything
for his patriotism. This Is his relgion-hIs God.
There Is something truly magnificent In this lofty
religion. Think OF the thousands OF young men
VINO ten years ago lett their homes and gave up
everything for their country. What matter what
were Their separate faiths Their love OF country
was grand, pare, religion. And, yet, we have not
THE GREAT COMMON WANT
suppose this whole Is thought OF as family.
How many love to talk over the exploits OF their
toreiather5 For the sake OF these ancestral deeds
OF renown they viii do nothing that shall bring a
STAN upon their family names. They WIN live noble
ana splendid lives This is their religion. But this
Is conception too large ior most people to hold.
we must be more compact and draw the lines
closer. Take the household. Here is one who
knows nothing OF the Infinite has no inea OF the
benglon ,d Of humanity gives no special thought
grandfather was But this one has his little nouse-
n0ld. here centre all mis- thoughts affections ef.
| forts. Such a one is
| DESERVING or sAfNTsHIP
AZ mucn as any on the calendar OF the Rornish
Church. IL " ali the world he has all he conceives
| Of al ne wants, and he Is a religious man Thus
IL viii be seen what simple thing religion is-the
relation OF part to its whole. 1t requires no
creed, no theology, no church, no PRAYERS I'm.
fortunately haen are not satisfied with re-
ngion. they must have religion. Each
nation and tribe must have ia religion
Each aims at the same result. They have separate
theologies and separate forms and senarate
priests, and yet all lock to the same end IL s ey
dent that they all come from the same origin There
are advantages and disadvantages In this substi-
tuition OF a religion for religion. Every kind OF
religion substitutes
AN ILLUSION
for this living. vital religion. The object Of any