New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-15

mentality promosng tbs Gospel; but Literature set
tnre IL at present tremendous fact OF the two
and either 70 be covered ny the S,hea II " a Ing
in sigular fashion. too II such books as Gates Ajar
aud the Prince Of e Ho 90 OF p Ss os lose
ira character literature for Its voices multitudnous
Technically, Dickens was not Christian Thackeray
vas not Christian. though both great lights in
Tters IL DIR. Snpsons prayer were granted itsr
tnre would forced To abandon the only principle tha
gives il existence namely falth IN the human nua
fhat prncpe which IA the ground OF philosophy anu
the suDstance OF faith at the time. To destroy
II would TO destroy the central belief OF the modern
world belief that has hardly vet begun tts course
ba, asond be ia owing to the Condition in which
human mind at present 10. But that condition WIN DO
improved only when tue faith IN IL becomes noDler GER
taipy not when declines altogether. The contribution
that literature makes to the religion OF the future may
No sma enough but ut all events makes tins one IN
WORK OF fiction. Ia poem essay letter, WHOM
Inc reading world devours.
SCIENCE AND THE RELIGros or THE FUTURE.
Another factor in the Religion OF the Future is science
MOI that the results OF scientific Investigation yet
widely dlsed firmly established; not that scientific
doctrines popularity received. scientific books
generally studied Scientific wish they were-not
that tho profossed teachers OF numerous,
or SO highly rovered. Science is yet In Its infancy,
and has system 10 put forward as dlsnciyeiy It's
own. Scientific men disagree among themselves, and
esut9e do There is no church or creed OF science
nut there feeling abroad that the method OF science
science is opposed tho method OF theology that while
theology starts with the assumption Of TRUTH science
seeks truth IN tho region OF faoi and from this feeling
| arises uneasy spirit Of skeptcism which makes
peopIe who know nothing about science disrusttul OF
religion The skepcisin Ia In tho air, an intangible
thing many coored many shaped but for that very rea
son all the more pervsdng aud powerful Science pre-
walls thus far rather by the apprehension causes than
| that by the blow II strikes
Science by method is directly opposed TO theology
Its primary assumptions are fatal " tbeoogys usual
pretensous The Christian" theology starts with the
position nature crooked distorted evil Science
star with the position that nature Ia the solid work OF
TRUTH must DO studied In order TO hnd truth. The
Protestant theology lays down with emphasis that the
mind that studies nature is not adequate organ.
science lays down with equal emphasis that tbs mind
studies nature Is perfect organ the appointed
organ, In fact the only conceivable. On these
very opposite foundations similar structures cannot be
bniit Tne religion OF science must be very different
thing from the religion OF either RonanSm or Prot
| estantisIn. .,-,. a. -.,, ~, ,,.--.. -,
side Of science. is an Immense mass OF active minu,
| wholly unorgsnzed as yet, which is gropng about
Cbrtianify cropping rather every other direction.
order avoid that Ii may not be religious, but GER
ainy 1T Is not Christian and 1t is not conceivable that
ANYTHING short CONFUSION OF nature will make 1t
t proposes the widest vagares OF fah but ts effort Is
10 reconcile the facts Of the world with faith any KIND
II is loosely fancied that Chrisendom with It's various
communOus covers modern society. But not twohlrds
whaIever And OF these twothirds very largo proper
ton is composed OF people who merely proiess-Tno Tor
name but aro heart OF creed and no character II
Chrsend0m sittod and only wheat gathered into
barns would be apparent that whatever tue re-
| igiOn OF America might be-, IL was not that.
CONCLUSION.
The religious outlook In America is therefore uncertain
| and dim but from what has been said, few points
may be presented as clear
/ Religion in America will be neither Romanist
Protestant 1t will not be Christian" In any recog
mis- al sense o
q Tho religion Of America will be soentidc-that is
will rest ON foundation Of solid fact not on founda-
g. Religion in America will be unsecaran undogmatcal,
uneccesiastlcal, not matter OF denomination or party
anv more matter OF free opinion, yindcang itself
by It's intrinsic WORM. =,
the ordinary sense doing good but in the grander
sense Of being humane, being part OF human society
a constituent element in the communitys daily welfare
g. Again. and above ALL religion In America Will be
free its spirit will be the spirit OF liberty II Will con
secrate tho mind to Its high OF discovering
the truth, aud will count as feo"-wOrkes an truth
seekers, and every Held literary scientific, pho-'
sophica careless how they call themselves, injurious
what name they are baptized IN, admitting, wei.
coming claiming the utmost liberty OF discussion and
definition KIN wing no stnction persons professions,
races; hospsaDe 20 Greek Roman, Persian, Hndoo,
Mussuman, Jew hOspable also 10 the professors OF no
toward what is sincerely regarded This spirit
OF liberty will be In the new religion what the spirit OF
Religion Is liberty, the freedom OF the SOUL the minds
emancipation from narrow thoughts II is help TO-
ward This condition of liberty that the Free Religious
Association has been organized IL illustrates the llD
erty we'll it institutes 1t a. well as able
That man will be less religious he older,
cannot believe That he VIII be less religious under lib
erty TO my mind impossible. As the human mind
enlarges, its ideas multiply and expand its hopes gain
in grandeur, Its vision becomes transcendent knOwl-
edge broadeAs the world Intelligence reveals the laws
by which is conducted culture extends the relation
snips Of being anu mutpnes the bonds OF sympathy.
The better creation is understood the clearer its divinity
is recognized the faithfully its order venerated
tue more profoundly are ITS beauty and goodness
adorned. The perfectly free, that is the perfectly
Igntened the perfectly normal will worship In
temple OF thought as much grander than st. Peters as
tt up AN aspiration that makes htany Of church
seem cold and broken He Will bend before deity as
much superior to that OF Chrstendon as that Is 10
Pacific Isandeo's idol The larger the ind tho larger
the deity, the sweeter the hope Tho poet SAID An
pher replies: IAN honest God g tho nobest work or
man" Give tnen the honest man and We Will have
the honest Deity. Give us the of integrity, the
whole man round and complete aud his worship will
fn and adequate worship 40 glorious IN spirit
d 1t IL clear In Truth
Mr. rockingham, at the conclusion of his long
address, which occupied hour aud a half, intro
duced the son OF the Kew. Dr. Gannet Of Boston,
who spoke Us follows:
REMARKS OF Mr.. GASNEr.
lean hardly add much to the statement have Just
listened TO- and in adding that word, which will be
some hat echoke. want TO remind you. that when
say We" as shall, only mean those whom 1t con-
Germs | will try 10 answer one or two questions
such asa stranger, seeing one plaeard might ask
OF himself, ask his neighbor; such as this:
What Is this Free Religious Association, and what are
they here for 4" Reminding you that only say we
for part OF u.s. my would be that we arc ndels
who believe in religion. tAppausel We have been
lately having Evangelical Alliance in the city, and that
IA the name which they have given u.s. We accept the
name say nothing against the EVANGELICAL Alliance
think it was sign Of much good far as II sign
OF anything. IL that Professionalism Is becoming
y catholic Professionalism 1t means that the old de-
lenses are at partly going DOWN. that the Old lines
are being pulled away They said as much In their ad-
dresses spd platform, and 1t means that they
are willing 10 fall back mere fundamentals.
IL means a wider brotherhood in the Protestant
Christian churches and surely that Is good as
far as it goes But they call inades and accept
the name and are glad, aud would not have another
the divine inspiration, authority and sufnciency
OF the holy Scriptures. We believe in the divine
insplration, authority and suficiency OF facts.
second the right and duty OF private judgment In the
interpretation OF the Holy Scriptures We believe in
the right and duty Of private judgment In the nerpre
tatton OF all facts Third unity OF the Godhead Oh
how deeply believe in that and the Trinity OF the Deity