The New York herald., 1873-10-15
Mr.. FrOthingham'S Address on the Out
lock Of Religion In America.
A Review of Romanism and
Protestantism.
What the Religion Of the
Future Is To Be.
RELIGION AND REPUBLICANISM.

filled with an audience that had the appearance Of
large intelligence and stability OF character. Mr..
rockingham delivered an address on ssrhe Re.
Hgious Outlook Of America" 1t abounded IN mug
gets OF thought and elevation OF sentiment II the
hearers took 1t to their hearts and conscences they
gave no outward sign; all that was said fell nearly
coldly and with as little response though the
words had been spoken to the deaf or the dead.
Now and then there was sign OF life when dis
paraging reference was made to
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE CONFERENCE, -
or sentiment Of patriotism was aroused by an
Illustration drawn from incidents In the recent
civil war. Beyond this, not note was heard that
indicated that the gospel OF humanity was mes-
sage OF glad tidings and OF great Joy. The ses-
sion was begun and ended without either singing
or prayer, and its characteristic throughout was
proper but frigid decorousness.
To day the session will open at ten O'clock, A. NJ.
with paper on "Free Religion, Including Secta-
rianism, Dynastism, Ecclesiasticism,n to be fol-
lowed by discussion. Attwelve O'clock Mr.. Francis
Abbott will read paper on Foreign Missions.n
to be followed also by discussion. At eight O'CLOCK
?. NJ. Mr.. James Parton will read paper on "Tne
Taxation Of Church Property"
MR.. FRoTHINGHAA'S ADDRESS.
: The chair wa was @ taken BY Mr; Charles % storrs OF
Brooslyn after . which ,rS Mr. O. B. Frothingham de-
America.n In the course OF this address he said:-
Religion is the great question OF the day in all
vades all social topics. What is the religious OUT
look In the Uniteo States He should offer only
fhere Is little Fetichism here; there Is Bramin.
ism and there is Buddhism, too. These have, how.
ever, no future. There is one OF the Old World re-
gions that has entitled it to something like re-
spect, and which exists in the greatest city in
the New World, the peer In outward demon
old faith OF Moses; the faith OF the Hebrews Has
Judaism great future In American That 1t Will
not die soon is matter OF course. Judaism
dignity. 1t has future, but 1t is IN the departing
more and more from the old faith. 1t is becoming
brew faith will be in the New World to present the
most perfect Sheism the world has ever seen The
day viii come. 1t is at hand. We cannot say that
Judaism will be the future religion for America.
In scope 1t narrows itself down to Christianity.
Let the audience then look at Christianity as 1t Is
made up In
The figures OF the last census give the number OF
professors OF each faith Tar as they can be obs
taiued under such circumstances They are as
follows -Methodsts, $780, ooo Baptists, 45o0 600,
Congregationalists, 1,117,oOo; Protestant Eplsco-
paian, 99l,o0o; Lutheran. $4,000; Reformed
Church, 4sl, 100; Reformed Dutch 227,o 600; unver-
s7s3s. There Is total population OF these
sects Of 2l,ee5 oe2, and the population Of Of
these sects, with probably the exception or the
Methodists, would quarrel with these dgures.-
haps 10 600 900. broad distinction is always
made as to these figures, and 1t is not likely that,
as lar as Romanism Is concerned. these figures are
faith are concerned they are very dihcultto num-
ber. Is
to be the religion OF America? Is Romanism to
have the charger 1t Is very strong; 1t is increas-
ing in strength; its numbers are far greater than
IN the census. The churches are numerous and
costly; the congregations are very large. me
priests are Learned and very often os devoat men
emplary men. It's services are attractive, and ap-
peals very largely to the Imagination. 1t promises
doubt. Its organization is absolutely perfect
the result OF 1000 years or continuous study
ISM ISM not be be The religion oi America is it re-
hgion inconsistent with republican institutions2
Not as a religion. five could pick our Catholics,
then the Catholic religion would be eminently fitted
for republic. What better Catholic need there
be than Father Hyacnthes Why, then, should Ro-
is the reason Rome had the supreme power
and lost it. Rome and Christianity were
Synonymous terms. she mad It all; No power has
ever yet had supreme power and lost 1t and re-
gained its hold. Romansm, too, is an empire-tt
is state OF dominion. The chief priest Is not
only king, but he is
THE KING OF KINGS.
Its cardinals princes; its oiccrs are diplomat
lists; it unocks Cablnets II has political policy OF
an empire, it cannot exist In republic. 1t
claims, too, an authority over the con-
science, and this is opposed to republicaniSm.
What right have we to assume that we are TO have
q republic always IN American What right have
Cesarism; the determination Of the workingmen
to come forward-this, with other guarantees are
certanties lor the republican form OF government.
Another reason The country has Just come out OF
a that we have spent millions OF money and
thousands OF lives in. For whatS Simply that
there may be no separation between North and
SouthS No, but because republican institutions
were to be Kept and preserved IN North and
South. There is one more reason why Romanism
cannot be the religion OF America. Catholicism
is the religion OF the Latin race; IL Is the religion
OF Ireland; 1t is the religion OF the Celtic race.
hat rnnAfc fc M
no other. Think OF England at the knees OF the
Pope. It is not the religion OF the Anglo-Saxon
the the Latin race, is not Catholic. There would
scarcely be Catholic church in America but for the
irish on the one SIDE and the Mexicans on tne
--s.ssr~---~ ARE THE IRISH TO RULE
on this Continents Are the Mexicansp Not yet.
tChcers.) For these reasons Catholicism Is not TO
be the religion OF America. Is 1t likely that either
OF these Protestant sects will absorb the rests
The Methodsts think so. Professionalism needs all
Of thought. Human nature is q harp OF Thousand
stringsS What does this Evangelical Alliance
and Is not to place Alliance II nas
been at work twenty-seven years, and after al IL
is only an Evangelical Alliance. One-haf the sects
and stralghtest of sects against Romanlsm on the
one side and inhdelity on the other. TO lncuuo
all Protestants they must give up their tneoogS'
Where then are we In the religion or the luturef
OUTSIDE OF ROMANISM,
outside Professionalism. there Is large, coniussu,
| Spirltualists; second there is literature; tnira,
| there Is science. MI. rockingham explained at
| length the effect OF these three depart
ments of human effort What are we TO
i saw or the religious outlook OF America! Ia tne
\ first place, 1t is neither TO be Roman Catnohc OF
Protestant, nor technically Christian In tne next
it Will be democratic. In the next y must DC Sec @
i he did not mean power that was to patr0nize
the world Religion is to De identified with society
Science ReIiron is to be social and political re-
form. As religion is to be the aspiration the indt
yidua so religion is to be the aspiration OF society
| one thing more-the religion OF America is to be
free. It Is not to be JEWISH Mohammedan or Chris
tan: 1t is not bear any particular name; that II
| is to be human, religion OF humanity. 1t 10 &c
| be
CONSIDERATION OF THE HUMAN MIND
| to its great uses. l believe in religion more and
more. think the past has but shown US religion
| In It's infancy.
A son OF the Rev. DR.. Garnet OF Boston, said
| fau wnrda az fba rlC of I'M aAd md I'm