New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08

Carpenter theory Of the theory thai
set forth HIS doctrine Of the Inhnty: John Stuart Mill
was aroused TO pitch Of moral indignation at Maun
sells ethical conception Of God. while at tue time
he unwittlngly fell back on the theory OF con
science which he had spent all his life IN
truly sentiment Pantheism Paniheism
sought to stimulate the imagination by reference to
cloudand; Atheism appealed b. more earthly things
He passed next to consider OF modern tera
ure with respect to the facts of Christianity Taese
accredited facts Of history That modern literature dis
that denial and DISGUST dd not begin wlth teratnre
Philosophy first declared that miracles we're impossible
speculative grounds Historical criticism next under
| took TO separate the supernat1rs rom o u,e
actual in the Christian records. business recOg-
nized nothing beyond fxedand inexorable law; tera-
ture now dealt with these declarations and nslnuaons
with the advanced sentiments Of toe age ms man O,
H WCsd and nth pReW Wsns s sSS Ne
from among circles aud schools Of literature. But the
Christ of the Now Testament could and would not De
The purity and wonder Of that great wonder OF humanity
could not be denied He next alluded TO the position
they could not deny all belief in supernatural Christ or
| IN miracles.
The session thon adjourned
The following paper was TO have been read, but time
not permitting it was submitted for publication.
MODERN l. LITERATURE AND CHRISTIANITY.
BY THE REV. A. L. SIMPSON, ID. D., OF DERBY, IN
GLAND.
There are some things which give this sub
ject special claim to be looked at For example, there
its extraordinary prouson Literature has attained
such Dimensions that 1t be said TO be everywhere
1t surrounds like atmosphere. IL not as 1t was
history when wandering MINISTRIES, storytelers
and troubadours the only books in Europe. 1t Is
not as it was long after the invention Of printing when
books unpurehasable by the mass OF the people
1t is not as 1t few ago, when the paper
duty and other governmental restrictions greatly lin
tied the production by limiting the SALE Now all such
ieasO, and the result is something before which
stand almost appalled, When, apart from books, prop
erly so-called, we think OF the ieglons OF monthly
and weekly periodicals. and when 10 these
add the daily newspapers in houses and workshops
and all railway stations, il myrads, we cannot help
feeling that there is power In the midst OF US perpeu-
ally at work which must 20 far according 70 It's nature
aud tendency TO make u or mar us, as individuals, as
families and as nations-a power which implies ire
mendOus responsibility somewhere, or rather every
where. For, although attach TO some In special
degree man with any patriotism Will be able 70 put
1t entirely away from himself IL is certain that thing OF
the nature Of literature thus 20 supplied ana
universally difused, must be exerting prodSiou In
huence Of some kind or other. For although all hera-
ture passive at first. not creating social tendencies,
but only timdly rejecting those that exist yet 1t speed
principal nutrment OF social tendencies intepSfyng
1t reflects till it down TO the very springs of
human thought ana action and attains something Ike
mastership of all the channels of life.
1t was in view OF this subtle OF literature that
songs, and viii give you the making Of their laws
the idea being this that peoples songs, inasmuch az
greater depth in our nature and with more fervd
glow, and always have stronger hold upon than
laws which matter of utilitarian calculation,
shaped aud formed for defined end. The Inter are
social necessity which we simply accept the former are
an intellectual instinct which cannot resistthe
true speaking out of nature IN all those crcun
stances when il must speak out, ana when its language
becomes at the sign and the measure OF the
which is in us. Hence all peoples have songs
nd that too before they have laws just because they
have passions, emotions, affections But their songs
technically speaking are only one form OF literary art
and what is true OF its forms is equally true of
them ALL In order indeed TO get at the fun meaning OF
the statesmans profound saying must consider the
word songs" as standing for all art and then 1t be.
comes cumulative, although somewhat indirectly OF
truth that art in form other the refuge OF
nature IN every emotional sate-that into winch II
nstinctvely passes in its endeayOrs 10 rise out OF se
say into that fuller life which III sucn crcuIn'
stances il feels itself capable of.
The province Of science legislation s not meant TO
be dsPaTageG ana the social ana INDIVIDUAL comforts
complicated faculty and Of manifold need and every
thing Ill the world has Its place and It's power But
surely the distinction Of humanity psyehologically
speaking lies In It's idealism 60 which religion gives
and wise dsoreton), and thus the influence
OF things to the soul than they and
the whole universe becomes, under the guidance Of
God spring TO the spirit IN Its bound toward
the infinite and the shadOwless.
DEBAsING FEATURES OF MODERN LITERATURE.
1t is evidently therefore, OF the greatest Importance
that this subtle influence which is so constantly and so
universally at work. should be in proper bands-shOud
be in unison with spirit of Christianity and moving
in the same direction with it, Aud yet what do ndi
Much, doubt, blessed be God, very much which is
true and gOod-rOOted in Christian motive and fruited
ceties we are greatly indebted on both sides Of the
in this regard and pray God 70 bless these
cies more and more Ia Their noble endeavors Tney
are mueh heeded' iOr "hen We look lortn on the
wide field Of modern literature we ind in the
in its arteement II II can be said any, and bad
in its essence This s what Mr.. Charles Knight called
which he said ali the garbage that belongs
history of crime and misery raked together 10 dIse
most vulgar and brutal fiction" And If tins the
in SG. when these words were written is much
| ia
absolutely Overwhelmng-a literature OF such kind
that call IL sensational IL to little nothing. Ii
is coarse and bruta-ndecent, TOO, TO the limits of
the law, and often beyond them Its tendency is, OF
course ali IN the direction of the sort of life IT depicts
the situations Of which made use OF for the purpose
OF pleasing the million by stimulating Their passo ana
appetes nurured such garbage should turn from the
lessons Of the missionary with disgust and that churches
should be empty while beer-shops casinos fun.
Under such cuisine the heart Is than starved
ii poisoned and petred conscience is killed out aud
veyor Of passion and lust, the demon the herd OF
swine, mpelling them down the steep of ignominous
concession into the foul sea of Indulgence.
But in the second place. there is considerable
It's artistic qualities, but decidedly, may almost say
avowedy, bad in its morality This like the preceding
Of poetry. OF course, do not object 70 any class
of writings account OF their form; although when
the is bad, the fctiona form is the most
snaring The literature OF the drama Is not 10 he de
because NJ y is nor sae OF
methods OF expressing sentiment and thought and
they perfectly legitimate methods. In the hands OF
a master they may be mighty for their purpose and
works this any special designation
be Judged OF by reference TO their spirit and subject
matter alone. The dramatic poets OF the Restoration
who sauntered Europe round and gathered every vice
on Christian ground" summarily condemn not be-
they dramatic but because they grossly
immoral SO with many novels OF the last century, and
so also with not few OF the present day There
many works. perhaps not OF the very highest art but
still works OF accomplished and powerful writers,
which have been introduced by translation into English
literature which, both directly on those who read them,
Who are led t. Initiate them, have widely corrupting
effect and that too, extending pretty high up In the
social scale There some WRITER'S indeed, who hold
theory that the free treatment OF such subjects
involve tue details Of social and domestic immortality
ndi INT In In