, 1874-04-19

RELIGIOUS COREEs7 7oNDENCE
RELIGION WITHOUT CHARITY NocKEnY.
To the Editor Of The cAicago Tribune:
Sn: The pending .strial ~ OF Prof Swing b
fore the Presbyte1y Of Chicago, On doctrin
, charges preferred By DR.. Patton, is attracting
small degree Of attention.
1t see ms strange. in the White light Of tn
century: that so little 1T the spirit Of chari
should exist among Christian brethren. It
strang er still that such bittar feeling, sue
gross N iEuudcrstanding and intolerance, shou]
go freq uent1y prevail in communities that ca
themse Ives BY the name Of Christian. The oil
I ject Of religion is TO smooth away convention;
differences, and to bind mankind into commo
brotherhood. Only so far AS it accomp1ishe
such result can it justly lny claim to divine O,
lsin.
II there over WAS time when the friends Q
religion should stand together in solid phala,,z
tho present is peculiarly such time.
The forces Of the world wcre never in bette
TRIM Wherever We look, evil in every forr
confrouts Us. Frand and corruption stalk lik
gigantic spcctreR over tho 1aud and ovor tie see
filling the palaces of this rich with ghaatiy plea
sure and the novels Of the poor With mscry. In
temperance scattcrs her are-brands over til.
I world, and riots with dosnoni2c joy at the CON
temptation Of her dreadful work. Men VII:
the eient sapping Of the we'll into fearful dopths
wretchodness, o% ssoEs % to drown m ''Ar.ns Har aor
nnce. in 4sces.v he ,oto 0Tng tag no ant
Vice grows and fattens upon Its propar food
| The same lclElcsancsa which leads men often
| tl,nos to depend upon broken roeds :" leads them
| still on INFO the quichsands OF vice. What il
| wantcdls some power stronger than themselves,
than temptations, to stop men on their down
| ward Hry.
/ Religion in some form, Is the only counteract-
! ing force that can check men from wandering
into ein, or that can bring then, back to yirtae
] But religion, iu this ago Of culture aud general
information. il it would most powerfully infiu-
| caco mons minds, must adopt tue alts of per-
! suasion rathe- than tho tricks OF authority. It
ls much ens.cr. and moro IN accord with
tho principles ct human nature, to lead
drive them in tia: direction. Men are
rs ''ohstnnto ns mules +" at all ATTEMPTS
to mako them better By force and yet. undor
the gentle guidance OF persuasion, they may be
surely unwso whom thoy ignore. as they often
DO, . fact SO vol sRtabAshed and 60 indispopsa-
bic to success.
Another argument in favor of broad chnr-
ity among religious sects and religious men may
be found in the wonderful progress which sci
ecce is making in this century. Scionce ia not
hostile to any religion which is founded upon
truth. But It will surely understand those
hD1El I1Ea FHC4 l0uuNIk14A 0GtlCa Ii 6EIaBD
through which, tlo sands Of error will fall,
leaving tho truth tbs brighter and clearer, like
Eraius Of gold freed from lross.
Can't hypocrisy, and superstition may we'll fear
the steady advances Of science. Science is truth
--pure truth. Thas which ia not true. whichever
dse71iEes it may try, cannot cover itself in that
awful Light.
Wien we consider the immense strength Of
soliisAncss (Which is the cornerstone Of all cor
ruptlou), it must bo clear to every uupreiudlced
mind fH1t Il r1lirv nf rrahersiva chn fr ia
the only policy thas can na1o headway against
30 pow erful tide,
But charity alone is not enough. Unity is
likewise needed. I do not mean unity OF
thou 5ht--or e7ea unity Of belief. That is i'm
possible. Except under the influence Of tyranny,
men never have thought precisely alike, and
mover will do 60, to tue end Of time. Unity Of
corporation and unity Of action sra alone pos
within reach, il mcn will hare tho eense md
moderation to confess that anything beyond
this q u1tatranabie.
In order to the realization OF such practical
unity, doctrina1 differences must be allowed .
wide federation. It is in this way onlv that
religious bodies can be held together. Either
toleiation or tyranny must prevail.
ANY halfway policy will ineyitab1y end in the |
further and general dislntegratioa of religious
bodies
Charity is the only solvent by virtue Of which
ths humorous religious organizations can be |
Kept from each others throats.
fnf %-. 11-A..
a;Taaa' rssoHa1es sae LACE tnat oacn man Is
sn;,.d all '4n nant as oslel nan:mnas oistlncs
lnsiiu; anu character, ana eonca.1on ana ls sur
ro'ndad ny an atmosphere OF thought and feel
tis ths Pn.nnar TO nlmselr respect Tor others IS
e,eu.. ei,o te"t1r1s =! Charity. Egotasm destroys
1,;n,.ai: 1ae I.eos, however ne may deceive
T. ~ eotlsI. nel1 as tue centre
~ 1at %.lin 1aa.t uts tn1le1 h1e raVoves.
= ne 1ooAs 1o:ta from tho windows OF bis Eonl,
uu 10 4. ste1 ~ army o. hcrolcs (Roor creatures
to Jol,,aaa an elie.y rpm niaseli marching on
ult h!icss ana everlasting night. 1t matters
vcs t'' ~ . 1t,oo ~ epeSo pengs have led
coted man1 ha-i ra.ra soey nave oe-
1so1s1rans nta ,esis TO .oe se7flco OF their
Nv tho Irlt that foiis fron, Ia, nsen fn1aea
;r;,;os i,nt,rn 49, Ill ,ui,s run i1easen,al TINS
n tIa eternal ss,1o. ~ ca I1.,,. sliso gram
,t,oir SOL af t.o !, N.Y. uto. Iuus sne meian,
,asts a,oo1o o,-or 49, .etinenes ltse4f ana
,red hv 3he oan;,,a ~ a.ion. a.a.io man, ln-
elf IN ~ atard.T5 " =, ;seuing nm
no tia fo,lowsTan - aannnnt' at'o call
cch,;o,1 ~ d,ota1 -: Aeco1rt *os aotce |
S-ra;", ~ eoIs''al fallaHoh ~ 1a1tn or its IN
,,r.,fnt3' Ttts Fp'sIacle can DO more sad aud
oat tnnaa.I T. u''AI MAa1 MosResv! There is 10
tanaatu y "Ach tne exact: Literal truth can be