New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
vrR.usgs TIRE OLD FAITH AND THE NEW.


In spte of the suggestive title of this work it is
devoted mainly to questions of social policy rather
sh.n To theological doctrines The author takes for
ranted that in the progress of modern culture the
ancient religious traditions have lost their hold on
great number of intelligent thinkers. in whose be-
half he undertakes to speak with the of setting
fsrth certain positive elements of truth amid the
ruins of once prevalent beliefs He stands like
shipwrecked mariner. surveying the fragments OF
his dsmanted vessel. but not without hope of pre-
serving portion of the treasures that have been cast
On shore. IL have desired he says, NOR do
new desire to disturb the contentment or the faith
Of any one. But where these are already shaken,
desire to point out the direction in which believe
f.rmer soil is TO be found" In discussing the subject
he exhibits frankuess, almost amounting 10 SIM
pcIty there are few traces of controversial spirit
and no apparent STRIVING after effect; Int his man
ner is singulaTly dituse and exclusive his sen
fences are complicated in construction and often
obscure III sense, a certain German heaviness per
vades his composition. that the perusal Of che
volume is l., SIS pleasure than task.
The object Of Strauss, as stated by himself, is not
70 produce any radical change in the present cOncl-
tion of affairs. He has no wish to destroy any
church. knowing that a church still necessity for
q large majority. Nor the times yet ripe for
new construction of the ideal elements in the life OF
nations. On the other hand, he would not attempt
to repair or prop up the old structures That would
be a hinderance TO the process Of transformation
He would only exert his influence for the develop
ment Of q new growth from the dissolution OF the
cid The condition of this il free speech ana mntni
understanding without formal organization our
concern for the moment is with inward preparation
The basis of a new order of thought in contrast
with the old theology, is To be found accoruins |"
Strauss i'm what may be called the C0sTnlc cOnceD-
.aflueah continued scientific ana his
ssrsal research This involves the essential clemens
If all religion that is TO say the sense of mcOnh
tionai dependence. This sense, Strauss argues, is
fully responded 10 by our relations with the Cosmos
We perccive perpetual change in the world but in
the midst of mutation, discover the presence OF
erder and law. The awful struggles and tremendous
contrasts Of Nature do not disturb the stability and
harmony of the whole Still further we perceive
graduation a development from the lower to the
higher from the to the refined, from the rude
- the gentle. We also learn from experience that
we arc advanced in our personal and social life, IN
the proportion that regulate the inward element
of caprice and change and submit our lower 10 our
kieher nature When meet with this within the
circle of human life, We call 1t good and reasonable
We give the name to what Is analogous 10 1t III
the world aroand Us. Moreover, we feel ourselves
absolutely dependent on this world. rs We can only
Seduce our existence and the adjustment Of our ma
compelled 10 CONCEIVE of III III It's
fullest sense OF as Cosmos being also the primary
ssurce of all that is reasonable and good, not as
planned by the highest reason but for the highest
reason" I'VE stand here" says Strauss, lat the
Lr.i,s of our knowledge; We gaze into an abyss We
can fathon no further. But this much nj least is
certain that the personal image which meets our
gaze IL but rejection of the wondering spectator
himself.' At any rate. that which We fee our
selves entirely dependent is not merely rude pow
tT to which we bow IN mute resignation, but Is at
&he came time both order and law. and good
ness to which surrender ourselves in LOVING trust
Az we perceive in ourselves the same disposition to
the reasonable and the good which We recognize in
the Cosmos, We feel related in inmost being To
shat on which We dependent and learn to regard
IT with mingled humility and pride. submission and
ley. It is true that this feeling will hardly manifest
itself III form of worship or series OF festivals
enough il will not fail OF high moral influence
The development Of conscience and the formation
of rule of life made by the authOrhe subjects OF
An acute. though unsatisfactory, analysis. Accord
arg hs views the FIRST estate of man not para
aisiacal, but purely animal He did moi begin his
a great elevation, at once to sink very low,
but ON the contrary he began very low 10 rise SLOW
~ to ever greater nights. In the FIRST stage of his
development he appears as a furnished huntsman,
sullen inmate OF caves perhaps
aibl and devourer of ms fellows OF vegetable food
he partoOk along with the flesh OF the bear or rhi
nscerOs of such fruits were borne spontaneously
by trees and shrubs OF the edible roots winch he
found in the earth. IL must have taken many thou
sand years before he learned 10 tame the goat the
sheep aud the to produce corn oil spot of ground
and make his cake palatdble by the aid of fire.
But hOwev eT miserable the condition of prmeval
.san, we may assume that he possessed the social
sentiment, combined with pliability both of the
external limbs, and of the of speech and Of
the brain. In conjunction with these the social DUAL
lties would achieve important results.
The same double impulse of attraction and re pull
SION which we find III inorganic Nature exists in he
constitution of The repulsiye force consists ia
the egotsm of those to be united; the attractive
force. on tue other hand. is the social sentiment.
Man Is mpeed III the latter direction 10y the eAter-
nal pressure of famine. and the hostile forces both
of elemental and organic Nature. Here, ~ every
where else, order arises from the collision OF forces
No one individual is quite like another nl the perfec-
7ion Of its parts the efficacy OF It's performances
This always places one animal ~ superior strength
and sagaoity the head of the herd. la like man
yser In the first human horde there was always one
ar another holder ia repellng the enemy from with
pnt. or peaceably inclined toward the members
of the horde itself at home. Ia these beginnings
we see the dawn Of two qualities, courage and JUS
flee which III their development constitute TWO of
ahe cardinal virtues Of courage and justice. When
these have once taken root the other two perseveI
ance aud prudence. will mfanbly branch ou OF
them Moral qualities, it is evident, be deyel-
Oped only in society.
But not all the members Of the community possess
these virtues. Without them, however, there can
he no prosperity. Where the opposite faults prevail,
~, ,,.;t I,.en