New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-26

invaluable lesson should 10 made formal or unIbNIl
gble by the use Of any technical language Inc IN IN
portsnce. indeed OF avoiding this danger az
present 10 mind and explains some OF the character
istic peculiarties OF his writings.
The writer continues his line OF argument with 'he
remark that according to Mr. Maurice, the living primer
pies OF religion in constant danger OF being snRu
10y theological systems. The history OF the woriu IL quo
history OF an incessant ebb and flow OF genuine i''
great teacher arises who touches inc heal's Vi q"
men, and gush of spiritual emotion pours rofth iAc
thc lava from a volcano. But the living words soon
crvstallize into dead formulas The spirit mas
departed, and nothing but SET OF uoS.i''
is left TO which the next generation aScrloes
n snnersttious value. Mr. Maurice started from pro-
fonnd conviction Of the supreme importance OF the
christian revelation and sought discover the reason OF
tho strange tendency of It's dogmas to wear into life
less shadows found 1t the doctrine that all such
formulas necessarily Inadequate and that the vital
the consisted in surprising that they coud
possibly be final exhaustive. This principle assumed
peculiar shape In his mind and colored every page OF
his writings Many OF abest disciples regard it as the
very pth and OF his teachings. III was favor
lite statement of his that God has revealed himself but
not docmas about himself In other words theology is
not q collection OF our theories about God, but decara-
ton of his will and acts towards us. But many
Christians are tempted to believe in a dogma about God
instead of believing in God. Mr.. Maurice constantly
labors impress this difference upon the tminds OF
his readers. He was always anxious to prevent them
from falling into mere formula from the contour
plaon OF the truth which lies beyond all formulas This
contributed materially darken his style. He was so
much afraid of their putting the definition for the thing
defined that he became unwilling TO define anything, or
to phrases which may be converted INTO oeI-
his habit to string together two or three
alternative in every sentence lest one should he
supposed have any intrinsic value for his mind His
writing reminds Of the work Of the artist who is not
quite of his hand and, instead of making single
decisive stroke gives half dozen tentative outlines
which eectually blur the sharpness of definition The
illustration of Mr. MauTices peculiar modes OF thought
is continued at ample length and presents singu'
larry acute analysis of the characteristics or his theo-
ogy Another article in this Dumber which will at
tract attention. If 1t does not create sensation, Is
the Defense of Modern Sprtualism," by the dstil-
gushed English naturalist, Mr.. Alfred Wallace. who
shares with Darwin the credit OF first suggesting te
principle Of natural selection the origin of species
He considers the subject its relation 10 the current
physical science of the day. and makes light OF the In
difference or skepticsm which is usually manifested in
that quarter with regard to the phenomena in question:
The facts of spirltualism are ubiquitous In their
occurrence and OF indsputablc "a nature, rs
to compel conviction in every earnest inquirer
1t thus happens that although every 1lesh
convert requires large proportion OF inc Stills
he Will give his assent 70 them the number OF snch
converts has gone on steadily increasing LOT quarter
of century. Clergymen or all sects literary men and
lawyers physicians in large numbers, men OF science
not n few, secuarists. philosophical skeptics, pure
mateIialists. all have become converts through
the overwhelming logic OF the phenomena when
Spirtualism has brought before them. And what
have we per contra Neither science nor phllO-
sophy, neither skepCism nOrIc!gOn has erye IN TINS
quarter OF century made one single convert IRON the
ranks Of spirualisIn! This being the case, and fully
approaching the amount OF candor ana fairness, ana
kuOWledCe of the subject that has been exhibited By
is II be wondered NJ tat large pro-
portion of spritualists now profoundly indifferent
the opinion of men OF science and would not 80 one
step of their convince them Ihey say, that
the movement Is gong on quite last enough Iuat IL is
SPREADING its inherent force of ruth, ana slowly
permeatug all classes of society," 1t has turlVen III spite
OF abuse and persecution rdlcule and argument, ana
will continue to thrive whether lndOrScd by great names
or not Men OF science. like all others. are welcome TO
enter its ranks; but they must satisfy tl.Yseves Dy
their perseverng researches not expect to have rs
proofs laid before them. Iher rejection of Its truths IS
their own loss but In the slightest degree affect
the progress of Spiriuallsm The attacks and Crti-
esms OF the press are borne good-humoredly, aud
seldOmexete other feelings than PITY for the wIui IL
nOrauce aud contempt for the overwhelming presump
ton their Sucn the sentiments that arc
continually expressed by sprtuaiss ana 1t Is as WELL
PERHAPS the outer world to whom the Literature OF
the movement il Us much UNKNOWN as inc NeGas SHOULD
be made acquainted with them.
The treatment of the subject by Mr.. Wallace is in ac-
cordance his characteristic carefuness Of observa
ton temperance Of statement, free from the vague
ness and extravaganza which 90 often vate the Gree
of sptuaistc DISCUSSIONS giving pertec. assurance
of the good faith earnestncss Of mis- CONVICTIONS and
leaving distinct impression of surprise both at the
marvellous character OF the facts which he exhibits
aud the facility of belief with which he accepts the
alleged evidence of their truth.