The New York herald., 1874-11-08
The Religion OF tho People.

ography of John Stuart Mill will be greatly
surprised at the character of his posthumous
work on religion, which is being issued from
the English press. This work is producing
profound sensation in religious circles In
England. This autobiography is the most
oppressive book conceivable, and one rises
from its perusal with the feeling that ne
lectual fog He is filed with an overwhelm-
ing pity for a man who was misnsed ana mis-
directed in his boyhood, and who never got
right, even TO the day of his death. MINIS
heart evaporated in early life, and he became
simply huge brain. All his emotions were
trained out of him, and in the region OF his
affections he was as juiceless as piece OF
kiln-dried timber. The only experience he
ever had indicating the possession OF any
thing so human as those tender feelings which
form an important part OF our nature was
the fervent love he entertained toward the
woman who long afterward became his wife.
Had he enjoyed, as most OF us do happy
home, and had he been surrounded by the
tender and clinging and educating love Of
children, he would never have LETT or written
this book, which will cost him the admiration
OF his best friends and seriously impair the
general influence of his life and character.
1t is not little significant that he hesitated
to publish this last work during his lifetime,
but while it was going through the press
quietly hid himself behind the wall OF death,
or, according to his own theory, within the
oblivion OF nonentity, where the arrows OF
critics will fail to reach him. 1t must be con-
fessed that he was not quite courageous when
he shirked the public responsibilities OF his
own logic and the storm which he knew too
well it would raise, and withheld the volume
until he had passed into outer darkness.
Every thoughtful reader knows that the
twist in his philosophy was the natural and
inevitable result of corresponding twist in
his early education, and sees at once that his
conclusions on the subject OF religion were
caused by overtraining the intellect in early
life and an almost entire absence of any emo
tional or affectional experience consequent
thereupon. But the general reader will not
perhaps, see this connection, and, according
pleased by this catapult which hurls its facts
like huge rocks against the wall behind which
Christianity lies entrenched.
The conclusions at which Mr.. Mill arrives,
if generally believed, would SO completely
demoralze the world that virtue and charity
would die out of society in three months. He
not only rejects the miracles with which
Christianity is buttressed, but defes Chris
tanity itself to prove its divine origin. He
regards the Pauline element of the New Testa-
ment as 4 positive obstacle to true faith, and
is very chary of his praise of Christ willingly
admitting that He was good and true man,
but denying Him all authority as the Head of
the Church. Not satisfied with that, he boldly
attacks the fundamental facts Of theology and
ridicules the omnipotence and perfection of
God, asserting that though the universe is on
the whole very fair piece Of mechanism for
an apprentice, it is by no means worthy of a
master workman He then approaches the
grand mystery of our Immortality, and scorns
the general faith of mankind with relentless
ness and bitterness of logic that leaves only
the mere shreds and patches of the future life
to hungry world.
One feels when he has finished the book
that he has been roaming among the black
ened ruins of once admired and beautiful
city, of which only broken statue here and
there, with perhaps few pieces of shattered
columns and friezes, are lett to tell the story
of the grandeur that has been, but which,
alas will never exist again. His faith was
only shrewd guess, and his frmest hope
consisted of gloomy perhaps. 1t is little
wonder, then, that he delayed the publication
Of his infidelity until death had introduced
him to the mysteries in which he did not be-
leve The terrible criticisms which he was
unwilling to bear while living will be fred
like volley of musketry over his grave, and
his memory will be sullied by the just charge
that, believing nothing and being miserable
himself, his last act was to leave heritage of
unbelef and misery to all who have been his
disciples.
It seems to US that modern science is acting
not only in bad spirit, but also with Punic
faith Its recent attacks on religion exhibit
degree of animosity which almost amounts to
malignity. Like Vandals and Goths the
men of science seem bent on sacking the city
of the general belief and tumbling from
its pedestal everything in which the people
have been taught to have confidence. When
we have courteously asked what will be the
consequence of all this intellectual plunder
and rapine we have been curtly told that con-
sequences are the bugbears Of fools. This
may be good philosophy, but it is very bad
common sense. Scientists may live in the
clouds above the reach Of consequences, but
ordinary men must continue for o time, at
least, to live on the earth; and while this is the
case consequences assume a very grave i'm