, 1874-09-06

We have already called tho attention of our
readers to two articles BY ". 4. Greg, entitled
tho "Warnings Of Caasandra" and ss iiocks
Ahead" published in the Contemporary Repfeao,
in which he points out the dangers t1reatening
England. The first rock ahead il the political
ascendancy Of tho masses caused by the late
Reform bill; the second. tho probable and
proximate industrial decline Of England con-
sequent On the gradual exhaustion OF its coal
beds; the third and last, tho divorce between tho
National Creed and the highest intelligence OF
the nation. It is OF this last ne wish to speak
now.
Mr.. Greg begins by remarking that the relig-
ion of a nation ought to be the embodiment of
its highest intelligence, in the most solemn mo-
ments Of that Intelligence. Those who be-
ieTo in tho supernatural origin OF religion,
OF who hold that religion had its beginning
in revelation from God.-w1ich is
tho same thing;-will perhaps tako issue on this
point with Mr. Greg, They may claim that the
embodiment Of nations highest intelligence
can aspire to no higher character than that of
material science, between which and revelation
they find q difference as great as is at all con-
ceivablo. Deny, however, they will not, that
nations religion. if not tho embodiment OF it's
highest intelligence, should not bo in conflict
with that intelligence. Anation's religion should
bo, as Al1. Greg expresses it, in harmony with
the richest experience, the deepest thought, tho
widest culture. the finest intuitions, of the best
a.
and, indeed, in nearly all Christian countries,
Mr. Greg holds that the highest intelligence, or
what is considered tho highest intelligence, ia
not in harmony With tho nat1on's creed It is
either openly rejected or quietly ignored. Where
it Is not repudiated in express terms it is held
with about as much tenacity as If it did not
oxiBt.
That in this divorce Of the intellect of tho
country from its creed there lur1s great danger
to society, q little consideration will SHOW Tho
tAinkors Of people, as as all experience has
demonstrated. never fail in the end to inocalato
the nation with their thought. The most emil
nont thinkers OF England arc not believers in
tho Estabi-hed Church, and scarcely in the
Christian religion. Tho educated classou Of the
country arc fGst ceasing to bo believers. Mr..
Greg says that probably minority Of the operat-
i've classes in towns are total unbeEeycrs j: mud
that. instead Of being the reckless and isreputa-
bio, they arc tho most skil1fu, the best edu-
cated, aud atcalest OF tho workmen. Tho
leaders of the artisans in England are skeptics
too. Manufacturing artisans and citizen Ia
bo1crs are in the same category. How far tho
skepticlsm Of these different clasaea e1-
tends is, OF cou1se, an important part
Of the inquiry as to what it's influence
will be on England's future. It is certain, how
ever, that it is more extensive and deeper rooted
among the workingmen than among the higher
classeH. Literary men and students, given to the
weighing OF evidence, may hesitate to declare
themselves unqualified disbo1ierers The case ia
different With the horny-haudod wotkingman. to-
whom stone is stone, and thing either is or
is not. There is, indeed, nothing to a1est the
Epread OF skepticism among tho artisans. r,c-
chanics, and lsborers Of England.
And what no1t2 When tho p1olotariat shall
no longer believe in Gods existence; when
they shall no longer accept as infalliblo truth
that God has in His in5crutable designs rro-
scribed their hard lot in this world. and that |
there is future in which He will re-