The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-12
MASONIC TEMPLE.

MASONIC TEMPLE.
RATIONAL BEIHF-HoNEsT DOUBT NoBLER THAN
INCIDENT FAITH - SERMON BIZ REV. O. B.
FRoTHNoHAM.
The Rev. 0. B. rockingham, at Masonic Hall
Opposite Booths Theatre), preached yesterday
morning TO an enormous congregation that filled
everv available seat, and among whom there was,
as usual. quite perceDtibe sprinkling OF well
known free-tniukers The reverend gentleman
spoke on the suoJeoJ OF rational belief. he said,
in suostance:-The subject oil my discourse this
morning is a sequel to that OF last Sunday morn
ing. An apostle OF the early Church. writing to
ole OF the members, advises him to "prove all
thingsn and hold last TO ali that good in their
faith. At that time the reason OF man was sup
posed to be the docile recipient OF the doc
trlnes OF faith, and not the independent judge
OF their beauty, truth validity. To dis
crimlnate between the good and the evil
is what Paul-for he Is the apostle have
ferred to--enjons upon his hearers. To say that
none are good men or women, for instance, who
deny that Jesus Is an incarnate archangel or
God, would be to condemn to the internal regions
OF damnation the choicest specimens OF humanity.
Religion is still generally supposed to be Identified
with revelation, some thing which hum an reason
Is unable 10 verify and Is Ger talnly incompetent
10 Judge. II this doctrine is accepted there must
be divInely inspired church, inspired prophets
and priests, and, therefore, we find throughout
Cnrstendom that reason is assigned very SUBJ
ordinate place. The once oil reason is merely
that OF faithful servant to ill the lamps with oil.
to dust the chairs, to guard the temple against
pollution
PROBING SUGGESTIONS.
But the nationalist is not satisfied with this.
Reasonable religion says the human minds first
duty is TO prove and test and verify, not one
thing but all Things. Is am thing nigh or so low
that 1t should not be judged Nor can you tell
unless you try. Is the mere fact that a system
has lived thousands OF years sufficient proof that
1t is good and should continue tonvef Tne Oldest.
things are frequently the worst, as Tor instance
ignorance, indifference, &c. Reasonable religion
claims that the grander a thing Is the more
windy its mysterious beauty should be brought
TO view. Nay. II claims that inquiry Is even
the interest OF religion itself. There Is
general suspicion that religion is AFRAID OF being
investigated. said an eminent Dreacner:-"li In
my heart i had DOUBTS ABOUT the Immortality or
my soul should never allow them to rise TO my
lips. rms precious nope OF mankind must not be
disturbed" But VINO dlsturbs it as mucn as the
man VINO thus assumes tuat bis little finger can
destroy the moral foundations OF the universe
THE INCIDENCE OF TORPID FAITH.
1t Is high time tlaL religious trust and con-
fdence should snake on It's burden OF Incidence,
OF slothluness. 10 doubt whetner there De resist
ance In truth and whether u be good 70 investl-
gate doubt ID the yer, essence OF unbellef IL
Implies doubt N Inc strength OF truth and God.
There is more religion IN honest doubt than In a
thousand onndly followed creeds. 1t implies an
anxiety to ascertain the truth. SAID last sunday
that the greatest pr0vers were the greatest be-
LEVERS Cunslder-ls lt a pleasant thing 10 be an
orphan In the world, TO M ke the pdst wider
ness ana to plunge into ones grave Ioreyerl IL
Is a heroic tnlng. A man v no does mat shows
confidence IN the strength OF his convictions ana
trust IN tie Providence wnich orders all Things.
Now take tue doctrine o immortality. Little by
little scientific men exploring TINS mortal frame OF
thrill OF every nerve. lney say. I'VE ana nowhere
the need oil any soul or spriL We nnd,'' tney say,
.Jhat every motion IS explcable on purely me-
cnancal principles Tue depression caused by
TINS scovery among believers grows deeper when
we are toa mat no spark oil intelligence ever uas
been discovered without a brain; that Wneu
the BODY decays Intelligence vanlshes, and wnen
the body Is dead there Is nothing On, what
a shadow passes over tue soul IN contemplation
oil THIS discovery. But the philosopher ana The
me Ia pny sIclan discover complex workings oil the
mind lnscTutabe TO analysis, there rises he pro-
phet oil the hear, oil anectlon, OF love, aud We
recognition. Ali these voices must be listened TO.
Has The theology OF Cnrlstendom ever been tested
through anu througnY When 1t mas been tested
through and through II Will De believed AS lar as
II mas been proved.
MORALITY THE ESSENCE OF RELIGION.
And now one wore rs TO O common apprehen-
sion that this reasonable religion ADMITS oil no
rep0se. and That IL renders necessary ceaseess
d0unls and ceaselesS ask ng oil Questions. No, all
not provers lnqulrers, THIS business IS lett TO
those VINO have 10 Dear this awful burden. For the
there remains trust In honor, in purity, justice,
sense, seiIrespect, Kindness, patience, loralve.
ness, IN latin between man and woman. these
are all reverenL systems Oi religion may die out.
but as long as man remains man these VIII always
DC the clamps OF society; they wll always be the
same O0nas mat Olnd man TO man. Goodness -
not object but motive: love Us before light; virtue
Is the seed oil knowledge, not the rutt age Ii the
etI ong, trees snall rise from whose Dfanches We
snail near the songs oil the birds vi heaven.