Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-06

These will disappear only as the truth
itself is proclaimed and disseminated
for mankind are led from the error, not
so much by Remuneration and direct at
tacks as the careful statement OF the
truth concerning those subjects upon
which there is so great miscon.
ception. The actual and only remedy
for the erroneous conceptions and re-
sulting evils aud dangerous tendencies
of Catholic and Evangelical sectarian-
ism is to be sought in the earnest and
enthusiastic dissemination of those
ideas of which universals, more than
any other, should be the representa-
tive and exponent. In so far as man.
kind are converted to the larger truth,
the error is left behind. But it is not
true that, in so far as errors are at.
tackled, the truth is established Now
in the method of the anti-Christian the
error is made the objective point.
Truth is considered chiefly in its re-
iation to some error. AS health is
something more than the antagonist of
disease, light more than the antagonist
OF darkness, so truth is more than the
antagonist of error. But the tendency
of the "anti" Christian attitude aud
method is to consider truth in its one
relation to some error, and to array the
universal Ideas Of natural religion in
opposition to the inevitable limitations
Of historical system. The Free Re-
ligionist claims to employ and repre-
sent the scientific method, Is this
"anti" spirit AID attitude in the least
scientific 2"
Does the geologist make Genesis the
objective point Of his labors?
Would it not be childish in him to
array his theories and his facts of ye,
olosy in antagonism to the dream of
some ancient poet, and to direct more
attention to the old dream than to the
discoveries of the new science ? l. it
necessary for him to exert himself di-
rec,ly against the Mosaic comogony ?
Will not the truth of geology dispel
the errors of Genesis /? Is it not
enough for the scientist to state the
facts quite regardless of all those no
tons that are inconsistent with them
am of opinion that the importance
Of directing the attention Of mankind
to what is vicious in conduct, ignoble
in character, aud erroneous In opinion
is greatly exaggerated Denunciation
of wickcdness contributes but little TO-
ward the reformation of the wicked
The discrediting and exposure of error
of itself adds but little to our know
ledge Of truth. Critic SIN and attack of
the vices and superstitions of the past
or present are useless, if they reveal
no positive truth.
All real reformatory work is con-
structive and creative. Now the anti
Christian position has the appearance
of being almost entirely destructive;
not because it is exclusively des ruct-
i've, but for the reason that the enpha.
sis is put upon the incidental feature
instead OF being pat upon the essential
element and purpose.
SectarIans have shut themselves up
within their little sects. and erected
high walls Now it is unnecessary to
tear down those walls, or to build
Others; it is for Religion to entice man
kind out of their narrow and dlmly
lighted apartments BY showing them
something better than can be found
within.
Let him who would lead the word
towards the truth exert himself in be-
half of the dissemination of whatever
of truth be has found; and, in so far
as his truth gains acceptance, will the
error silently disappear, even as dreams
before the morning light.--Me Mder.
MUSIC IN THE DRAWING-ROOM.