The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-02-03
WEDNESDAY,, FEB. ?, 1879.
religion ana tIie Times,

Probably there never has been time
in tho history Of Christianity when the
subject of religion has excited such in.
tense and widespread interest as the
present PROF. Tyndalls Belfast address
before the British Association, supposed
by many ignorant persons to be studied
and direct attack upon the existence Of
God, Is now seen to be the contribution Of
an independent and fearless thinker to
the greatest problem Of tho age. Since
the delivery Of that address, Prof, 7, has
explicitly disclaimed any itheistic de-
signs, and acknowledges his ignorance Of
tho great mystery Of life and Nature.
The long.expected work of DR., Draper,
on the History Of the Conflict between
Religion and Science" has had an i'm
mense sale, and has been republished in
nearly all the leading capitals Of Europe.
James Martineau has just given a work
to tho public entitled, Religion as Al.
iected by Modern Materialism." He con-
tFoverts the pFetensiOns Of the physical
sciences to hold dominion over the entire
Geld Of knowledge, No books sells well
as those bearing directly or indirectly
upon the great subject of religion, The
New York daiIies every Monday morn,
ing devote large portion Of their space
topublishing the sermons Of great diylues
delivered the preceding day, ItbaCom.
mon complaint OHthe part Of dyspcptic
and morbid diyihes that this Is very de.
generate age; that very few persons are
regular and deyout in their attendance
upon the preaching Of the Gospel, and
that the theatre is more popular than the
church, They appear to forgot that the
pulpit is no longer the only medium Of
communicating religious thought, They
seem to bO obliviOus to the fact that
books, pamphlets, magazines and news
papers teen with religious discussions.
Henry Ward BCeCher, David Swing, Phil
Up Brooke, DR.. Hall, Bishop Simpson and
such broad, catholicpreachers everywhere
arc greeted by immense crowds. No com.
plants are heard from them about the
loss Of interest on the subject Of religion,
The charge made by many preachers that
1t Is the innate depravity Of the human
heart that keeps tho people away from
church, Is sufficiently refutod by the fact
that whenever men who comprehend the
spirit Of the age take upon themselves the
office Of religious instruction, they never
lack for attentive and intelligent hearers.
This is all nge Of unbounded license in
thought. 1t cannot be denied that the
human mind, by natural and inevitable
reaction, Is surely tending, after It's long
vassalagc, to liccntiOus speculation. Old
institutions are fearlessly subjected to u
keen scrutiny, and nothing will Stand
that cannot bear calm investigation.
This free inquiry cannot exist with.
out generating degree Of scepticism.
sccpticism cannot be met by scnseless
dOgmatism. Unjust be met intelligently,
in a spirit Of sympathy and candor by
those who aspire to he religious teachers.
The great subjects Of God, duty, immor.
tally, have not lost their power over the
human mind, and never has there been a
greater desire to know the truth in regard
to them. The religion Of tho ago must
DO able to give reason for ia hope.
Venerable names can no longer be sub
stituted for calm inquiry into the ma.
ture and authority Of religion. Threats
Of eternal punishment will not stiAe
doubts, or answer sincere objections. Be.
fore the bar Of enlightened and unpreju.
diced reason, the true foundations and
evidences Of religion must be clearly and
convincingly exhibited. Then will II be
entitled to receive the hearty Credcnce,
sincere love and implicit obedience Of
mankind.