New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-19

Anthropomorphist, that the undovout astronomer
is mad Though science must destroy mythology,
it can never destroy religion, and TO the astronomer
of the future as well as TO the Psalmist OF Old the
heavens will declare the glory OF God" aL'
The God OF the scenao philosopher is stil ana mus
be. tho God Of the Chrsian tnongn tSeu % has
lie Q1tmata formulas By the aid OF wnich theology nas
sought TO render Deity COMPREHENSIVE nst - VIZ
woncrous Dynanus which inaniists se 70 our eI ho
seriousness In harmonious ACTIVITY thtohShout tuo
length and breadth and depth OF the universe WhCu
guides the stsfs Ior th te de Jrop
that CLEANS for brief hour on the sbayen lawn.wnose
workings reristess that We have nanght 10 90 o
rpycrently OBEY them yet nfaibe that can place
orr mistaken trust m them, YESTERDAY To-Day shu io
eyeri Wheu summing up all activity IN one most cou-
prehcnsiyo eptbet, call It Force, we arc but using
scientific symbol, expressing an anec1on OF our IN
efable Reality. To us therefore. TO the israeue ot
old the very name OF Jehovah IL that when Is Dol W
spoken. Push scientific research Is W vs. We ma
pursuing generalization until all phenomena pas, po
ent, ana future, embraced WITHIN hhSle IN
Ia no nearer the comprehen OF THIS Onnpreseh'
Energy Here science must ever reVelr'y xs,cres
Here religion must hold sway tcmhulhg US ,,e
from brtn until death SO are depehuent oi dtsne"
hose eternal DEGREES must submit, TO whose dlspth-
satons we must resign onrelves, AMI upon whose con-
stancy we may implicitly rely
In regard to the objection. that such view of re-
lcon is too abstract, too cody scientific to DO OF
any practical value Mr. Fiske remarks that the sym
bolization of Deity presented by the profoundest
the capitalization which has resulted from the at
tempts Of antiquity TO perform such an analysis, and
is in every way more satisfactory alike to head and
heart. The statement that the Divine Nature is
"unknowablo" has met with strenuous criticism,
but without any clear perception of the precise sense
in which that symbol il used in the C0smic Phioso-
ply. On this point Mr. Fiske offers few words OF
explanation, which should be taken INTO account,
before deciding on the character OF his system Ac-
cordiug to his exposition, the Divine Nature Is I'M
movable just so far it is not manifested to con-
seriousness through the phenomenal world but IL IS
movable in so far as it is thus manifested. IL Is
uhknowable in so far "a infinite and absolute but
movable in the order OF its phenomenal manifesto
tions: movable. in o symbolic way, as the Power
which is disclosed IN every throb of the mighty
rhythmic life of the Universe; movable as the
eternal Source of Moral Law which is Implicated
with every action of our lives, and in obedience TO
which lies our only guarantee of the happiness
which is incorruptible Thus, though by searching
we NAV not find out God, though we may not COM
pass infnitude, or attain to absolute knowledge we
may at least know all that it to kaoS as
intelligent and responsible beings. They who seek
to know more than this to transcend the conditions
under which alone knowledge is possible are. III
Goethe's profound language, az wise as little chll-
dren who when they have looked into mirror, turn
it around to see what is behind it,"
The concluding chapters of the work will be found
to possess peculiar interest for the majority OF read
ers aselncidating the relation of the Cosme Phoso-
ply to past and present religious beliefs and social
institutions. 1t follows from the doctrine OF EyoiG-
tion that the development of intelligence must be
slow and gradual in its progress No sudden change
in opinion or the order of society are in accord
ance with the analogies of Nature lconOelasm is a
wholly illegitmate process The COsmst. according
w. Will refrain from barren controversy and aim to
carry scientific methods and scientific interpreta-
lions into all departments Of inquiry. His attitude
with regard to opinion must be the same with regard
10 political and social reform. The framework OF
society cannot be violently altered at any given
period without involving partial disinteTation.
No custom or observance can be safely discontinued
until the community has grown to the perception Of
its uselessness or absurdity. AboTe all the integrity
of society depends at last not upon its institutions,
but upon the integrity Of its individual members.
Hence the Cosmist will cherish little faith in exteT-
nal panaceas for the improvement of the world, re-
fnsinq to believe that the millennium can
be coaxed into existence until men have
learned each for himself TO live rightly.
The only UtOpian ideal which he can entertain is
that of contributing to The improvement of man.
kind by leading an upright life, and applying the
to whatever political and social questions may con-
Germ him as a member of progressive community.
Every temptation that is resisted. every sympa-
thetic impulse that is discreetly yielded to, every
noble aspiration that is encouraged, every sinful
Thought that is rtpressed every bitter word that is
withheld adds its little item to the impetus Of the
great movement which is bearing Humanity onward
toward a richer life and higher character Out of
individual recttude comes the Teciltude and happi
ness of the community 20 that the ultimate saliva
ton of mankind is TO be wrought out solely by
obedience TO that religious instinct which, shown
in the preceding chapter urges the individual, ire
spective of utilitaran considerations, to live in
formity to natures requirements Nearer, my God
to Thee is the prayer dictated by the religions faith
Of past ages to which the deepest scientific analysis
of the future may add new meanings, but of which
il can never impair the primary significance"
The reader will thus be able to perceive the scope
and tendency of the CosmIc Philosophy, as ex-
planned in these volumes from the very incomplete
summary which alone it has been possible to give in
the limited space afforded by columns. Ho will
also appreciate the ability gravity, aud good tenn
per with which the discussion is conducted. 1t
would be difficult to give more incid. a more
thorough analysis of a scientific system, than Mr.
Fske has here presented of the theory OF Evolution
His work will accordingly be accepted as O signif-
cant contribution TO the study of philosophy. Nor
should the author bo regarded merely in the posi-
ton of interpreter 10 any previous inquirer. He
recognizes Mr.. Spencer, indeed, his teacher and
guide; but he has nodded the doctrines of his master
into popular FORM surrounded them with fresh and
vivid Illustrations; pointed out their bearing upon
great practical questions of the day; and amply
supplied the reader with materials for forming an
intelligent judgment with respect to their merits