New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-31

products of thought developed In accordance with me
laws of the human mind and hence comprehensive SO
far as these laws are known The question OF the nat
raj and supernatural he maintains is question OF de
gree. The natural is that OF which know in whole
in part laws; the supernatural is that OF whose
laws at present wholly ignorant. THE do
main of the supernatural diminisbes in the ratio of
the increase Of knowledge and the inference that 1t
also absolutely under the control Of law not only
allowable but obligatory
The religious sentiment Ia Professionally defined as the
feeling which prompts thoughts acts of worship 1t
Is a complex product made up of emotions and IDEAS OF
small moment IN the beginning but expanding with the
growth OF the mind and reaching large proportions In
maturity. The scent of the blossom Is not In the buD
One the most prominent emotions at the awakening of
the religious sentiment is fear. This IL essentially
painful and depressing state of mind but it always in
wolves the presence Of hope. He who has nothing to
hope has nothing fear In the last analysis the two
sentiments may be resolved into wish. All religion,
says william Humboldt, "rests on mental want; we
hope, fear, because wish" The sense OF unrest
which is the general source Of all desires and
wishes, is also the Of all endeavor and
all progress. But the ideal of life is never
attained the vanity Of desire is recompensed 10y
the influence Of love- BY this sentiment. the author
derstands not merely emotion of sense but product
the intellect. 1t is the feeling which inspires the
martyr science and religion, love stronger than the
love of woman, and which postpones the Establishments
beauty 10 power OF an Inc ol
reason is working for a remote object Everything
do is a step to something beyond. Conscious provision
is the measure of intelligence Bat there must be
thing which is the final aim of rational action which s
sought for itself alone not instrumental 10 something
else such an object springs from the satisfaction Of
reason, and inspires the sentiment OF love. Love, ac-
cordingy, defined the impression Of rational action
whose end is in itself. In form other, love has
always been the burden Of religions, which have as
sumed in turn the guse OF selllove seXlove love of
country. and love OF humanity chcrishing in each the
germ Of the highest love which alone is the parent of its
last aud only perfect embodiment. All the lower forms
Of love point to to which they the gradual ascent
both Of the individual and grander scale of tn
racethat is the love OF God This is the passion for
the highest atainable truth, passion, which az duy
prompts the strongest action and to the utter sacrifice
OF all other longngs.
The authors explanation OF the ancient maxim that
ignorance is the mother OF devotion, throws strong
light the scope of his philosophy. The maxim. be
argues in the that the emotion OF religious
fear does apply to known power ior example, 10
the movement OF an opposing army or to the action OF
gravity avalanche. The prayer which under such
circumstances offered is TO the unknown intelligence
which supposed control the invisible forces. As the
knowledge OF physical laws extends the object of prayer
becomes more remote. What formerly feared We
learn govern. If lightning rods invariably protected
houses no would pray God TO avert the thunder
lessons and the which excite devotion diminish ~
plumber and change in character. This train Of thought
carried for by the author that he supposes state
OF things in which the prevailing forms of religion would
find place, that ia to say i'll community, in which
science had reached perfection in the arts of liie IN |
which by skilled adaptations of machinery accidents BY
sea and land quite avoided; in which con |
summate agriculture rendered want and poverty un |
known; in which a wise hygiene completely guarded |
araiu paulpss extinction Of life in |
advanced age removed the gloom ana terror OF death
But the discussion OF religion, Dr. Brnton suggests
hat too much stress has been laid upon the emotional |
elements. John Stuart MILL Professor Balm. Dean Man
sell each represents religion affair Of the feelings
The sense of dependence is constantly quoted as tae
adical element of religious thought Theodore Park't
n America and schlcermacher in Germany were bril- |
liant opponents of this doctrine. But in fact every form
If religion uncOnsciOusy certain premises IN
eason which give impulse and character TO It's emo
ional manifestations. In the opinion Of the author
hese may be reduced TO three postuates namely there
order in the universe, this order - one OF intelligence
md all intelligence is one in kpd. The conclusion from
hose postuates, at which the author arrives, after
one and rigid process of logical analysis is the conccp
ion OF an Intelligence in which ali truth is without any
aiu Of error Not only is such conception possible.
,u it is necessary in order 10 complete the scientific
induction Of sphere of thought from which all
limits are withdrawn that Is forced upon by the dem
,ustrations of the exact sciences. We thus reach the
foundation for faith in a moral government OF the
world which it has been the uniform characteristic Of
religion TO assert But this government not that Of the
10 Lar religious ta,@ . tender sentiments md no
occ in this convention of the of universal 9rdc
I'm the cosmos which nhablt where each ape>S is
sun. mans destiny plays microscopic Part Religion
has taught the abnogaton OF self science teaches the
humiliation OF the Not with any reference to human
pains or pleasures was TINS Universe spread uaon the
night ana tie Intelligence which pnrsGes its own ends
the Infinite ALI and from first TO last the cham OF
causes which mold human action, measures not is par
poses by the sensations Of man
1t not in power at present even 10 family shadow
forth the final conclusions of the author with regard 10
the religion of the future, and the scientific faith OF hu
mainly. His course of reasoning Isl always maIked by
great analytic subety, that it is not easy 10 folio"
the lights and shades Of his argument without taste
for abstract discussion and the habit Of deep reflection
which are not likely to be found among the mass Of
renders. His work is study i'll the higher themes OF
philosophy, of which there arr few examples IL cannot
fail TO attract the attention Of thinking men, although
it course Of thought is at wide remove from popular
ideas The author shows profound and accurate kno"l
OF the scope scientific research and OF phIos"ph
zeal speculation at the present day lis lnlcIE3bO ~
i cuite suucrnuous TO say is secondhand hut the
fruit Of dilgent study Of the original sources. Nor is
he the disciple of any school More than almost
any recent writer he is inc mas'eI oi lis own
thought. seeking truth in the light OF re son. with
no bondage TO external authority. be is equally
fce in hi, criticisms on Stuart Mil and Herbert spencer
on Goethe, sehopenhauer, and Comt iaiiy recognizing
Their merits but frankly pointing out Their defects he
follows out his line, and if 1t does not LEAD him TO the
goal OF truth il is from lack of sincerity OF purpose or
depth of conviction His tone is that Of man fully III
sprcd with reverence for truth but with little reverence
for ANYTHING else. His structures on many prevailing
.oFo coll b
ism but thew are not uttered with any dogmatic or com
batIve spirit so much in that of searching scientific
criticism He certainly will not be accepted as the
Edpus who has guessed riddl Of the Sphinx but his