The New York herald., 1876-10-16
MODERN RELIGION.

DIscouRsE By PROFESSOR FELIX ADLER, AT
STANDARD HALL.
AZ Standard Hall, In Broadway, above Forty.second
stree yesterday morning, there was assembled largo
congregation tho attrastion being address by Pro-
lessor Felix Adler, advanced thinker. Tho ordor
Of exercises interesting. First quartet, "luo-
mcneo." Mozart; second quartet, ''Peace," Mozart;
and amer the lecture, "Lobgesang" composed BY
Msndclssohp, was sung with nne effect. rhe speakers
dcsk handsomely decorated with flowers, and IL
was situated under balcony constructed for music,
which elegantly gildcd tho effect very good;
the audience, too seemed likc theatre nssembiagc.
chatting gaily and exchanging compliments
until the professor began speak, when
silent attention was given TO hts words He said that
this tho nrst epoch the history OF mankind and
own country In which philosophy could take
heart nation founded ~ mover natlon founded
BEFORE completed tho frat cycle Of its existence when
tho bells out that clcar July night 10 joyuly
celebrate peace May wc continue to hold what IL
honorable OF the legacy tho fsthors left But In
this very Of thanksgiving, world Of vcnslity
and fraud In public officers laid bare. poison
Ing tho air; corruption In private corporations
riie and distrust pcrvaded whole communities, on ao-
count OF which business paralyzod, the standards
OF living have becn changed tho Incomes Of the rich
havo been diminished and tho poor have become
lofty aims on which the moral health Of communities
depend have been undermined-it Is not the freedom
OF v,co but The absence OF virtue Thcse con-
d,sions have been partly recognized. bus
and, fact, are at It's very threshold do not
understand the truo nature Of the vile dsempor that
now preys vtals We are like chronic patients
who change from physician to another, forgetting
that all physicians are expensive We must follow
purcr rules IN the conduct OF life.
The nrst root ofthc evil is removed however by the
downfall OF
TIM ANCIENT poGMAnc sYsrBxs
and there Is far in this than tho superficial OBJ
server will give credit for Yet In them mans duty
was mapped out for him, and grouped about thcm
a great central articles oi iath. YcI where
lcf Why, the very idea suggested IN tho questions
the central conceptions OF life. Goethes Idea OF
religion that 'they who have science and
should have religion" Now, tho possession science
and art by oil it's eminent professors have not
prevented them from having base character, that
as q substitute Tor rcigion science and art may DO
dropped from the discussion, ana come down TO the
book and bell altar and confessional Now, are We
70 ;s.n Sss ss. tho ss'' Ss
CITY OF refuge as the citadel OF our hopesy No In
dim and anccrt vaults OF faith thc spirit lies
fcttcred No Greater and holicr 10 the living day and
the living deeds. In this land OF professcd bcrty
are evory OF labelled On certain questions OF
metaphysics II We disagree with our Trend, nciehbor
or daily companion yon made feel that hcro
is ncxorablc, even II invisible wall rising between
you. We must give way 10
ruE ArPiSiriss SOUL
and give freer plny affections and sympathieA
There boon religion that did emphasize
love, labor and duty; but all the modern religious
preachers mako everything subsidiary to duty to God
Are sherc no other duties 10 develop souls 10
the grand and full stature OF manhood ana wnman
hood Hthis thought had been rcttcr Understood wo
would have been spared the woes with which tho his
tory Of religion has been niicd.
Tho preacher thcn eioquently discourscd tho
philosophy OF modern rcngion IN learned manner.
especially showing his acquaintance with the Oriental
faithA