The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-16
No. 80


same faith. The diversities of character
and education among its disciples soon led,
however, to doctrinal disputes and discus
sion, which spread and ramiied IS the area
of it's conquests extended, so that in 9 com
parative,y short period the number of its
conflicting sects became almost countless,
and their pecuharities, to q modern iu-
quirer, incomprehensible. The natural evils
OF the human heart, which no religion has
as yet been able totally TO subdue, also had
their share IN developing new differences,
and the absorption Of the pagan element Of
the Roman empire brought still another in
huence TO bear on the growth of the church.
The result was that in less than four CEN
turies after the crucifXion, an elaborate sys-
tenn of theology had been built over and
around the creed of the first apostles, and
the plain facts of the Gospel history were
buried under whole libraries If polemicsl
dissertations. Ever since then, too, human
ingenuity has been busy in still further re-
finlng and hair-spli:ting on theological dog
mas, until it has become impossible 10 say.
precisely, what Christianity is and what It ia
not.
To some minds this condition Of things is
discouraging. They are ready to declare
that Christianity has faiied, aud that its
ing in extinction. A m re philosophical
view of the case reveals grounds for expect
ing just the contrary result. II we may
forecast the future of Christianity by the
progress of humanity under its auspices in
other departments of mental activity, it
prosperity is just beginning, and will event.
ually attain u height heretofore unknown to
it.
Take, for example, the natural sciences.
They have all passed from a state of pure
infantIle simplicity Of observation into =
complicated diversity of facts obtained, and
theories upon those facts. Astronomy,
chemistry, physics and geology were at first
mere descriptions of natural phenomena as
phenomena, ana of which grew up reason
Ings and disputes and conflicting schools Of
opinion, caused, as we see now, by imper-
iect knowledge. This chaos was at last, Ia
each case, reduced to order by the promul-
cation of few easily comprehended prin,
clples, which, while leaving room for differ
ence in regard to details, now unite the
whole scientific world on common ground.
There is no longer any question as to the
relations of the sun and planets, the compo-
sition of gases, liquids and solids, the laws
of motion, or the existence of animal and
vegetable life in prehistoric ages. The ten
dency of modern science is toward the re
moval of every apparent discrepancy and
conflict in the domain of nature, and TO Ide-
monstrate the reign of harmonious law
throughout the whole of it.
In politics similar progress toward scien-
tifc harmony has been effected. The gov
ernments of all civilized countries are based
upon the same principles, and administer
laws which, agreeing in spirit, are almost
identical in form. International treaties ex-
press the recognition of q common interest,
which has supplanted in the estimation of
statesmen the old-lashioned jealousy Of rival
powers. Even war itself has been reduced
to a system, and is waged according, to uni
versally accepted rules. The caprice Of an
individual no longer swaYs the desnnies OF
whole people, and s0vereigns, despotic in
name, are in fact obedient to public opin-
ion which controls their actions. The world,
from being congerles of clashing elements,
is becoming an organized unit. 'Ti 'i 17n1o
A similar reform is going on in the the
ory of morals. Mankind has arrived pretty
generally at the conclusion that, indepen-
IDENTIFY of the the condemnation OF religion,
sin is bad thing and deserving Of reproba-
ton for its effects upon society, il for no
other reason. The great principle that all
conduct must be judged by its influence for
ROOQ or lOI evil, anu IndL every uCbs -
wicked which is in its nature likely to do
injury to ones fellow creature, is no longer
disputed. The endless discussions OF the
old casuits upon questions of right and
wrong, and their nice balancing of opposing
arguments, have been dismissed as useless
lumber. There is scarcely any case con-
cerning which, If the facts are undisputed,
two men of sound minds will differ IN judg-
ment. What will seem right TO one will
seem right to the other, and what one will
condemn as wrong, both will condemn
unanimously.
This work Of unifcation evidently can
not stop without overtaking Christianity.
Sooner or later it must elucidate the cardi-
nal principles on which the whole syatem
rests, and display them so clearly to the
world that they cannot be denied or even
doubted. When this is done, subordinate
details will take their proper place, and
leave Christianity Is its essence the mistress
of all souls. There will always be different
forms of worship and organization, but
there will be difference, and not an an
tagonism. Nor will there be any coufict
between this emanc: pated Christianity and
science, because Christianity will itself bc
the highest science. Precisely in what shape
the discovery will come it is not for US 20
say, but that it will come, and that it will
! place Christianity upon an Immoyable basis,
| is plain to all who can read aright the slghs
of the times. 7'G '' Inn !