The New York herald., 1877-12-24
THE LECTURE SEASON.

PRoFEssoE ADLER EXPLAINS WHY LIBERALS
SHOULD JOIN IN THE RELIGIOUS FEsTI-
vALs.
When at this season Of the year all nations cels-
braod the great festival that had for Its origin peace
on earth and good will toward men" behooved even
liberals 10 inquire into the nature Of religious esti
vais. said Professor Felix Adler NJ Standard Hall
yesterday. It should be remembered that relis-
ous festivals wero based the great seasons created
by nature. He did not desire to stand there
and be understood as throwing . slur upon the
ancient prophets; but tho religion OF the ancient He
brews did not havo pootical justice tor It's corner
stone. Their Jehovah was . heather god, the Same
as their religion was hoathen religion. Their Je-
hovah was thunder goa, who made himself
ming, the same as the Jupiter OF the Crooks.
TINS thunder god had not only bo feared but 10 be
conctated aud The spring OF year required the
good will OF power that had at its command rain,
hail and storms all manner OF sacrifices ged
IN to propitiatc Him. The Christian festivals were
founded upon the sainc pattern nosc Of the Jcws
Even tho Greeks had so 70 speak, Christmas festival
hundred years before Christ was born.
~ was not the great event In Gaiee, not the birth
OF Christ but the ADVENT OF new and brighter sea-
son that mado Christmas to-day not tho fesvel Of
Sect but the festival OF all mankind JOY indeed, II
brought to all our homes, for II not only icst-
val instituted by nature, but consecratcd by the fam
noblcr ana bessr msn YSoy we're Closely to
the festivals OF the nation, but they inspired IN the
reunion OF families that love and good Will which
could on no other Occasion be peculiarly conccn-
trated National festivals also had their significance,
as they gave The nation opportunity to show ns
love OF country and 10 perpe uate by annual ccIebra
tions, this country did the national desire for
existence, AS cxempined by It's magnificent rising In
1861 But after all the Festivals established by nature
like tho coming Christmas showed the true union be-
tween nature ana the people. There was no passion
In the perennial procession Of tho seasons and even
the great geniuscs OF tho world, who we're true
sons of mother nature. reminded that these iest-
vals were the true symbols OF mans experience.
These men held out TO by their doctrines OF evOiu
tion that thcre was unccasng resurrection In this
great drama OF our life, ana that nothing could be
houies The poetry OF this homo fc, ladeed con-
cluded tho Professor, will remain green in the mem
orIes OF children years to come. When laden with
sorrows and careworn they Will chorsh tho recoec-
lion OF the green Christmas troo with It's lights and
iancies Of the iairyiaad Of their childhood.
BIBLICAL VIEW OF THE TEMPERANCE QuEs-
TION.
The Rev. Dr.. Fowler, LII D., delivered lecture
IN the Cooper Instt1to before the American Temper
Union, mainly devoted to the reutal Of the
gumenss OF those who claimed that there biblical
authority for the Of wine and alcohouc sttmuants
He referred to tho long lines OF men who were
to be seen every day at tho doors OF the Excise
Commissioners seeking to obtain licenses to protect
them In traffic that certainly needed protection He
was glad the public had been opened to the sub
ject, and he claimed that the controversy between
the Mayor and Police Commissioners was merely a
temporary and epnemeral mutter compared with The
great evil in question. He thought this controversy
was only straw surface covering that bottomless
abyss known New York politics. OF side show
In which the actors wore trying to make the public
believe IN way they were not going.
Ho was with DR.. Crosby SO lar as he went,
but he regretted that that gentleman did moi
20 far enough. Hc believed II TO be
necessity that The law should be enforced and would
say "arcu" to the work Of those men VINO are push
ing alone tho line in this direction. He nopcd the
traffic would be put down and prayed tor The uttcr an
nihilaioa of this, the great author Of crime. The
question of all questions however, was whether tenn
pcrance was founded on Tho teachings OF tho Bible
He claimed thai 1t was that the Church OF God was
temperance temple and that temperance must 80 up
down with the Bible. Thc Doctor lhen wont into u
searching investigation ot ancient authorities In ro
gard TO what WINE was In the early agos he showed
that the word swine, as used IN the Bible, was sus
ceptible Of various intcrpretaton but none of them
going TO show that IL was used In the sense hich
would justify the OF the vile compounds now pro-
sented under the name OF HIS argument was
very exhaustive this point and seemed TO reflect
tho sentiments oil the audience present