The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-16
MASONIC TEMPLE.

INEQUALITIES OF HUMAN coNDIrIoN-sERMoN
BY REV. MR.. FRoTHINGHAM.
To q congregation which filed tho hall OF Ma
sonic Temple Rev. Mr. rockingham preached yes
terday morning upon "Incquatics OF Human Condi
ton" A multitude OF the most perpexing problems
in regard TO life werc he said involved in this title.
and how TO justify these inequalities was the question
which had tormentcd mankind Atheism had It's root
in the minds OF men who looked at the world and
that some without effort on their part were gifted
with rank, wealth and mental and physical power;
while others doomed to struggle through the
world in poverty and suffering aud with bodies tainted
with hereditary disease SO II respect Of moral
quaiities-men wicked by no fault OF theirs, and
by merit OF their own men we're good The atheist
had only TO multiply these distinctions and insist
and dwell upon them TO make his argument almost
imprcgnable. The thest on hts side has only TO
duce these Inequalities TO the smallest possible number
and TO declare them exist only on the surface And
SO the argument went and so 1t would go long as
these inequalities based upon Providence. Science
alone could cure them, as II science alone that
pointed them out Progress was the law of the intel
and the physical realms and progress implies
slowncss Of motion aud obstacles TO be overcome
Without difficulties 10 surmount humanity would sim
ply stop. Ii the necessity OF making ourselves
better or that toned US TO making ourselves as well
on are. There would be no use OF intellectual
training II there questions TO be solved, no
doubts to DO cleared away.
DISCIPLINE
Mr. Frotnpgham cont ended that the nober qualities
OF heart and mind being to tho necessity
which exists tor their cxertion human hfo and rs
these developed aud expanded IN this world, So in
accordance with the universal law OF progress they
should continue TO expand ~ heaven The principle OF
atheism did not enter into this doctrine OF progress.
MANY OF the greatest and Outrages that have
Cursed humanity the preacher declared, In support OF
his declaration that the abuses and Inequalities do
not their origin IN human nature, have had their
roo, not III human malignny, but In human kindness
He sustained slavery, which originated IN ancient
times In generosity OF those whO IN violation OF pre-
vang CUSTOM spared tho lives OF captives taken in
war took them into their households as servants
The unhappy condition OF woman as a mere chottel
motve-that OF saving them from spoiation In time OF
war by making them rs II were the property OF the
princes. As some men were gwen superior brains
muscles and nerves, destiny followed git fortune
followed endowment and It was natural that things
should follow the same law In human condition
in human endowment Al 1rst inequalities wore few
in number, but human affairs became complex
they multiplied until they infinite, and the
distance the highest and the lowest could not
now TO REMEDY THE WRONGS
Then the preacher took up the subject OF the trent
OF these inequalities Inc Christian method lie
said the respective conditions OF the
weak and tho powerful by teaching the poor that u
was wrong wish u change their station, and that
they bound TO pay homage to their superors and
be grateful for the cold meats thrown 10 them On
the hand taught the rich to be charitable and
KIND tho poor This system In It's ideal provided
happiness Tor the poor man. but his lie was not cut
vaed his heart not enlarged he was not justified
In any ambition. he could not strive; subsorviency
counted his chief attribute. miry place might
be thus overed with flowers and they would look
very sweet would not bear the tread OF manly
foot While all the wretchedncss OF lie came from
the inequalities under discussion, Mr.. Frothingham
argued that all the grandeur OF life came from
thu IN also To get rid Of them must be
the object 81 future education. How 1t to be done?
''Those who are down. said the preacher "must try
up; and those who arc up, besides trying to
climb higher, must remember those who are trying to
get up from the bottom' Hall OF the inequalities in
the world wcre he declared fancui dist: notions
made mems minds; and while the real inequali
ties were comparatively easy 10 remove these
imaginary ones almost ineradicaDe. Men could
not 10 taught look upon their fellows simply as men
they INSISTED upon regarding them as Caucasian men,
as Christian men, or as some other particular KIND
OF men. With q little effort 10 remove tho lancul In
CAPABILITIES within the domain of our own intelligence
some OF the deepest seated wrongs in the world could
be rcmedied at once Mpny an unhappy outcast could
be made believe IN Providence, the preacher said,
II he could Providence reflected IN bis fellow men,
Mr.. rockingham concluded with an eloquent appeal
behalf Of workingmen and OF all who are burdencd
or oppressed.