The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
MASONIC TEMPLE.
TIE TnREEroLD RAD1cAL1sM-sEnMoN By TIL

TIE THREEToLD RADICALIsM- SERMON By THE
REV. Mr.. FRoTHrNGHAM.
At the Masonic Temple, yesterday morning. there
was a iuil attendance to hear Mr.. rockingham Tho
congregation was usual Of that intellectual class
which desires hear original thoughts told eloquent
language. Mr.. rockingham began the service by
reading some extracts OF scriptura character, and
after singing OF hymns by Tho choir he gave one
OF those strong manly utterances in the form of
prayer Tor which ne Is so famous Earnestness In The
daily life OF all the burden OF the prayer.
RADICALLY
The subject of the ''rhc Threeiold Radi-
calismn He said that radical truths were fundamental
truths and radical errors that mad deer
root IN the mind. Radicals were therefore people who
sought the roots OF things. They in contrast
with the superficial The word radical came
into use among those who in politics did
want TO anything done except there was rea-
son Tor It. They wanted the best thing and for the
best Thoy were always IN opposition going
to the bottom OF the question always In religion the
same was true Radicalism OF the Oldest
things in the world. In the old Jewish religion the
prophets the radicals against tho priests John
the Baptist the radical of radicals when he said
"I.ove thy neighbor as thyseir and that he would
have mercy The apostles who came after him were
radI Is In the Roman Church hero wore always
radicals In Protestant,sm the Radicals we're always
fourteenth centuries in Germany there wore thorough
radicals OF them said there confusion Tho
Scripturcs-that outside OF you there Christ
IN yourself was the Christ. This radicalsm All
radicals were not alike, no more than were conscrva-
tives. IL all depended on how deep one went down in
getting at the bottom. There conservatives OF
great soul and those among them who were pccantn-
mics. SO, too, with radicals. There were radicals
foolish enough TO know all about the OF jericho
and those who wanted to know about the growth OF
the oaks in the forest There three classes OF
radcas--the theological, the religious and the social.
RADICALS IN THEOLOGY.
The orthodox churches all contained theological radi
calls. These radicals did not relieve the churchs
teachng; they merely went there because some advcn
tious circumstance brought them, such living In the
nelghOorhood. Mathew Arnold was perhaps the best
representative OF the theoligal radical, the kconest
seeker alter the root He said that the doctrines of
the Church kept away the Bible from the people, Tho
radical truth, said Mr. Arnold, was that mere was
supreme Beng working for truth and righteousness
among men ana ali else was merely painting. Yet Mr..
Arnold was conservative he would have the Church
OF Rome remain intact as pictorial church But Mr..
Arnold was an arisocra, moving in the best circles in
England Men like this were taking away tho blind
nesses IRON mems eyes, We could not dispense with
such mcn--not with voItaire or Rousseau--tnesc men
had all answered some questions that none but they
could answer.
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS RADICALS
In the religious radical the motive power was feeling.
He not satisfied with liturgy, he wanted TO feel.
The communion bread was stale 10 him. and the com
munion VINE smell strongly Of alcohol Tho religious
radical wanted TO feel The real radical had sense Of
The mystery OF things IL was more worshipiul for
him TO 20 out to the field, where no could see the
flowing stream and natures other charms. There was
where ne could worship without thinking OF tho
dogmas. Destroy tho pety OF some you would
destroy the creed Tho religious radical always
theological radical This sort oil sided INTO tho
social radical Tor he felt Tor The poor, had sympathetic
thoughts Tor his suffering ncighbor The leaning Tor
religion brought people TO social goodness, Tor II
worked into human sympathy, into justice and tho
knowledge OF the difference between rignt and
wrong. Tho sense OF righteousness became
outraged in men, and there was then a
desire 10 get at the root Of cardinal wrongs
Pope Plus TX. began his career as n reiormer. He
said 10 himself That II the Church was. rcdecmer
oil men 1t his duty as representative OF the FISH
crman to be rciormcr But the priests objected aud
Popc could not act ne wshed but tor that one
moment OF carnestness which he displayed all Europe
looked on with admiration The abolition movement
In this country a religious radicalism Those who
believed 10 abolition left the churches because they
would not worship with those who would uphold
slavery. They respected the majesty OF justice and
acted accordingly.
IEyvoI.
The radical must not expect to be carried along on
the ho must be roady 10 bear tho bumps and
msnaps which might beiall him, and TO bail out his
boat AT lncs lest he might sink He believer OF
the vital things and great worshippcr approach.
ing the reality OF life. Tho greatest radicals Of thus
generation Carlyle and Emcrson--wcrow orshppers,
full OF divine feeling and ecsacy. The radical was
really the earnest man or woman