The New York herald., 1877-11-20
"THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY"
NEW SCHOOL FOR THE ETHICAL TRAINING
OF AMERICAN YourH-IsTERvIEw WITH PRO-
FEssoE FELIX ADLER, THE FOUNDER OF A


OF AMERICAN YoUrH-IsTERvIEw WITH PRO-
FEssoE FELIX ADLER, THE FOUNDER OF
NEW RELIGION
On Sunday morning last after Professor Felix Adler
had concluded his sermon the Religion OF HUI
manity" at Standard Hall, he stated that view OF
the many applications received by h,m from various
parties In regard to the organization OF school whore
the principles OF this religion could be inculcated TO
the youth OF America he would be pleased meet
parents and guardians and confer with them on tho
subject. Among the audience who usually frequent
the Professors Sunday morning lectures are to be
found always many merchants importers and bank
ers, tner daughters and wives, and OF these IL
noticed at the time quite number availed themselves
OF the invitation to confer Professor Adler in re-
gard 10 the new school SO crowded was the ante
room, however, ana eager was the desire OF many
TO participate in the conference, that the ann ana oo-
ect OF the new school could only be conjccturcd by
those who had witnessed the crowds attendant upon
the Professors lectures.
.Are most OF these people lows and Cor
mans Z" asked HERALD reporter OF a me mber Of the
society.
"rhere are large number OF German Jews among
the members Of tho society but quite q number of
Americans, and even Irishmen are upon the roll Of
membcrsnp-those who were Christians and VINO
nave separated themselves from the regular Church,
"come-outers," as they used to be called This move
menL you see, to participate the School Conference
Is the result OF a spontaneous call made by most OF
them Tor several weeks past and response TO
that call that the decision has been at by the
Board Of Trustees organize school Tor the beneat
OF the children OF memDers.n
THE OFFICERS OF NEW CHURCH.
II was iurther ascertainea that The Society for the
Promotion OF Ethical culture numbers from TWO hun.
dred and hity 10 three hundred members, VINO are
taxed at the minimum rate Of 10 per annum, though
OF course, they are AT liberty to subscribe 10 tho
socety's funds whatever their means allow
Mr. Joseph Sellgman, the banker, Is the chair
man OF the Buaru oi Trustees, aud Mr.. Laut rbacn
the vice charman. The steaay growth OF this society,"
having tor It's main object total estrangcment OF the
masses from tue religious dosmas OF the past aud tha
establishment OF school ior children with avowed
purpose oil anagonIsm To all churches, called was
considered OF sufficient importance Tor representu-
tive IRON the HERALD 10 ascertain all particulars IN
regard " tins Innovation in the religious world.
THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE NEW RELIGION.
He found Professor Felix Adler, the and spirit
OF this new movement ut his residen Lexington
avenue. Modest anu difiident the extreme, tho
young professor, who aims 10 be the founder OF
reig ION, eschcwed all and every uesire
paper notorcty. The gentlemen wno had organ lied
the Society tor the Promotion OF Ethical Cutlre he
said were already assured Of success and tho
tney desired to have lncucaIed growing percep
ubly anu steadily without any particular effort Es-
peciai!y vas y 50 wl.n the school they intended to
establish II Was important bring up their chl ldren
ia manner that accord with The religious
principles OF their parents, and as all OF them only
regarded inc school enterprise As an exper ment il
would be better 10 watch It's progress Tor whc
then spread all tho details before lhc pubic
THE SCHOOL FUTURE.
Upon being further pressed Professor Aler became
more communicative. He SAID he iell greatly tho I'M
menso responsipity which ne had taken upon nm-
sell, but N view Of the constant grow liberalism
IN our midst, which was not confined 10 Now York
but extended to New Haven, Boston, and other
New England towIs, ~ was important that something
should be done o secure peranence Ior the sys-
tenn II could only DO made permanent by tho estuD-
lishment OF schools The Roman Catholics always
understood this, hence their great Their doc
trno was that he who had schools had the uture
mere experiment that might snow great results ana
would smooth the paths OF the youth in their future
lives hold them fast TO proper religious views, make
better men and better women oi thcfn ana enaDo
them, at mature age, 10 Uattle Tor the rignt wlth
weapons which they were taught how handle their
youn The society Tor the Promotion oil Ethical Cut
now composed OF a permanent constltuency
1t mad an existence and enthusiasts really sup
ported by the best men and women OF New York,s
society. Their work was only half done, however, If
the youth were not looked aiter. and II only alter
having been repeatedly appealed to by parents and
take tho place OF the Ordinary sunday school that he
had consented to inaugurate new system OF religious
training iOr The children oil liberals.
THE NEW SYSTEM or TEACHING RELIGION.
The system would be twolold. There would bo an
ethical training oi children IRON ten years to ma
tury. They would not be instructed IN any ono re-
ligous system. but IN religion generally. They would
receive systematic instruction IN the history OF al
religions, thus embracing the nobest religious sys-
tens oil the world. They would be able TO take tho
very best out OF Buddhism, Monammedanism Juda-
ism and Christianity. There was some duality oi rot
,enuess IN them ALL and the pc, uar of
would enable the CHILD TO group them In a that
would present perfect harmony OF Ideas.
The highest class for adults would be instructed in
tho philosophy oil ethics
There was already class tcng organ lied now for
boys and girls OF thirteen u teen years age but
under the proposed new system there would be a
marked difference IN the religious Instruction oi ch-
drcn and that OF The more advan youth.
TnE NEW SCHOOL TO BE OPENED WEEK.
On Sunday next ne would announce tho day when
the new school would DO opened, winch would rot be
delayed beyond next week. and tho religious nstruc
ion OF the youth placed under his charge would then
be open TO The exam nation and criticism of press
ana the pubiic. At the conference with parents
all were nthusastc for HIM to enter upon his LABOR
at once. He feared not but that the school ii
successful, would aid materially the spread OF these
Humanitarian ideas and would be a vast bencht to the
entire community.