The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-24

The Rev. Joseph Cook iectured last night In Asso-
citation Hall, before the Young Mems Christian Assoc
citation, on the subject of "German Ratonalism -
The foundation OF the new German Empire, he said,
mark ed the close or great period Of its philosophy
as well Us OF its history. For education and advanced
man universities, TOR they inaamcd tho
whole field OF culture Germany was tho central
point in the commerce OF ideas. There were ten
principal causes Of the former prevalence OF rational
Ism in Germany. The fragmcntary presentation Of
Christianity the Arst Of those There was
earncsiness without science, and science without
earnestness; together they would have been
very good, but separately they were Of
no avail The average German nature was not as well
balanced the English, and this gavo rise to tho
most eccentric theories Another fruitful source OF
rationasm In Germany was the absence Of distinction
between the converted and unconverted. In Germany
q CnrfAian meant any VINO had been confirmed,
whether believers or not and II one were 10 ask
whether a person were Christian In the
American sense Of tho word no would have 10 add
some expletve such 'sii he wore good Christian"
or q sincere Christian. The establishment or State
churches another source OF ratonasm. the min
listers Of the Gospel coming to be looked upon az
auonce Of France and the French writers
was another element IN the spread OF rationalism.
French generalization was spread throughout Ter.
many ana it was thought fashionable 10 follow
French ideas, a custom which has but lately been
abandoned The Generalization caused by successive
and rationalism. the lecturer here dwelt a.
length on the history OF tho wars OF
hundred years. During the Thirty Years. War, he
said Germany was bowling hunting ground LOT the
rabble OF all nations. One-haf Of her population were
killed that time. and the State was spit up into
petty political Fragments For two centuries after that
war Germany founded no colony and her nag was NOT
visible on any The support gwen by the state
churches to absoutsm In politics also aided rational
ism. Red republicansm was yet such terror TO Eu-
ROPE ha wn mho naa 20 WITH great
advantage. As late as lo4o ooth otate aud
Church in Germany united IN resisting repuo-
licansm. II was found that inidelity grew strong
under oppressive and weak under just regulations.
German university life was next dwelt upon by the
speaker the inspiration Of all her thought and as
type of the prevailing opinions Very little selical
doctrine was taught prayer meetings ana church
methods generally were neglected. indivlduaI opln-
ION which was hndered In expression IN the drec-
ton oil political or religious systems found
vent IN the most absurd aud varying philosophical
tenets Again, the professors were very lond Of at
tracing crowds their lecture rooms by the newness
or eccentricty of their DOCTRINES America gov
erned by maortes, England by the arIst0cracy and
Germany by hor There were seven parts to
German societythc great the civil service, tho army
tho universities, tho nobility, the tradcsnon and the
Another source OF rationalism the overthrow OF
systems OF philosophy on which parts OF Christian
doctrine mad unwisely been based. Al the present
day there was a tendency 10 return TO the Arstotcan
methods aud nearly as much attention was paid 70
the history Of philosophy as 70 pnosopny iese,
and Il received from the State. II the msmbers OF
churon wanted ratonalistc preacher all they would
they could have him without losing any
OF their cm0luments derived from the State.
Thus rat,on-Ilsm helped sso, om o "in m
too poor TO pay IT'S own expenses, but IN Germany
the government oaves and fishes Kept It together
There three OF supporting churches-Church
and state separate each Tor ITSELF AS In America;
one exclusive state Church, as IN England, or
the concurrent establish different organiza-
tions as IN Germany. The last cause OF ratonalism
enumerated by tho speaker was Romanism. II pre-
vented half the German people from seeing what
Church accomplish, and made tho lifc
of the German peasantry prolonged Childhood
1t sought destroy the Empire, whose presence was
concluded by tracing The decline OF ratonalism IN
Germany and expressing his hopes Of glorious future
for that favored country.
1.-THE RIPLEY FAMILY IN EUROPE
Mr.. r j. De Cordova opened his Friday night series
OF lectures at Chickering Ha last evening with his
new lecture entitled "rhe Ripley Family in Europe"
The house filed by fashionable and
appreciaIivs audience. Tho lecture is Of the
satrical type, and portrays the adventures,
or rather misadventurcs, OF family OF rich but
uneducated and vulgar Americans who 'do" London
and Paris IN their own sovereign way. The lecturer
commenced by saying that there vero those who went
abroad for wool ana came back snorn. Besides those
who go Europe TO: business there are those who so
Tor the purpose Of saying they have been there.
Others so for economythey can live SO much cheaper
there, you Know, than they can in the expensive
hotels in New York Others go because they prefer,
or pretend to prefer, European to American society.
Others 60 for their health, others TO please
their wives and daughters, and others again 20
because they have a mind to. In the case OF the
RIpleys II vas decided they should because It was
she best way OF educating or polishing the two young
scions OF this house OF humble origin They came 10
New York TO make preparations for the voyage. Ma
aaa' Inc h Frsnnh nsiore INC
and German is engaged as tutor. The elder
Ripley views the sights OF tho city, while Madam
Ripley sails through the millinery and dry goods
establishments buying up IN outfit The old gentie-
mans first experience OF New York life Is to purchase
at his MOTEL passage tickets by the CuDard line
half price from sharper or course IL is the ancient
swinde. The next Is, while taking stroll through
Central Park, he Is asked to take charge Of baby
while its mother looks for a lost bracelet II is old
joke, but Cordova works II up rather anus
incy. AS for the languages, he says there is no
trouble about the French II Is to learn the English
language that they may be able to understand IL in
England, where he mas been told that they do not
speak correctly their own vcrnacuar. The first i'm
pressons OF the Ripeys abroad are rather favorable
cab hire ~ so cheap London s made a stopping pace
for several days. and the head OF the family oppor
tunty display his vugarty and Americansms before
intelligent Enslshmen He is asked II he Is nterested
the Parliamentary debates. Cant say am. Can't
get thu hang OF them. Cant get them through my
hsir.o The Britisher does not comprehe him, but
observes that an important railroad matter is up in
Parliament, in which very ricn company is much
go Tor whom?n "The rich company" s.what
iorY" "To make them plank down the spon-
doolix; to get them to put their money where
it win do the most good. You know how
the old thing worksl" The Englishmun rctircs
oisgusted lie wants to go 10 Regcn, street and
Is directed 10 10 through Hyde PARK the
nearest way. He misses The route and eccosts Eng
lsh military officer and hears what he considers
other sample of the abominable manner IN
wnicn the English speak English. "Nelghbor,
you show me the nearest way Re-
gent street," "My deah felah, don't know what
you mean by ncghbah, but II you want TO 20 to We
gent street you must wound and take the wight hand
woad you take any other you'll bring up against tho
park waingn on Tor PARIS Miss Matilda to
make use OF her French and very amusing use she
makes OF i. The iathcr OF the family is also plunged
into ludcrous situations several funny
depicted.
The return OF the Ripleys TO their home IN Sum-
Vile and the rapture with which the elder halls his
lIverance from loregn lands and his restoration
this glorious, free and enlightened country hu-
morousy described in the concluding sentences tho
lecture.
THE LIBERAL CLUB SNEEZE.
RED PEPPER AND ITS EEFECrs-LAUGHABLE