The New York herald., 1877-02-05
MASONIC TEMPLE.


now give place to the strength and energy Of the
Christian.
MASONIC TEMPLE.
IRRELIGIoN IN MODERN socIETY-sERMoN BY
REV. o. u. ROCKINGHAM.
Every religion, said Mr.. rockingham yesterday
mornug, has It's own forms. Modern society has
It's form peculiar 10 itself in the religious classes
The rregiou OF the last generation mainly
from France, IRON tho philosophers who preceded
and prepared the way tor ,nc French Revolution
voltare and other like philosophers 1t was brought
TO this country by their followers in France Its
representative England, and for certain period In
snis country, Tom Paine That phase in rreligon
has passed away. Very few to road their books
The works Of voltairo stand the shelves the
library scarcely touched read by the religious pro-
fesson. Tho works of Tom Paine arc a curiosny-no
moro. HIS opinions have influence upon
the working classes OF mind iu the COM
munity. Tho ruling mind OF modern society
is not irreligous IL has passed through
the phase OF the former generation, and by dint OF
culture and enlightenment has emerged upon higher
plane Of faith do not say that II IL Christian, or
likely 10 become so; do not think that II Is. Some
thinkers regard Christianity as u mythology mprcs-
sve the sensitive; others kind 0i superstition;
others, again, institution important ior the pres
ervaton order In society AS system OF faith It IL,
by thoughtful and cultivated people, dismissed But
phase OF irreigion which was prevalent halt Gen.
tury ago has penetrated to what sometimes called
the masses Of socioty-the working people, tho un-
trained, unYchned. Tho untaught have caught these
ideas which have been dismissed by the trained and
educated and refined consequently this Is one or the
pecuares vi irrcIglon--tnat ~, religion among the
people, In the last generation the thoughtful classes
turned their backs upou irreligi0n, aud the people
the working class-wcre dcvouL Now .he thoughtful
Tho cause OF irreixi0n among the
people is not the saGc the religion among
tho elegant ltis common 10 say that irregion due
to science. THIS Is not true Scicnthc men are not
humorous. Their books are few and hard 10 under
stand 1he number OF people, OUTSIDE Of the
trained scientists, who understand scicncc ID very
small indeed The conmon people, as they arc called,
catch here and there crude opinion, u wandering
phase, but The tcuchings OF science tnev cannot un
derstand tho bearings Ui science they cannot follow.
But again. science not rrcgious; on tho contrary,
science crects The pillars upon which religion rests
Science Is u guarantee oil religion in those days. We
a 30 TO science for our religious impressions IL Is
reconciliation between the private heart. the per-
sonal DESIRE the individual purpose and that which
is supreme and constant Mr. FrOthingham spoke vt
length Of the priesthood as tho 6rst
cause Of irrcigion among the people. Ao
spoke OF their tyranny over their subjects
ana their desire keep people in ignorance
thraidom Protestantlsm had It's priests also. The
pastor.was 10 certain sense priest and he believed
that large responsibility OF the irrelgon OF ~ Jay
rested upon the ministers OF religion II they should
stand forth simply as men, Us servants willing to do
theory tnat religion oppressor aud oe OF man
Kind would pass away and ,ts u power. purified, en-
lightened and INSPIRED, would be restored. Another
vi the prevalent rreligon was tho prevalence IN
our modern society OF what could be called tho money
making sprIt-thc universal energy and necessity OF
earning u livelihood. II was seldom considered how
universal this spirit In the past ugc the money
makers wero comparatively lew. Tho mon who con-
trolled finance, VINO laid new tracks OF labor, who
built ships and controlled the markets 0f the world
could he numbered with u lew q large city.
1t longer Every class had It's wares 10 sell.
Every candidate tor the wealth OF the world.
spirit touched every man and woman.
Minister'S OF religion longer lived IN seclusion they
lad time They all nen Of business and their
business be attended 70. They lived lie OF tuF
and FEARS lifted up or dragged down by Rising and
falling STOCKS they lecture write letters and articles
Tor magazines and papurs They must Darn their live
ing like other men, All the country enters into this
great business OF competition There was no time Tor
religious contemplation, and, there being no time,
mind became deadensd and hardened, and this deep.
onej into antlpathy 10 religion. Tho ideas seemed
visionary that not harncssod into some different
interest The IN material things assumed tho
preponderance, ana II told upon belief In God Not
that Cd seemed far OIL, 30 idenl but hat the pe0
pie found they could do without Him. 'Our lilo 10
what make it,' men would say. "What do We
want OF q Providence control lot when thrift
and energy will do tY' THIS was the modern idea.
Tho becI OF God and hereafter becomes unreal. Tho
0uy natural remedy for this religious apathy was cu
ture, education, training and refinement In tho
meantime and wait Tor that end. When II came
men would Gradually lifted up TO higher plane OF
being. When religion emancipated Itself from tho
thrmldom which had been bound; when II should
step forth with all helpful iuuences when
is belief shall simply stand as the bcst Interpretation
il can give Tho divine reality; when its ouoyies
shall stand many helps 10 better, then tho old
light would come buck again. This hatred would give
place 10 love- Religion would longer be the oppres
sor OF mankind, but be adored and giorihed