The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-28
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ETHICS.

In his paper on the Sovereignty Of Ethics Mr.
Emerson says many things that are only bound
TO attract attention because said by him. but
they arc about matters are Of great Interest at
the present day.
In the Christianity OF this country says the writer,
there wide difference OF opinion III regard 10 in
spraton prophecy, Miracles tho future state OF the
sUui; every variety Of op,nion and rapid revolution
opinions, IN the last half injury. simply im-
possible 10 old history OF the first century
IL was in the ninth you must uboiisn Ia
your mind the lessons VI all the Centuries from the
ninth to the Nineteenth
Snail make the mistake OF baptizng the daylight,
and time and space, Wy the name OF John or Joshua,
IN whose tent chance TO behold daylight and space
ana timer What anthropomorphists we are In this,
that cannot let moral distinctions bc, but must
mould them INTO human snapsl "Mere moraliiy'
mcans-not put into personal master Of morals.
Our religion Is geographical belongs to time and
place respects aud my th0l0giZss time, and
place, and person and people. So II Us occasional 1t
visits only some exceptional aud ceremonial
casion on wedding or baptism, GU sick bed, or at
funeral or perhaps on sublime national victory or
peace but that DO sure IS not the religion OF the
universal unslcepng providence which turks In tribes,
in st, small voices In the secrets Of the heart and
closest thoughts as efficiently IN our proclAma-
tinns and successes.
Far DO il iron 10 underrate The mon or the
churches that have fixed the hearts Of men and or
ganized devout impulses oracles into good in
sutuuonA The Church OF Rome had its saints and
inspired the conscience Of Europe--St. Auglst,ne
and Thomas kempis, ana Fenelon; the pety OF the
English Cha CHI IN Cranmer, ana Herucrt and Taylor:
the Reformed Church, Scougai: the mystics, Benmen
confess later generation appears ungrt, frivo-
lus, compared with tue religions OF the last Calvin
tstc age There was IN the last century serious ha
buai rcferouce TO the spiritual world running through
diaries, letters and cOnvcrsatoD-yes aud INTO villa
and legal instruments ALSO compared with which
Liberation looks . little toppish and dspper.
The religion OF seventy years ago WAS an iron belt
TO the mind. giving II concentration and force. A
rude people were kept respectable by the determine
ton OF thought on the eternal world. Now mon ial
abroad-want poarty-suifsr IN character and intel
iccL A sleep creeps over sbo great functions OF man.
Enthusiasm goes Out. In stead low prudence
socks 10 hold society starch; but its arms too
shorts cordage and machinery never supply the place
OF lie.
Luther would cut his hand OF sooner than write
theses against Tho Pope II be suspected that he was
bringing with all his mignt the pale negations OF
Boston Uniarianis. Will not now 80 into the INC Ia
physics OF that reaction by which In history period
takes the place OF faith In the leading spirits and
excessive repcct Tor forms out 81 which tho heart
has departed becomes most OBVIOUS In the least reli
gious minds Will not now explore the causes 81 he
result uut the fact must be conceded as OF frequent
lean church. TO q seli-denying ardent church, de-
lighting In rites and ordinances, has succeeded cold,
intellectual race who anaiyzc tho prayer and psalm
OF taoir orcfuthcrs. and The more intellectual reject
every yoke OF authority and custom with petulance
uuprccodcntcd. 1t isa sort OF mark oil prooitx and
sincerity TO declare how little you believe while the
mass oil the community iDdolently follow the Old
forms with childish scrupulosty, and VIC have pune
tuality for iath and good taste for character
But hope the defect Of faith with US Is only appa-
We shall find that freedom has its own guards,
and MS in Tue vulgar runs 70 license sets all
reasonable men on exploring those guards do not
think the summit oil th,s age truly reached or ex-
pressed unless II attain the height which religion and
philosophy reached In any former age III 1 miss the
inspiration of the SAINTS Of caviuIsn, or oil Patons m,
or buddhism, our times are not up to theirs, or
truly, have not yet their own legitimate force.
America shall Introduce q pure religion.
4 lhics thought not 10 satisy affection. But all
The religion We have 10 Tho ethics oil ono or AM
other holy person; rs soon character
appears be sure love VIII, and veneralion, anec-
dotes tables about MIN. and delight OF good
and women in him. And what dee ps vi grandeur and
beauty Known 10 US III ethical truth what dvna-
WONDERFUL eiectuary Tor purgiug tho to search
Tho nature oil those souls that before It. What
arnor 1t ~ to protect the gOod from outward
ward narm, and with. what power II converts evil
nance; Tho power OF 10 presencel To u alone
true irendsnip 20 II come grandeur oil situation aud
poetic perception, enriching all u deals with.
Once thought spirit divine aud matter diabolic;
philosophy recognize the paralleism, the approxna-
ton the unity tho Two; how encb reflects other
answers TO lace III gass; nay, now the laws
OF both one, or how QUE ~ The realization. We
are learning not to fear truth.
The man oil this ago must be matricuated Ia the
university of and tendencies flo ~ing from all
past periods. lie must not be VINO be sur
prised shpwrecked by every bold SUBTLE word
which malignant and acute men may utter IN his hear
Ing but should DO taught all sceptclsms and unbe-
lies aud the destroyer oi all Card houses and
paper walls and the sitter vi all OPINIONS by beng put
face lace from his infancy with reality.
A who has accustomed himself TO look NJ all
his circumstances very nutabie, TO carry his pos
sessions his relations to persons, aud his opin-
IONS In HIS hand, and In all those 10 pierce
principle and moral law, and everywhere 10 1Dd that
put himself DOT OF the reach Of all SC ptIcsm and
as II Whatever 10 most affecting and sublime
Intercourse IN our happiness and in iossos,
tended steadily TO upit Us to life 50 extraordinary,
and, Que might say, superhunan.