The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-18

Carthage our own ancestors suffering poverty,
cold and hunger in their war for Independence.
were actuated Ivy a spirit ~ strong and ne gus
tanning as that Of any religious martyr During
our lato war what prodigcs Of self -sacrncc wcre
performed on both sides Parents surrendered
their children husbands parted from wives,
and women lett their comfortable homes fOI tho
service oi the hos pital. not from any religious
sentiment. but from puro lovo Of country. Both
North and South throw Themselves INTO tho
struggle with an cncrgy unsurpassed even ny
the fanaticism ~ M0hammDds followers and
met suffering priyation. and death with heroic
resolution.
Ires common. hat not lcss potent. forces II
u similar nature are that loyo ct adventure
which has sent the sailor around the world and
tho traveller across the wids Of unknown CONT
nents the devotion to scientific truth which ini-
pcls the student 10 give his day. and he nights
10 the scarch for it, and when he has found it to
defend it against the hostility of popular prnJu-
dice: nnl the hatred Of oppre--ion aud wrong
which animat'e the rcformo rs Of social abuses.
Marco Polo, Nasco iii CANA. Columbus. and
Capt Cook could not hayo manifested moro
1oal II hey had boon Christian missionaries;
CopcrnIHus Bruno, AMI Calico could not have
toied moro earnestly. nor suffered moro pa
tontly II they had boon primitive apostles:
nor, to change tho illustration, do the an
nnl- Of any religious organization record in
stances Of moro liz Interested enthusiasm than
was displayed by tho carly uboitionists
and temperance advocates of our own coun-
try. not that the object ought Tor in all these
cases WAS worthy one. but oven conccd. NJ it
To- ycb'ou unworthy ami those who pursued
Il ts have boon mistaken I'm their estimate Of rs
importance. il only show. more clearly the in
'rinsir strength Of the Impulse which drove
them forward
But not only is conduct thus Influenced bv
other sentiments than that 81 religion. hut
opinions and habits of thought arc also formed
ono'her than religious SUBJECTS by rroro-s
similar TO religious education. The chills
faith wee all know. - 'hc result Of teachings
which begin. frequently. as soon as he IAN lisp
prayer ~ his mothers knee. He gots II from
the family worship, from attendance at church
and sunday school, ana from hearing sermons :;
from the books II which 50 many are written
nowadays incucating under the garb of
lction. religious doctrine and, above ALL from
daily conversation with his parents and tins-
folk. Thus Roman CATHOLIC grows NJ 90 boz
Roman Catholic. q Protestant Protestant and
So ON with respect o. all varieties Of religious
crecd-. Nor is this mere assent 70 the doe
irncs involved IN each ease. II is IN earnest
adoption OF th"m AMI often his ted devotion
o. their support. y Muaulay truly says, mon
VIII hght io tho death ana prosecute without
mercy fora religion whosc t"ncts they do not
understand and whose prercrts they do not
practise. 50 the Trnitarians 10 old prosecuted
tho Arians AMI the Arians the Trinitarians, tho
jews the Christians and III" Christians tho
jews. AMI all ON behalf oi dosnas which prob
ably not ono in n hundred ~ them comprehend-
od This blind devotion To traditional IDEAS is
not indeed So extensively manifested among
cultivated r'op". uut II may sim hc detected ty