The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-29
MASONIC TEMPLE.

RELIGION AND MORALITY Considered APART
rnoM EACH oTHEn-sERMoN BY MIR. o. b.
FRorHINGHAM.
Tho subject Of Mr.. o. b. Frotningham's discourse
In Masonic Temple was ''koiigion and Morality Con.
sdsred Apart from Each o,hcr." Al the outset Mr..
Frothfngham read extracts from the Talmud and tho
sacred authoiogics OF the Hindoos, Persans, Egyp-
othor chstoric peoples, IRON which ira
diltonai records he drew illustrations support oil
his theory In treating the subject he sald:wc hear
through our communities that a decline Of religious
belief will be followed ny corresponding decline in
morality among tho people; that thcre will be
NO Iosgor felt tho overwhelming idea OF tina.
SELF sustaining sense Of duty winch keeps In
The right path. IL Is apprehonded that disbelief
ihc dogma OF nell will DO followed by moral disnte-
grafton among tho masses, who, having nothing 10
fear IN the shape Of punishment hereafter will aban
don themselves 10 low, animal and brutal pursuits.
IL thou that n the beiio In future punishment
be away with tho world must relapse into bar
barism Tho speaker could NOT share that opinion.
lie consendcd that history shows rcngion ana moral
iiy 10 be independent OF each other. The miiliohs
pI India, Africa and Amer,ca-the Buddhists Brah-
MINIS, Mohammedans and believers IN tue treat
sprt-have pevcr dreamed OF such tnng ms religion
governing morality. inc idea OF any intimate con-
pection between things religious and moral Ia ~ DO
found only In Hebrew aud IN Monammcdan countries.
THIS iath In the course OF many ages passed into the
early Church oil Rome and thence into all denomina-
o Christian countries oil western
In Europe the prevailing idea ID thdt religion aud
morality u aud the same thing. but 10 other
portions oi the globe this 10 not the case The idea
prevails IN New York that morality depends upoWre-
bgon tor it's cxistcncc; here, however, as well as in
Chicago aud other places, this dogma IL strongly
questioned. Mr.. rockingham now claimed tnst
Toieroncu 10 any OF Lhe ola forms OF faith known 10
the worlds history would show that TIER object
always was 70 reconcile with offended tod.
while tho OF morality always has been aud TO
make hun Just hls pcIgnDor and happy In his
socisi condition. Religion directs IT'S Efforts
90 the Precipitation Of Gods good viii
aud to the attainment OF the Kingdom
which IL 10 believed will como hereafter. while mo-
rality " contsntcd 10 make honest men progressive.
Il 10 clear that idea may exist OF Itself en-
tircly without he ether supposng, for the sake Of
argument, that cburcncs OF all demon nations we're
abolished moraiity would not disappear with the M,
but. the contrary, IL would so on teaching men
Inc right limo oil duty as neretoore. According TO
lbc teachings Of modern religion men may DO morally
EIcked and worthless. yct aJccty religious cringoDg
10 the priests and buying up ny gts The powers they
tear thus morsllty and religion never woro do
pendent upon each othcr: anu lar the religion
81 the IN this city The teachings Of
lin concluding tho preacher was OF opinion thai In
of these anu similar progressive changes
which tended 10 show that morality 10 aud always
has been comp,cseiy independent Of religion, he boz
ieved thai morals OF tue ctvzed world are pro-
ersssing day by day In the drscton Of that pcricc
ton "a which me great and good 20 ardeny aspire.