The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-26
SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY.

SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY.
Mr.. FRoUDE SAYS THAT WE HAVE ''PRAc-
TIcALLy ELIMINATED PROVIDENCE FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THINGS"
Mr. James Anthony Froudo's essay on ''Science and
Theology" is continued In the Juiy-August number OF
the International Reuiew. After giving a running
commentary on the Lucrcuan creed SIR. Froude
tinues:-
1t would Of course be prsposserous 10 pretend that
there any general resemblance between the state
OF iniDgs uuaer the Roman sovereignty and the pres
ent condition Of Europe and America. Then tho
whole civilized world hold down under q single
aespotism. Now free and powerful nations conii0n
each otner each jealous OF its rights and resoute
honor !" oro,psr,.v And vet 10 ,hs long run the
tate oil cations determined by the convictions abo
the nj ure and OF man ich are en-
bodied IN their policy and are entertained by tue
Ablest thinkers, and everywhere, IL may be said,
opinions are now proiessed by men whom We agree
10 admire and are accepted by politicians as the rule
Of Legislation, which recall the phenomena OF tho
time tbs old order OF things persisted, as high
cultivation It. eli like the blossoming oil plant
the I'm al c0nsummaton OF long series oil past Efforts
whicn prccedes great change. The flower sheds its
petals. Seed vessels develop IN the place oil IL, IRON
which, alter long winter, there arises u new era
Tho nations ei modern Europe, Ike the carly
religion For centuries states and Individuals alike
protested 10 be governed all tnat they thought and
do by the supposed revelation which was given 10
mankind eighteen hunared years ago. Avowsd dis
belief OF IL there mono OF secret silent misgiviDg
there probably very little For prac;icN pur
poses that revelation was accepted fact little
allowing OF doubt as tho com monsst phenomena OF
daily experiences. The universal condolences re-
1 Ss m n'' Jos inc Ss
pagan creed WAS made Incredible by the
legends with which II was overspread, 20
Christianity was overgrown by isrest Of extrava-
gait supersttions. Conscience and intelligence rose
IN revolt and tore them to pieces For time all Was
Vpn fatsh rIx
Church In It's simp ,ci,y. III. Huguobots
IN France, The Lutberans Germany, the Purtans
influence OF religious belief the apostles and first
converts Providence 10 them was NOT form OF
Ess Oc cs ct 2srrss .wsss 10 the % viii
OF toe Almighty as the foundation Of human Law.
The catastrophe OF the French Revolution, with the
enforcement OF the Goddess oil Reason, appeared
the visible irun oil inhdety. The EngIiskgnind WAS
terrified back out OF s uncertainties, aad determned,
called IN question. IL was decided that Hume had
been sufficiently answered by Lardner and P.sy Tho
die returned nearly hau century TO the fixed
convictions 0f earlier times
Behind the banner thus resoluieiy raised came
EFFORT TO restore the influence Of religion on tne
heart and cmOtions. FIRST there Was prom Inent
wal Of evanseiical p'c,y AS t.e wave Of spiritual
stiton and by less sincere and simple but st araent
appeal to tradition aud Catholic prncipes The eaky
vessel has not been rcpareu Tor repairs were impos
slbe, but tho chinks laws IN kcr planking have
been tarred over and paisted. Stained windows
gone back churches the white lignt which
suniced the simple truth leviug Prote-tants has
been replaced by the enervatng tirts dear TO the
devotional soul Organs anc cheristers. affairs and
altar ornaments, line clothes aud proccssons, the
mystery OF the real presence, IN the name o. whlcn
moro crimes have boon perpetrated In Europe than
be laid 70 the charge tho bloody idol IN Tsuris
We have them even now amoug us In iull activity.
The religious mind has set itseii with all might
make things seem what they are not and turn back
the river OF destiny TO II, sacred fountains.
In vain. Practical life has meanwhile gone Its
seyouon pavs pses aaopsa ruo o. po,ca
acton, even conservative Eaglaud; aud slIeatiy,
without noise or opposition, VIC have taken jeremy
Bentnam Tor our practical prophet and have adj
m,ttcd as completely as was admitted cy Augustus
Cnsar or rrsjan, that civil government has object
beyond the material welfare oil the people. The will
oil God has moro place, even ny courtesy, In our
modern statutes. Political economy ~ the creed
winch governs the actions Of public men aud politi-
cal economy, by claiming TO be Interpretation oil
law oil nature dispenscs with Providence, while II
assumes as au axiom that tho masses OF men are
have been and Will DO Influenced by nothing else
than consideration OF material interest
Are wo In an ago OF progressf The income tax do
cidcs The standard OF human value has become
ag,ia what IL was under the Cs,ars and wncn Chris
.ianity came inlo The world 10 declare that not
People continue TO 20 ~ cnurcn They confined then
to 20 10 the temples They say their prayers IN pup
lie, or perhaps IN private So they did then. mo
clergy pray tor nne weather. and on great
casions, such AS the potato Dlight the arcn bishop
Issues special form OF petition Tor its removal But
the clergy and the archbishop are aware ali The time
that Tho evils which hey pray against depend on nat
ural causes, ana thu prayer from aCnristau min
lister viii as lille bring change Of
weather as the incarnation Of Ca1re rain
MAKER Ws keep TO conventional forms, be-
causc mono oil US IKE TO Acknowledge what we all
believe that VIC bcicvc-thc bisnops tue IN selves
more tlan the rost OF than the college
Of ausurs H. Catos time believed IN tue sacred chick
ems An energetic people impatient OF nccriy
and the CONVICTIONS when W. all act upon have at
iast iound voice precisely as conv'ctons of an
analogous kind found VOICE IN Lucretius We have
practicsiy can mated Providence IRON the admins
uasivn Of things. Inc Lucrelian philosophy re-
vyed again. reinforced by vast accumulation
did, that the universe can be accocn ted Tor With
, Out we hypo,aess Of , rrovaence; INC
deny tho existence OF God any more than Epicurcan
ism denied n. IL denies MY that the phenomena
lnem. For time, even alter the authority OF trad.
ton was shaken science seemed to be on tho SIDE OF
urged It was urged BY the Sioics, in proof OF do
signing mind ana as long az eacn species OF plant and
zach one OF them required spccn art Of creation to
bring u INTO being. Both positions are aban
doned by advanced scientific thinkers
In conclusion he says
Mans nature Is tho same as II always was Science
has much 10 teach us, but ITS message 10 not the last
nor tho highest II We may inter the future from tho
past time will come when We shall cease 10 DC dag
xled with The thing which We call progress. when in-
creasioR "wcslih" viii cease 10 satisfy, may, may be
found Incapable OF Doing produced or preserved ex-
cept when reiegated 10 secondary place, when the
illusions which have straagled reigion shall be
burned away and the immortal part of u restored
to It's rightiuI sovereignty. A long, weary road
may he before us Not easily will an inviol-
able atmosphere OF reverence iorm again round spirit
ual faith to warn OF tho insoisnt intruder. Ptety
reverence, humble alteration OF the great Maker OF tho
world are In themselves so beautiful that religious
faith might have remained forever behind that On
chsnted shield, N Imaginative devotion could nave
kept within bounds It's wild demands upon the reason
Not Till Catholics HAD piled superstition on supersti.
ton, not iii Protesisnts mad elaborated spccua-
theology wnich cooscicace we'll rs intellect at
length Hung from u as incredible did the angels wbcn
guarded the shrine fold thsir wings ana ny. The
garden ei Eden IL dessorased now BY the tram Pill ng
Ut centrovcrsy, ana no ingenious rsconoiliatOss OF
religion aud science NO rivers Of casuistic holy water
restore tho ruined loneliness OF tradsnary faith.
But she truth which is IN religion will assert nself
again u asserted itself before society without
God the heart Of u 10 not permitted to exist; and
whom once more a spiritual creed has established
ttseii wnii moo can act In their lives, aud he
ncvs with their whole souls, IL 10 10 be hoped that
they will nave grown wiser ny experience, and will