The New York herald., 1878-03-11
SABBATH LECTURES.
THE RIGHT REV. JOHN LANCASTER sPALDING.
BISHOP OF PEORIA, ILL.,, ON THE DECLINE

THE RIGHT REV. JOHN LANCASTER sPALDINGs
BISHOP OF PEORIA, ILL.,, ON THE DECLINE
OF PRoTEsrANrIsM
The Right Rev. Bishop Spading OF Peoria, ILL.,.
lectured last night at ST. MichaePs Church.
Ninth avenue and Thirty second street.
the "Decline OF Protestan,ism." Professionalism,
hc said, was not original faith, but,
as different men would consider it, either develop
ment or dissolution oil original religion-tho
religion OF Christ Whatever there might be 1t OF
force or strength sprang from The Catholic
Church, whence II had desccnded. Tue speaker
would not deny that great abuses had
existed In Chrislendom to cause such
a breaking away IRON the faith In the Middle Ages
he was willing TO recognize there great
evils Not thai tho Church caused these evils for,
the contrary, II the Church had been there ordor
would never have been established But Protestant
ism was not purely religious movement
II was also political and u social movement, Inc po-
hticai character predomnaiing. Its triumph
very rapid. within Gty years from the time that
Luther burned the Pope's bull at Wiitcnburg Prot
estantism had iriumphed in Denmark, IN Sweden, in
all Northern Germany; 1t seemed 10 DO the polut
OF triumphing III Poland Austria and Ba.
and scotland, aud mcnaced France and Belgium
From that point, however. II began to lose ground
aud the Catholic Church gradually won back many OF
the people IN those countries IL was not BY battles
that she regaued her lost ground but by creutng
abuses through her councils.
HALF WAY HOUSE.
For 25o years Protcsianism had not advanced
step. The reason was that II was only stopping
place or halfway mouse between Cithociiy inii-
dehty, holding an iloglcul ana uuteua5lc position.
For $50 years it had renamed nearly sta
tonary because 1t bostered up by tnc
different governments. Having abandoned tue true
Church the state TOOK 1t up, constructed crcods by
acts oil Parliament ana forced them upon the peo-
pie II was IN America only tnat Professionalism
mad had fair chance of being tested by
hNr nlnla nj
Here alone every was free 10 take tho
Bibc aud the Bible only AS his guide, and use II
pectod TO flourish II IL mad any innate vitality. What
was the consequence The strongest aud most iu-
Congregational Cnurcn of New England II was Of
native growth and supported by strong, active
minded aad energetic race. In the early part OF hrs
century the Unitarians broke away from
II, then came tho transcendental school,
the iree lovers, tho women's rights
people, the temperance people; It's members
dividing and adopting all the dinerent theories some
good and some bud, which now prevalent in
the United States, unt now out OF 45, OoO, OOO
OF people the Congregational Churcn could
only number 100000 members The Episcopal
Church was next III Importance 100 years ago.
Methodist Church had Z, 2,O000 0U0 memDe rs--quitc
respectable number IN comparison with the others
whereas, 100 years ago 1t hardly existed. The reason
for us increase was that IT had appealed to he
sentiment OF the people, got up revivals and got
the congregations excited, so that they were really IN
earnest In thinking that they had experienced re-
lglon mstuking sentiment tor religion. They had
also identified themselves with political objects,
coming pro-savery IN the South and anL-s slavery in
the North, step which divided tho Church into two
rreconcaole branches. IL was split up into eleven
different sects
Now, concluded the speaker, tho great mass of the
people were too active and busy to give much time
the study OF theological questions, and seeing
many different beliefs, ended by adopting none.
The speaker then cOntrasted the condition of
these cnurches with that OF the Catholics numbering
now about 100000, and by her inherent vitality
answering the wants OF ALL There hali way, he
declared, between Catholicism and nhdelity.
PROFESSOR ADLER ON SINCERITY AND TRUTH
IN RELIGION.
Professor Felix Adler in introducing tho subject OF
his discourse Standard Hall alluded to the fact that
poets loved TO compare human lie the tempestuous
But the coast line, he said, has been widene
in modern times The weather beaten sailors give US
more information regarding the expanso Of our
aims and ambitions than already know ourselves.
Sincerity is the root OF all excellence No greater de-
csit can easily prac.ised by any one than by
the orator. Yet that deceit would ultimately FAIL
The wavering voice would soon betray tho man,
though he be good speaker II he did not honestly
believe tho sentiments he uttered The true orator
alter ALL Is only an instrument to the breathngs of
his soul. Sincerity at all times has borne great
fruits When at the close of the last century
the SKY Of Europe was redeemed with the
lurd light OF revolution 1t was the
honest reflection OF the loud demands mado
by the people that governments should become
sincere Pestalozzi also when he established the
great principle that the limo had arrived for return
TO things instead Of woris IN the matter OF education
yond doubt that IN all matters, great and small u
ccrIty the excellent thing, how that reli-
gion should be SO inslncere. Nowhere men moro
cowardiy IN advancing toward the trlth than rcli-
gi0n There are any number OF men who do not be-
ieve III the doctrine OF tho Trinity others half sus-
pect that 1t false and still they profess accept
believe uls
upon IT, Using the very same arguments under
a different guise about truth ana falsehood,
they forget tho essential question that the
maker Ot their belief and their adherence TO Is also
subject OF truth and ialschood. We are tod
tnualy that the religion Of humanity Is cold and
cheeriess, because leaves the question OF the iniure
open one but If does any thing at all 1t certainly
Indeed, all the sincerity, all the truth that lives
within us Is needed 10 solve the problem OF lfo
the modern view presents it. When mankind was yet
in It's infancy stretched out It's hands TO grasp the
inGnite; IL saw muses. every lake and mountain
top aud golden trains OF immortal gods pass regu
lar procession. Their rule was Dii lei, however, and
man began 10 look for something wiser. Then came
The laith OF the hear, anu conscience sang ITS
praises TO the good. "Justice rules The world said
monoihcism ~ the glory OF its youth But Tins
questioning confidence also abated time passed
ward. IL was seen and felt tnai justice ana not rule
philosophy constructing arguments TO prove that
there nas God on hlgh and the philosophers be-
gan to prove 1t their faith diminished. The time had
at last arrived wherein all our sincerity was required
draw tho line between the facts the fiction of
these theories. often we might be deceived by tho
emotional value oil ouc goodness that dIctatea these
theories; but "A. arguments they We're utterly value
less. IL WAS Kant, from whom dates the modern
epoch OF philosophy, who first proclaimed that man
might have an idea OF the divinity, but that idea was
proof OF its reality.
DARwiNisM AND NATURE
We who profess tie religion of humanity, hold that
in the presence o the mysteries surrounding the be-
ginning and tie end We are powerlcss. We stand
amazed ana abashed at the inelciency oil our mental
apparatus. We are not scofors against de-
sure 10 enliehlen US Granted, even, that in accord
ance with the great argument OF design, fnsnioncr
an architect, had constructed this universe whole
ccrtaluly could not attribute to ann the quality OF
bong all-wise, Tor DarwiDsm, II nothing else, has
taught US how, aIicr immense ana numerous failures
ana awkward mistakes, creation oil man alone,
leaving aside the vegetable Kingdom, has been
brought to ITS present status. Neither eau We with
our sense OF justice, ADMIRE all he worAings oI
Nature, indeed iujpaics men, breaks them, tortures
I...