, 1879-05-19
The Laws Relating to It Not Re-
ligious Ordinances, but
Civil Acts.
Individual Conscience Must Step
Aside in Behalf OF the
Public Veal.
DR.. Gurney's Criticism on 1ngersoll and
Applebse, from a Methodist
Standpoint.
Beecher Declares that the News
papers Stand in the Way
OF Christianity.

6eeCneT DeCl4FeS that the NEWS
papers Stand in the Way
| Of Christianity.
= PROF. SWING.
n1sCoRD AND HARMONY OF OPINION. :
| Prof. Swing preached yesterday morning n
the Central Church. taking as his text:
One man csteemeth one day above another, an
! other estcemeth every day nike. Let every man
be fully persuaded in his own mind.-Konans.
! aie.. s.
| As far back as When Paul lived, society had
| begun to be embarrassed by the variety of Its
] ideas. Men equally sincere and thoughtful did
| not reach the same conclusions as to truth and
| duty. While one good man, following bis
premises to their conclusions. was keeping one
day as holy day in each week, another good
man, following all the premises OF which be
knew anything, was keeping all the days rs be-
ing equally worldly and sacred. Instead Of for
bidding either man from holding hts opinion,
instead OF putting to death either one Ut these
reasoners, Paul declared that both must be let
alone, II they held their opinions in all honesty
and without self-injuty or injury to their neigh
bors.:
That variety OF thought which had become q
disturbing force in the days Of the Apostle, is
present In the earth to-day in much greater
dimensions. and furnishes US with one of the
problems OF our age. While truth is itself one,
yet man cannot always find this one essence;
but, on the Opposite, it is bis fate to be deceived
by thousand rescmb1ances, and to love these
uuder the impression that they are the thing
resembled. In most Instances the absolute
truth is in the possession of only God. It may
DC that this thought formed part Of the ex-
clamation OF the French preacher, ''God orly
is Great" Man knows not only but t'little, but
be knows badly that little. MANS information
SO often conflicts with itself that it must be ad-
misted that many Of the so-called wise men
would figure very humbly could it be known
what an element OF folly was bound up in
their wisdom.
The reflections which wish to offer this moru-
ing result indeed from the state Of society at
large, but more particularly from that effort
made few days since to assemble the clergy Of
this city for consultation as to the best means
OF securing Sunday Of rest, and order, and
morality. It would seem that the good inten-
tions Of that assemblago were slain, or are in
held by the variety OF men. Reading the re-
marks Of the multiform group, embracing minds
from the most rigid CalTinistic school and from
the most liberal Unitarian school and one can-
not but wonder what will become Of the COM
mon people in those long years which must pass
before such discord Of opinion can possibly be
blended into any perfect concord. II the
common people, in whose behalf q better
Sunday is debated and hoped for, are
to wait until fifty clerg;yme1n3, from
same form OF Sunday, then may God have. !
mercy upon the common people 10 the endless !!
meantime. For that variety Of thought which !
had become visible III Paul's period has become |
larger since, and what was then rivuet has be- !
come majestic river. Il
Mark how rapidly grows the variety OF human !
preference! The temple OF discord is yearly ]
enlarged, and yet it could easily come to pass /
that the temple Of concord should have ao equal
growth and should reveal even ereater hight
and breadth, and sublime architecture. Let
Us note first the fact that the discord Of opinion
increases.
We should have expected such multiplica-
lion OF ideas, for Us the growth OF man is
The growth also Of his. thoughts, ne should
have promised that these recent centuries
which have so enlarged the lumber Of
zreat individuals should have added equally
o the common bulk Of dogmas, and opin-
ons, and sentiments. when liberty and public
education come, with their powers to grow a
multitude Of thinking minds, with such arrival
must come the Increased crop Of things thought
II, and dreamed: OF, and hoped for. In times
II general stupor, or general ignorance, one
mind in power can do the thinking for million
,eople, and for century Of time; but when
hose times come which grow individuals, then
opinions grow, and the gates of the Temple OF
nore ignorance the more peace, because in
and OF ignorance and fnaction one thought or !
lea would supply the whole population. What
70 see in the department Of physical invention
aent and machines. Before the world vas
'akcd up it was satisfied with one form OF pillow,
nd sickle, and cart, nnd boat, and weapon; but, +
'hen the inventive genius was aroused, the null =