, 1879-02-02
Felix AdIer's Explanation Of
"The Rising Re-
ligion.'
Less Theological Hair-Splitting
and More Practical
Charity.
The Two Pentecosts; or, A Plea for
Women's Ministrations in
the Pulpit.
James Parton on the Religion Of
the Coming Man---lt Will
Have No Theology.
General Notes, Personals, Sabbath
Smiles To-
Day.
THE RISING RELIGION.

Wednesday evening l2SL -fFO1. FcllX Aulef, 0l
New York, lectured to brilliant audience in
Cincinnati, taking for his theme It The Rising
Religion" the motif of which he declared to BE-
more practical charity and less theological hair
splitting. Following Is an abstract Of the
lecture:
There is no principle more firmly rooted in
the American people than the principle of fair
plsv; fair play between the strong and the
weak, fair play between, the high and the low,
fair play between the old and the new. Week
after week, year in and year out, from ten
thousand pulpits the old religion speaks to
you, and sends forth its utterances, its cxalta-
tions, and at times its denunciatons. am Que
Of small band that is struggling for new
idea. have come to- you tonight, not as an
orator to please you, not as an advocate to
plead before you, but simply rs one who has
certain downright things to say to you, with
certain ideas greatly at heart, and he wishes to
ask you IN the name OF the American principle
. OF fair play to give him IN impartial hearing.
There is 10 doubt that the Liberal movement
is advancing in this country. The fact that
one s7ciety after tile other in the interest OF free
religion is springing up is proof Of it; the fact
that am here before you TO- night, and that you
are here tonight, is evidence Of it. i wish to
speak to YOU row {Qi what we are bound to de-
stroy, and how We intend to destroy, and Of
what we wish to construct, and OF how we wish
to construct it. There are certain doctrines
which. whether we share them OF not, demand
our 1eyerential respect, such as the doctrine of
the existence OF i God and the Immortality of
the soul. Whether We believe them Or not,
they body forth IN concrete shape hopes and
yearnincs which believe to be ineradical in the
human soul But there are certain other doc
trines which we do not respect which are SO
bailefu in their influence that We hold all efforts
commcn1aole that will bring them to their fall:
so poisonous in their influence that in their ven
on they are like suakcs, eorruptiug the source
oi public morals.
will mention few of the coarscr supersti-
tious that prevail anon. the multitude Among
the false views OF religion that bring agouy to
mankind mention the awful doctrine ol HE'LL
You know that the history Of all religions has
been the history Of wars. There has been no
peace between religions from the beginning,
and these wars have been the most desulatinG
that have afflicted mankind. There is no bate
20 bitter as religious hate; no war SO fearful as
religious war; nj cruelty so cruel US religious
cruelty. 1t is strange they should hate each
other when the religions tllcv profess teach that
this hate springs from God Himself, whom they
ADORE pure and all-wisc Being, who, having
the powcr to give intelligence to all His crea-
--ru1rs; and wisdom to ~ioresvG our tenn mpfa-
tions and to fortify us against them, should
have lett all this undone and prepared He'll
for them IN which they shall suffer endless
agonies. What human ingenuity has riyaled
such cruelty. What Nero has ever equalcd it!
What tiend has ever been imagined SO Eendlsh
as such Gods If religion could do naught
else than drive from the human mind this dis
mai nightmare, and give it freedom from these
fictitious dangers. it were Il glorious work.
Mark me well. I do not say that these doctrines
are necessarily dcbasing. IL is possible to draw
sweet honey from the poison flower of Christian
doctrine, but do hold that to those who arc
H.. ~. 4
far as they contribute to weaken them still
more.
do not speak of the Christian only. speak
OF all systems which cling to what is old merely
because it is old, which tester III the hearts and
minds Of men the poison Of insincerity. Friends,
do you wish to know my defiuition of religion:
will try to give it to you. II seems to me in u
country like ours, in Republic, the entire vel
fare Of the State depends upon sincerity aud
honesty. Do you complain OF corruption in
high places; do you complain OF the enbezze-
mcnt of the public funds and Of the corruption
Of private morality! The root and core OF the
disease is insncerIty. Dc TocQueyiile, u wise
obceryer Of American institutions and manners,
lays stress upon the influence which religion
should exercise in Republic Religion should
men from going astray into the paths Of dishon-
esty; religion should stand BY our side and call
out to man. '' Your salvation is in truthfulness,
iii perfect honesty and sincerity" Ii you wish
my definition OF religion, / will say religion, if
It is anything, is tho very science OF sincerity.
lsaid, in,ny introduction, that whether or not
We believe in tie doctrine of the existence of
God, the doctrine deserves rererentia1
respect, and yet we hold that it would
be we'll that men should speak less Of God
been discussing and arguing and contending
concerning God, the Author Of the law,
and the consequence has beep 1hat the law itself
has fallen into neglect Nov, say in the name