The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20
STANDARD HALL.

THE CONSCIENCE OF MANKIND PROTESTS AGAINST
Observation-Disclosures BY PROFESSOR ADLER.
The commandment of truthfuness is, as it were, an
epitome Of all the duties man owes to himself, was
the commencement of Professor Felix Adler lecture
yesterday, and he contnued:-At hrst sight 1t may
appear If essential truthfuness impossible.
1t is said no knows what the truth really is. and
therefore no claim essential veracity. The
philosophers have differed. Ono by one they as
cended the stage of history and delivered
their statements. but there is no unani-
nifty in what they report. Thales says water
is the origin of all things Horaklios fire; Pythagoras
number and Socrates begins to seek the key TO the
riddle in mems souls; Plato follows his footsteps
and constructs the empire of IDEAS Aristotle builds
his mighty system and makes it a fortress and
dungeon for the intellect of for centuries AFTER
After the long interregnum Of the Middle Ages the
rejuvenated genius OF Europe assails again with
vigor the old, old questions. Locke and Hume.
Descartes, Spinoza. Leibntz, Kant and the others
come to the attack. Standing now at the end Of
1900 years Of philosophical discussion, we find that
men far from agreement ever. In re-
ligion. also. there is agreement Every re-
ligion claims to be infallible II the Christian
claims divine authorship for the Bible, the Moham-
medan makes the same claim for the Koran and the
Hindoo for the laws OF Manu-. The old supcrst-
lions upon their pedetas behind their affairs have
gone to sleep and the supersttions Also which
the moderns ADORE are already beginning to nod and
grow drowsy They too, will pass away Even in
| the realm OF science what deemed facts by one
age may be derided az illusions by the next. What
fact was ever deemed so certain as the revo-
| yet this view is partial and unjust. There
| may be diversity. but certain fundamental
the priests of Baa in vain; Luther did not burn the
Pope's bull In vain; Theodore Parker did not de-
| nounce the moral cowardice Of the American
churches In vain. The fundamental point. that mo-
raity and freedom make the substance OF religion Is
established So in science there is residue of
tanty that remains after the fermentation OF change
The rule in science is not TO tell the absolute TRUTH
but absolutely to tell what to il true. Ii this
| also the rule in conduct? Sometimes 1t seems
| cruel to tell the truth, when 1t is u
| question of breaking calamitous news to a
sick person. Or it may even seem immoral
to tell the TRUTH when discover To a cruel pur
sucr the whereabouts OF his innocent victim. Essen
tia truthfnlness consists in advancing the highest
moral good. There is conflict between moral life
and sensual life. Were there disease passions,
| no physical conditions to drag us down, were we
purely reasonable beings acting solely ON reasonable
| motives. then might we accomplish the totality OF
| tho moral commandments Sometimes, then,
must sacrifice the verbal truth to deeper truth but
that never without trouble or trembling of heart.
| AS one confined in narrow room, where the
| atmosphere is foul. longs to escape into the
fresh air. shall We long to escape from the
| spherc OF necessary falschood. into the
fresh breezcs of perfect TRUTH which alone
enjoy the funess of spiritual health come now TO
aqucstion OF truth In religion 1t would be terri
| Bile misunderstanding to suppose that moral good
can DE sacrificed to the interests of n church. OF a
Men pit happiness against TRUTH they exclain, do
| not take from beliefs which make happy"
| Why, II their belief rests conviction. then
not 10000 sceptics. though they had angels
| tongues to plead and demons energies to de-
| stroy, ought to bc able to shake their belief.
| But II they only cling to n belief, lacking
| conviction. because IL makes them 80 happy"
will beg them to 20 TO the nursery and sing Mother
Goose rhymes. for they children and II old then
gray haired children. Your little child peoples the
air with fairies and feels their presence near but
because the belief In fairies makes happy does that
% ecl 10 us
certain beliefs beatiiche point To prove IL that
they are true. II prayer could be answered. what
boon were that The point to prove In that IL IL
swered, col1ating the evidence, demonstrating the
fact. No need show that the belief In
the hereafter may be beautiful and tender
tho point to prove IL that 1t is as
sured But scout with Indignation the
ton in proportion our desires deep. We
volt from the practice of scfdecepion with regard
20 them. and we scorn the baby babblings of immo-
raty guaranteed by revelation and by Scripture.
REVELATION TELLS NOTHING.
Revelation can truly reveal nothiDg tho Scripture
tells us nothing which do not know No. con-
corning the infinite man can never know aught We
ask the sea, but IL has reply. We ask the wind;
10 sweeps heavens lace, IL means and signs,
but II has no reply We question the sleeplcss stars,
and they answer, Through the ages and the cons
we have been faithful sentines at our post fulhl-
ling the law that IL placed upon us; so,
man, do thou remain % faithful sentinel
ut thy post and fulfil the law which liz laid on thee
TO fulfil the law then, IL our wisdom. In view OF
the impcnetrabe mystery ahead amid oil that IL I'M
certain roundabout. there IL one thing ccrtan-our
duty. Larger duties, says the religion, higher
truth. deeper good are its sacraments.
ORTHODOX srASpEns.
Professor Adler IN closing referred to the pricvous
misrepresentation which have been made of free
gion. which, IL anything ut all. liz a moral religion,
during the past week. Every army, Professor