The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-27
STANDARD HALL.
THE FUTURE OF FREE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BY
PROFESSOR ADLER.

THE FUTURE OF FREE REIIGIoN-LECTURE BY
PROFESSOR ADLER.
Max Muller speaks of eight great religions, said
Professor Adler in his discourse, and divides them
into two classes. the missionary and the non-mis-
sionary. Christianity he classes with the former
Judaism with the latter. But the distinguished
scholar here to have been betrayed into false
distinction. Judaism also is. in the true sense
missionary. ana claims to be universal religion. but
differs from its daughter Christianity, as to the
means and methods by which this end ought to be
reached. Natures like Emerson's can give to those
unacquanted with the Jewish people insight into
their character Emerson is preeminenty areformer.
yet he shrnks from special of reform Every
practical worker in order to achieve success must
compromise. Emerson will not compromise, he will
content himself with cultvating excellence and full
filling the law of the universe in his own person.
After time the universe will round to such
he. This has been the spirit of the Hebrews. They
entertained high ideas of what life ought to be. but
did not believe the world ripe to receive them They
therefore, contented themselves with holding high
these ideas in their uncontamnated purity in their
own midst. with keeping the light clear among them
selves. After ages the Gentes would come to their
light and kings the brightness of its rising. The
watchword OF the Hebrew people was to wait and trust
Far different is the spirit of the Christian missionary
He has an urgent work of salvation to push. Every
For PHYS sake, therefore, make men believe 1t Is
not very difficult to be saved. One must only
a ticket OF faith and the doors of heaven will be
opened The great charge against Christian mission
airy work is it's reliance externals II copy of the
Bible can be forced on some unwilling hereto that is
esteemed a triumph If the savage is taught to re-
peat the creed he is converted into Christian. An
other complaint against this species of missionary
work is its expensiveness. The British and Ameri
can missionary societies have annual income of
more than S6,O00000. Is the good they accomplish
commensurate with the outlay? Within the last
than one hundred and eight million copies of the
Bible have been issued by Bible societies How much
lasting good might have been accomplished with
the wealth that went to produce these 10o.000,0O0
Bibles. how much sickness might have been averted.
how many children saved from death, how many
despairing souls made happy? Free religion is
necessity even from the standpoint of political
economy. i am well aware that there have been and
are many excellent and noble men among the Chris
tian missionaries. call to mind Ulflas and Boni-
face, and their work among the Germanc tribes.
call to mind Ireland and her MISREPRESENTATION
that is q neglected corner of the intellectual
field, but that was at one time the light Of Europe.
whose green island concentrated the best cul
ture of the west. regard with admiration the men
who cross the steppes and penetrate the wilderness,
and often sacrifice their lives for the sake their
faith. But the good they accomplish is incidental
chiefly and is the acceptable fruit Of their human
ity more than their Christianity.
THE AIM OF FREE RELIGION.
The missionary work of free religion is, in the
first place. work of destruction. We mean. to
destroy, with all the power have to destroy, what
is strong and bad in the prevailing systems. We
attack superstition not only because it is contrary to
common sense, but because 1T deleteriOuS to
public morals. We put away from us the doctrine Of
hell because such an example of vindictive hate in
the person of Him who is esteemed the most adora-
BILE being cannot but react debasngly upon the sent
ments of those who believe such doctrine. We
condemn the doctrine OF human depravity, because
it contributes to make men depraved. We attack
no less unhesitatngly those doctrines ceremonies,
forms of worship, rich in themselves. contain nothing
contrary to goou morals that at time full of
benefcent influence but that antiquated,
that appeal to no living sentiments that are i'll
word, dead We protest that churches and syna-
gogues should not be made charne houses for these
dead things and for exposing the sckening process
of their dissolution to the public view. And we
manding a decent burial for these usages, o It Of
which lite has gone, than those who would perforce
retain their remains above the earth. And We must
strive to give the widest publicity to the criticism of
the dominant religion and raise movement without
the churches that shall be felt within the churches
gramme of more searching reforms. But after
the deluge, what The question is asked
What substitute is there for that which is
science is fragmentary. We aspire to the universal
The arms OF spirit reach out far beyond what is
great missionary work of free religion to preach the
ideal If We destroy many parts OF religion We seek
been the substance of every honest religion from the
bcginning-the aspiration after righteousness. the
reform OF lite The Hebrew prophets preached it;
Jesus. the Nazzarine. preached it, Buddha preached
when he broke the chains OF the Tschandaas crying
My law is law of grace for all men, my law like
"NIy law is like the sky!" Taking the great
practical issues OF the day for its illustra-
tions it must seek to obtain hearing for |
the demands OF highest justice. people prosper
only by justice, religion live only if its teachers
are ambassadors of justice.
In conclusion Professor Adler remarked upon the |
necessary to carry out the missionary work of
free religion He spoke OF the necessity OF establish
ing u powerful journal. extending a chain of free
religious societies the country and of
causing by this means the thousands who
secretly with us to declare openly for lastly OF
founding college for the training of the teachers Of
free religion. He spoke of the demand that had
from Western cities for liberal leadeis and said
that rich harvest is awaiting the reapers.
Professor Adler announced that next Sunday Mr..
Francis Il. Abbott OF Boston, would oficiate in ms
stead he having received call to deliver of
lectures IN Cincinnati.