, 1879-05-19
MONDAY. MAY l9, 1879.

MONDAY, MAY l9, 1875
pleasure, or duty. or work. The clothing
one generation descended to be worn by Il
| children coming along in the rear OF the arm,
| But as Crsar's political unit at last broke vi
and gave US that variety which we call 1taty, an
| France, and Germany, and ENGLAND, and til
| United States, so the Pope's religious unity ha
! to give way to the gradual pressure OF variety
| and the DAYS we're gone forever when the reIig
GUS millions would call any one 1ather excep
| the one Parent in Heaven.
| |. Look where you may, you will see the singl
opinions of the past putting out IN the presen
their leaves of variation Once architecture va
| Gr"cian. The Romans added an idea OF twe
| It was with difficulty that the Gothic form
| could find the genius that would present thei
| ideas. or money that would pay for their cor
struction. but by slow movements Venice, an
| Rome and all Europe changed the uuifornit
of the Greek into the elagant forms OF srr1lctur
| which now adorn the nations Thus architect
| :ure. mud politics, and invention, and scene
come to us to prepare us for witnessing IT,,
| transfer OF religion from the care OF some on
shane of belief over to the care of many shape
Of idea and sentiment. THE unity which ma,
| once have existed is gone just as perfectly al
! is gone the rule Of the Shepherd kings aions
the Mile, or the Empire Of Alexander. Eartl
! has iourneyed away from infant simplicity:
1t should reconcile us all to this struggle IT
religion with a variety OF faiths that suct
variety always attends the hiFhest civilization
Il unity had in the past attached Itself to thu
greatest states, and varying forms OF though.
had marked savage tribes, We might we'll feel
that our djscord werc d dreadful misfortune
but when we perceive that this variety which
seem SO full OF embarrassment for good men has
been an attendant always Of nau IN his highest
estate, we may we'll conclude that 1t forms 8
part Of the plan Of the Creator, aud is not a
RI rr}Sfn rhine. Az when f!1asor3s
despotism dissolved to make room Tor multi
Tides OF individuals, as. when the Papal rule
dissolved to make room for the free opinions Of
many sccts, there WAS good and not
i'll in the new diversity; SO In the many.-
sided thoughts Of our age there Is good
come or coming, relied now indeed, bur destined
to throw off its mask, and Tue ut last q loved
part of our civilization, That good may pos
sihly be of this natures,- that God being the ab-
solute unity, He being in possession OF the sole
be SO many steps toward the final goal. God
alone knows what is the ideal government,
whether it be that of q Kingdom or OF rcDub-
lie, or He alone knows when the time shall have
come to people f0r more or less OF liberty, and,
this being so, alt these theories held on earth
may be the tentative steps OF man the iRfant
ma,le in the days when as yet he cannot fully
walk. This human variety may be the footsteps
man as child is taking around chair, while as
yet bis mind and feet are uncertain.
It Is also probable that man will never reach
the unit OF truth,--the absolute will in hts
career 10 this world be like the comet which
threatens for million Of years to fall into the
sun, but which still Is in its own orbit far away.
It approaches, but is not absorbed. The multi
plying OF opinions may be like the calculations
for squarn. the circle, estimates which always
bring the circle nearer to the square, but which
always forbid final equality oE figures, and al
WAYS leave something for the mathematiclans Of
tomorrow. 1t II very easY Of belief that this
infinite multiplying OF doctrine, and notion,
and dream is only civilization on its march to-
ward squarug the Infinite Circle, but an ap-
proach which will always leaves the slate empty
for the new and closer estimates OF the men aud
times to come. =.
Having now noted that as society advances it
is compelled to witness or contend With larger
What must good men do In tie midst OF this
discord9 When twenty clergynen meet to con-
suit about q Sunday reform or q temperance
reform, or when as many statesmen meet to
discuss questions OF capital or labor, or when
as many Christian scholars meet to ask what
are the doctrines OF Christi what is the way
OF sa1vations what is the most they can do. IN
the fnce; Of that diversity. OF view which will
arise tho very instant they shall begin to speak?
no perfect cure of the evil or difficulty eau be
found; but there certainly are thoughts and
facts which may forbid that such assemb'ases
Of good men should dissolve without finding
good result, or at feast good hope. :;
The thoughts which seem to me OF value are
ID, that we differing men Of any and all pursuits
and professions need never hope for anr perfect
unity OF idea again upon questions OF public
welfare. There can be no unity OF detailed
thought regarding Sunday, or temperance, or
:rce0, or indeed regarding anything ia The moral
World. When the world widened out toto en-
3ires, and arts, and literatures, and counted its
minds By millions. Ill perfect hnrmony Of views
MAY tu+1,r etn