New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-25

familiar tnovledce of Shakespeare as well sound III
erary taste BETRAYED in the selection OF TOPICS az"
passages for illustration. With no partahty TOT INC W"
sected limbs and fragments Of great poet IL may w
freely said that few lovers OF Shakespeare bnt can r
ceive fresh impression OF his INFINITE uepVn a"" '
ness from the study OF the volume.
TIE FAITH OF REASON. By JOHN ". CHADWICK l9no.
PIP. 254. Roberts Brothers.
In this volume of dscOurses on the leading
topcs Of religion It has ibeen the aim OF the author 10
express his convictions in regard to themes OF popua
current discussion. and to reply TO questions Vi
proposed by the more earnest ana though'iu "0
OF his own congregation. Recognizing the phue"o''''
modern thought which are hostile to the received IRA
dtons Of the religious world lie proceeds TO inquire a.
n on the faith of mankind and whether they
leave any elements OF religion that can command 'ne
reverence and loyalty OF sincere ana enilghtene" 'nn
ers The tendencies which he refers are less cospeu
ous In this country in England and ON the Cohu
pent OF Europe The ultimate goal Of these endehcles
is not merely the denial of the common dogmas OF the
ology nor even of the supernatural origin OF ChIsu
anity but OF the cardinal beliefs OF natural religion vi
the nrlvate expression Of such doubts, Mr. CHADWICK
afrirms there certainly no lack IN American so0o''
They are frequently heard among scien'lhc men ""s
they are not confined scientific men, Ihey are lonu
everywhere among the most thoughtful men ana women
In the country They uttered not as matter Ior
concratulaon vulgar hiarity, but as burden
NJ immcasurable SORROW which can be spoken OF only
with mois,eued eve and trembling lip. In discussing
the subject the author does not undertake 10 quesuon
the validity OF any of the leading doctrines OF rehsioh
or TO analyze the processes by which they nave oS
their hold upon many minds but to inquire as 10 'c
foundation which remains for the conduct and value OF
life The solution problem he fluids In the prhc
pcs OF ethics The basis Of morals, he CONTENDS Is IN
he soc life of man. In living together in harmonious
relations there is necessity that men shoulu hcceP'
certain limits to their conduct to forego certain ac's
however pleasant, because they arc antsocl" i'll 'n
,oture and 70 perform certain Others however painful
because they are demanded by the SOCIAL rood mora'
Mr. Chadwick argues does not depend on any specuia
five theories It's not involved in any peculiar modes
of Thought concerning the Deity future state put
Is determined by its bearing on the weharo VI
mo, "a n member of society. Even II the forlorn
theories of Schopenhauer and Hartmann be admltNu
that this s the worst possible world II would not snake
tho foundations OF morality The doctrine Of pess-
msn indeed may be a better working creed tnah
that of optimism. If Leibniz is to be believed 'hat
this ia the best possible world the endeavor to Improve
II vould seem to be idle task But II 1t IL the worst
possible world, Mr.. Chadwick somewhat nalVeS sug-
gests that cit still remains for us to better IL 'e
we can" Whatever becomes OF speculative theories
duty still stands firm We cannot set aside the TACT that
man ia living in social world In which his actions 40
not end in themselves but affect the welfare OF others
In overvidenine circles and to the remOtest genera
tons But there are some who appear TO thlhk' MI
Chadwick remarks, that morality Is no part OF reiso
and that after the doGmas Of faith have Disappeared
there will be no place for the obligations OF religion 10
This he repes that the vital essence OF religion Is
not dependent theory or God. or OF the "oru'
or of human destiny nor on mans relation TO any spec
utive Wow of the universe but his relation TO tie
universe ITSELF The vital point OF religion according 10
the author, Is the recognition OF the majestic o'"eF
~ the universe the voluntary conservation 10 inc
eternal order IN which find ourselves emoosohed'
We NAV discard all theories but cannot discard the
universe Evermore the little life OF man Is set In the
,dst ~ this I'm finite order mystery, law. His religious
nos,tion ia determined not by any knowledge OF theo
rie not by any gift OF Tongues or skill III prophecy ou'
by his bearing In the presence OF TINS everlasting Iao
He may never pray in any form OF WORDS never seek 10
hiring over the Deny the side OF his private interests
| I'm, when such man looks up to Heaven at night or
into faces that respond to him in the iuness OF love- or
into tIe immeasurable depths OF his own moral nature
tbe awe that falls upon his heart the peace and 10y tha
nervade his whole nature, the utterance OF paNei
and the expressOn religion. Win these prlhcpes s
his point of departure Mr. Chadwick proceeds IN the re
mainder Of tie volume to develope their application tt
the religious experience OF man. to the conditions OF az
tanning the supreme beauty and perfection OF human
life ana its manifestations serene and harmonious
order Of society," The OF his dscourses Is perhaps
more poeica than philosophical though they are every
where pervaded by the spirit OF profound reheeuoh
hut they are certainly richer In suggestions 10 the ~
main
forms OF logic or mathematics are not his tavorte sym
bols for the expression OF ideas; and thinkers VINO are
,nured 70 the more austere ana rigid methods OF inquiry
and have perhaps become casehardened In their mena
badts NAV find his manner too prolific OF Illustration
too aectonae in its appeals to sentiment ana emotion
IN AFFORD sold foundation for the hrmest convictions
His telescope is adjusted TO lofty sweep among th
tors rather than to the exact determination Of polut
On the eatth's surface AT all events he holds up hi
ideal Of life which is founded the spiritual conscious
meas Of man. instead of seeking its precousness an'
dignity IN the flights OF speculation or the reception
mysteries.
| WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON AND HIS TIMES OF
| SKETCHES or THR ASTiSiAVERY MOVEMENT N AhtiI' =
Nv OIyRR JOHNSON l2mO. PIP. 432. BOstOni H. u
Russell q Co. New-Y York: Charles Drew.
The present volume comprises the paper
which have already appeared in HE TRIBUNE from III
pen OF MI Oliver Johnson, describing his personal reco
Iecnons Of the AntiSavery movement IN this country
with large additions embracing the period from th
commencement OF MT GarrisOn's abors In s29 to IN
ambition of slavery IN the course OF the Civil War
mas heen the aim OF author to present comprcheI
sve summary first OF the proceedings OF the Abolition
,sts M TO the divisions OF 1S39-4O and then, ate
| roofing the causes OF those divisions, TO follow ID
courso Of the American ntiSavery Society under IN
Load of Mr. Garrison to the close or the connect NJ