The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-09

tFor the ADvAnoJ
: STUD1 OFTHE. Old MAsTER&
~: No. Ill. =. . s.. s. !: :.
SIS OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES.
Various have been tho offerings and
sacrifices Of the world; some to propi-
ate evil powers and some . win favor
from the good. The origin Of these Of.
ferings 10 usually ascribedto the early
parents OF mankind as given in the sew
eral bibles Of tho world. These bibles,
which were undoubtedly picture-les-
sons, were, for \ long time in the
worlds history. followed literally. Be-
ing 10 followed, they led to the estab-
lishn,ent Of creeds, dogmas and SUPER
stitions Of tho grossest kinds. Our
own bible, naturally held by 10 to be
the sublimest OF all, teaching tho grand
thoughts If tho Old Masters, but hay
ing personified the leading ideas too
strongly, has been followed 50 literally
as to almost extinguish the spirit of tho
lessons. This literal following culmi-
mated in tho Spanish Inquisition, Salem
Witchcraft and other kindred cruel
ties.
What was tho impulse Of these ''sae.
ri6ees?' It WAS aet Leve-not Mercy
not even Humanity; We are led to
conclude that it VAS an abnormal state
Of society induced by an ''abn"rmal''
Interpretation of the lessons given us
by our early teachers.
That the lessons Of offerings or sacri-
fees originally meant the erection of
material affairs and the burning Of ma
terial things upon them, is not war.
ranted by the ideas and principles in
culcated all through the "picture."
The offerings were to be of the 'hrst
frnits," that is, they were to be of what
man holds most dear. They were to
be the very essence of his being. The
Indians OH the Ganges obey this literal
ly when they sacrifice (give up) their
children to the rapacious nav Of the
crocodile. We obey literally by sacri-
ficing (giving up) our feelings. our hap
piness and our manhood to the insatiate
nav of the church. This is the logical
conclusion of obeying these blossoms"
literally; of losing sight of the idea and
taking only the representation of this
lesson; of bowling to the person in the
picture instead Of to the principle
taught.
What is this principle? In the first
place, the Old Masters wishing to i'm
press the idea of goods upon the mind
of early man, personified it, from which
through the imitation of language and
the mutilation of translators, has come
the word '>God." This word as time
passed became so strongly individualiz-
ed in the mind of man, as to become
the personal "God." In that. centrali-
zation went to the extreme.
1t has been observed that in each age
of man, the ''God' has partaken Of the
hest qualities of tho people of that age
no more, no less. This is because the
idea of "good" has become 50 distinctly
personified that it needed an ''imape,"
and every one who holds to this per
son." Good, must of necessity image
it in his mind. While holding the be-
ing. God, to be infinite, he, with finite
mind, attempts to compass it. Just so
soon rs man can comprehend inflnity,
he is infinite; when man comprehends
this being, God, he becomes infinite, or
else the God is finite.
To say that we are free from this ut
tile present day, would be premature,
but to say that we are growing free,
that we are gradually working out
from under the shadow is but stating
the fact. We are surely throwing off
the chains with which superstition and
its parent ignorance have bound us.
Superstition, with its attendant evils, is
disappearing as vapor before the sun
Of knowledge.
The Old Masters taught that ''offer-
ings" to ''good' should be of the FIRST
fruits of the vineyard. When stripped
of the theological ''hedging of.the law"
how grand it becomes in its simplicity.
Stripped of the ''swaddling clothes"
it becomes the plain unvarnisl,ed tale,
the beautiful picture, the clear advice
Give of your best nature to good. Go
not toward good. but to it. Work not
with half your strength, but tho whole
Of it. Give not lone day in seven'' to
good but give all your days. Is not
this better than long prayers to a be-
ing you cannot comprehend-better
than vearisome penance for sins COM
mitted? Prayers that affect only the
mind that utters them; penance that
rights no wrongs. Well might Budha
say 1.-The Gods themselves need help. ="
Too radical All representation, too
much of an image llaye we made this
quality "good." We have attempted
to make of it a being" personal, jeal-
Gus, and, though grand as the mind
can conceive, frequently unwise-as
the mind that conceives it. Let our
"offerings'' be to COOP.
The ADVANCE appears to take de-
light in supporting what respectable
people oppose.-Rock County Herald.
There it is again. ''How we apples
SWIM" The Herald's logic is: ITO a.
gree with US is to be respectable: That
fellow over there doesn't agree with us;
Therefore lie is not respectable"
Now, there is quite difference of O.
pinion AS who and what are ''respecta-