, 1880-02-08

HE Cf1lCAGO TRIBUNE
on special revelations Natural religion is the
stb3Ility Of miracles generally. Physical
connection Of mind with mattcr:: First mating
conscious life function Of the brain; second,
matte hq mank fhs materIal dF3@ avaag fass
automatic. Thus all external proofs are de-
stroyed,, and also of the souls immortality.
reality and therefore ali religion is set down rs n
dream; but we believe that proof Is the test Of
reality not because it is proved to be SO, but be-
so. But it will be found that these men
do not understand their own principle,
and and. that, in what they consider their
cally Disregard it. One Or the Other, therefore,
Of their opinions is worthless,-their denial Of
religion or their Affirmation Of morality. But We
shall see this more clearly In considering the
question of consciousness and will. we snail see
that, as far us science can inform US, man is
school are afraid to admit this, and, not daring
effort to confuse it. Two problems arc involved
nected with consciousness2 Second, Is the con
sciousness that Is connected with It sometimes
separnble from and independent Of it? The first
Of these problems has no bearing at al o.
It It leaves i Us net ia doubt but IN igno-
is connected solely with the seco9d problem, to
which there arc Two alternative solutions, and
modern science m IS 50 confused that It will accept
very forcibiy shows us. And DIR. Tyndall, in this
way, Is perfect representative of the whole
modern positive school. Let us compare the
molecules Of tho brain. to the six moving bill
lard-bals. The question is, Arc these move
ments due to the stroke Of one cue or of two? Tho
positive school profess to answer this question
Dotn ways. But this profession Is nonsense,
What they really mean Is, first, TINT the conncc-
ton OF consciousness with matter is a mystery;
4s 4Sot to that they eqn give no answer second,
" material thing or no, they tuiU give
no answer. But why are they in this state Of
Th9ush thets system does not in The
moral value Of life does. The same reasons that
s9n he% ass 3 sa # @ MY sas T
with its proofs, can say nothing in the matter
either as to will, immortality, Or God; but, On
viii, to admit the reality Of miracles So far rs Us
science goes, morality and religion are both on
the same footing.
MORALITY AND NATURAL TnE16M.
Supposine science not to be inconsistent with
theism, may not theism be inconsistent with mo-
rality? 1t seems to be so. but it is no more
So thaR morality with Itself Thers are txo
and Gods free Will James h{ill's statement Of
the case represents the popular anti-religious
full Of distortion and exaggeration, though ccr-
tain of the difficulties he pointed out wcro real,
and th1se we cannot eaphn away But if We
one and all accept We can escape from them
by none Of the rationalist1c substitutes for re-
ligion. A similar difficulty IS the freedom of tho
will. This belief is an INTELLECTUAL impossibiiity,
but at the same time moral necessity. It Is
typical Of all the difficulties attendant on IN
dtliculties that appeal to the moral imagination
We must meet in the same way.
THE HUMAN RACE AND REVELATION.
Should the intellect of the world return to
reyelaton9 @ We ean Sec that Ills IS an a1Ecnt
peeially the career Of ProtestantIsm. It is visi-
and. as such. IS losing ali restraining power ii
the world. Where, then, shall VIC ffook for q
revelation? Not In any Of the Eastern creeds-
ones worth considering: Her position is abso--
lutcly distinct from that Of Professionalism, and
she Is not involved in its fall. n theory she Is
So So in practice? This brings US to dif-
flculties. First, the partial success of her
tho virtues Of unbelievers~ But her partial sue
through her nnt charity IT, she does ,P%osh5ng to
doxy is analogous to the value Of true physical
science. All should try to learn the value OF
truth who can; But we do not condemn @ others
no recondite theological knowledge is required.
The facts Of the Catholic religion are SIMPLE
Of thein. Catholicism IS misunderstood, becauso
the outside world nfuses with its religion,
first, the complex explanations Of it; second,
the pfous opinions or the scientific errors OF
private persons or particular epochs none Of
which really are any integral part Of the Church
feeling that have been prevalent Ut diGeront
times. The Church theoretically is a living,
fact tie growing moral @ sense Of mankind or
ganized and developed under supernatural
HISTORY AND TIE CLAIMS OF THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
We must now consider the Church in relation
to history and external historical criticism:
First, the history Of Christianity; second, thet
history ;} ct other f aegions Criticism ha? r2bbs
evidences of its supernatural character. 1tha
traced the chief Christian dogmas to non-Ch2ee
tan sources. It has shown that @ the histo1ithHe the
these discoveries are fatal. But they x xe not
made utterly Indifferent BY the doctr,o OF the
perpetual infallibility Of the Chuch. r,!l nne
Catholic Church teaches us to bclie.o tn9 bloie @
though her dogmas may have existed tn some
form elsewhere, they become neE 1ties1so'G @ ~, ~
is, by her supernatural selccttsn OF tnem tno
i1s md assimlating h L In r fresh nuTiment even from
the wisdom OF ter btttercst enemies.
fase reveaton IN = aaf from aS anGs tie cnthoc
standpoint, abortive cathonclsns. IntaGiGe'l e,
1as succeeded in the same attomp11n WHICH tney
RELIEF AND WILL.
The aim of this book has been to clear the
,root n11cstinn as to nuns nature, ana the prop
regarding him. 1T f59m IN aho de fat f
vcr viii finally rest, not on outer evidence, but
N himself and on his own gll, if he haye Will