New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-10
MATTHEW ARNOLD.
NE, pr1IGlous OPINIONS.
PASSAGES From MS PROSE WRITINGS

by faany of those who look TO HIM TOT ilehi III nv
cratlire and social philosophy. The religion OF inc
future he be ieves is 10 be sort oi pnrged Ca'ho
iesn, which will follow AS reaction after the
present decline Of faith:
TIE RELIGIOUS SITUATION.
When We consider the immense change which, IN
other matters where tradition and convention "eIo
the obstacles 20 all change, Has pciallen llo
Thought of this country since the Continent WIZ
oprurd at the end of the great war, we canhot
doubt that II religion, too. the mere barriers VI
tradition and convention viii hnallX give WaSi
that a common European level OF thouehe Nlu
establish itself and will spread to Al erica aiSo
OF course there will be backwaters, more OF ieSS
strong of superstition and ooscurantisnl Dut
sneak of the probable development OF OPINION III
those classes which to he called progress &c anu
liberal. Such classes arc undoubtedly ne MUMMY
ing and prevailing body both here ana III Ai'IIoa t
And say hat If we Judge the future from tile piSt
these classes in any matter where 1t Is traaiOloh
and convention which at resent lsolates the IIo o
the common liberal opinion OF EUROPE WIZ W."
time bc drawn almost inevitably INTO thaI opnllou
The part isans Of traditional religion IN TINS c1u
try 10 not know think, how decihiVey tle Mn .
force of progressive ana IlbeiaI oihioH1 81
Continent has pronounced against VIZ n'i9 80,
religion They do not know how surely inc Wilpic
force of progressive and liberal OPINION IN 'nIs
rouufrv tends 10 follow, so Tar rs traultloudi -.
Toinn ~ concerned the opinion of the continent:
They dream % patching up things uiihe hodp'' VI
retaining what never can ne Ietiheu vi o'oPtrh 66
change at point where u can never DC S!opieu.
undoabted tendency OF liberal opinion ~ -, - ioJo
the whole anthrOpOmOrphlc ana hlracuiVu9 ~
ligiCn Of TRAD ton, as uns0und ana ult'haplui ~
the Continent such opinion nus IeJoo'ou
il already. One cannot blame the rclccuoh:
Things are what they are and the religion OF
tradition Catholic or Protestant, IS nsouho anu
uutenabe. 4 greater force of tradition In i"Vor
of religion ~ all which now prevents nc hpeI'ii
opinion in this country FROM following C0hilhehtI
opiuion That force is not OF nature 10 be pernla-
ncnt. and it will not: in fact hold out long But
ycry grave question Is behind o.,
Rejecting. hcnccforfh. all concern with the onSo-
lete religion If tradition. the liberal SIN OF the Con-
tuent rejects also and on the like GROUNDS, al con
Germ with the Bible and Christianity. 10 cillnH
for the Bible the direction, IN any way; OF ho99In
life is we hear. rs If Plate had SOUGHT TO l0und Dig
ideal republic "upon text OF Hcsiod" Inc Ical
question is. whether this conclusion too OF
modern liberalism Is to be adInlttcd'iite the Coh,u
sion that ra,ItiOnary religion Is unS"ind ana o''so-
lctc. And IL does not and MANY gainsaFers
Obscurantists are glad to sec the question placed
on ais footing that the cauSe OF Evolutionary rem
pIon and the cause of Christianity IN general must
stand or fall together For they sce Dut very niue
way into the lutu.s and III the Immediate present
tins way OF putting the question telIs' as ihrY
clearly perceive, in their favor In the immaculate
present many will ho tempted to cling to the trldi-
iionnry religion with their ewes smut, rather iliah
accept the extinction Of christianity. Ctuer
friends OF religion busy with fantastic projects,
which can yer come TO any hing nut winch pre-
vent tnctr seeing the real character OF the sltua-
ton SO the thesis of modern liberals on the Con
tinent that Christianity in general stands on tic
same footing a tradltonaly Itiei"4 ana must
slar. its fate. meets with Ette dr'c1 discussion OF
opposition. And liberal opinion everywhere "ill
nj last grow accustomed 10 hnding ihac thesis pht
forward as certain, viii become idluliiatMcd
with IL. Viii suppose tLdt no one disputes IT, l''7
m itself will tend 10 withhold men roW amy serious
return upon their own minds IN the matter. Mean
Will; The day viii most certainly arrive "hch Ue
great body OF liberal opinion IN this country WEI
adhC the iist half of the doctrine OF ContInch-
tal rails will admit that tradltiOnary re-
hgol Is utterly urtcnabe. Aud the danger rs that
from the habit Of their minds ana from seeing tue
thina treated a. certain, and from he1rlnl nothing
urgtil against 1t Our liberals may admit as mus
puIable the se,oni half OF the doctrine too that
~. ..sff tf..rtr IttN
And Therefore. il ii 80 aii-important to insist on
what ! call the natural truth Of Christianity, and
10 bring TINS ont out al We cal.- Last Essays
pissipiNCE oT DISSENT.
Whether the Disstntcrs Will believe it or not my
wish TO rccOnc le them with the Church IS nom no
desire to give hcir nj ycr3ares victory ana them
defet but from tne c0uN ictiOn that they arc on
false line from sorrow at seeing tH'r me quIulIcS
and energies thrown away, from hope o. signal good
10 tins whole nation If they can be turned TO
better account. The dssIdence OF Dissent, an. the
Professionalism OF the Protestant religion" have
some OF manllinds deepest and trueSt Instincts
against them. and ca mot finally prevail 1t theY
prevail for time that is only temporary stage
in mans history; they VIII laii III the chd' ana
will Lave to confess II.
II is said and on what seems good authority,
that already ia America that Paradise OF the sects,
there are signs Of reaction and that the muIilUI
OF sects there begin to tend to assoiner4te them-
selves into two or three great bodies. II IS sand,
TOO. that whereas the Church OF Rome, IN the first
year OF the present century nid o4t one III Two
hun lIed of the population OF the United states,
it has m SIX OF seven. ms M any rate Is
certain that tnr ana sure gamer Nv the ais
sidrncc OF Dissent aud the Professionalism o. the
Protestant religion Is the Church q. Rome. Unity
and continuity IN public religious worship are need
of human nature cteual aspiration OF Chrstcn-
dom but unity aud continuity M Teileous worship
Joined with perfect mental sanity aud freedom.
C.fnolic Church Transformed Is. believe. the
Church of the future. But what the DisS ntcrs by
thciT false aims and mlsu>ed powers, ut present
effect is 10 extend and prOl0ng The relgn OF Catn-
Ole Church pntransformcd. with all It's conflicts,
inn !. I'M SER
the Disorders in their present state cannot AMI
viii not see. For the growth vl insight To r'cog-
nizc it, one must rely, both among th' Dlsschttrs
themselves ana IN the nation whch mas 10 Judge
their aims and proceedings, on The hcip OF time
and progress time ana process, IN aLance Win
the ancient Hnd inbred tsrty, PleJy good
nature and good hunor OF the English people,
Last Essays"
COMPREHENSION.
So far am from beng moved in anything that
do or say IN this mater by ll-"lii to Purtani,m
and the Purtans. that 10 u.s. on the contrary, just
because of my hearty respect Tor them. ana from
my strong sense OF their value, that speak as
DO Certainly consider them 10 be IN the main. at
present, an obstacle TO progress and 30 true ciyl-
Zation. But tins Is because Their worth Is III my
opinion. such that not only must one for their own
sikcS wish to see 1t turned to more advantage but
others from whom they are now separated would
greatly gain by conjunction with them, and our
whole collective fierce of growth aud progress bc
thereby UNNECESSARILY increased. In short. NV own
feeling when we regard them. is a feeling not of
ill-will, but of regret at waste of power my one
desire desire OF cOmprchension-"S 81. Paul and
Professionalism"
WHAT is THE CHURCH 7
A man who has published good deal which is Mt
variance with the body of theological doctrine
commonly received in the Church OF England and
commonly preached by its minister's cannot well,
il may be thought, stand up before the clergy as
friend 10 their cause and to that of the Church.
Professed ardent enemies of the Church have
assured me that | am really IN their opinion one
of the worst enemies that the Church hasa
much worse enemy than themselves Perhaps that
opinion is shared ny some OF those who now hear
me make bold to say that 1t is totally erroneous.
IL is founded IN an entire miscOnceptOn of the
character aud scope of what have written
cerning religion / regard the Church of Eng
land as in fact great national society for the
promotion of what is commonly called goodness.
aud for promoting il through the most etlectual