The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-08-12
-NdTURdL RELIGION.
An Eastern clergyman, whom we
esteem highly. writes us as follows:

An Eastern clergyman, whom we
esteem highly, writes us as follows:
Allow me to thank you for the copy
Of your paper containing liberal extacts
from what suppose is one IF your chief
poetic illusions. Ikncwyou were touch
ed with ETHEREAL fire, but did not know
that the gods had taken you so entirely
into their confidence. With this high
proof Of your poetic sense, you may full
ly surrender yourself to the sacred influ.
ence and appear in some even more mas
terly production as Il candidate for the
unfuding laurel. l will esteem it q spe-
cial favor if you will mail to me the en-
tire poem from which selections were
taken. On the permanent questions af-
fecting the interests of our deathiess be-
ing we were formerly perhaps in more
perfect sympathy than at present. You
have changed with regard to church re-
latlonship, know not to- what extent
this indicates change Of belief in fun
damental truth. I trust. however, that
you still anchor your hope in the atone
ment of Christ and that you still hold
some of his ministers as worthy of your
confidence. In the sharp competition
Of newspaper controversy many things
\oStl'H " 'I'NA' ~" INV NAASNe SAAS NV T. N''N
settled CONSCIOUSNESS.
If you should address yourself to
some great poetic achievement, as 4
life work, it will concern your fame
and the merit as we'll as the usefulness
that will not bear the sOundest criti-
cism. AS most sincere friend, [
should desire to see you acknowledged
as an author by the best and purest liv-
ing minds and to find yonr poems Il
cherished treasure in Christian homes.
We publish the above because 1t gives
us an opportunity to repeat what we
have heretofore said in the ADVANCE,
that the poem entitled "Consolation,"
which is now recognized us having in it
something of permanent life and value,
embodies our religious belief. Not, of
course, in Il formulated creed, but in
the thought it expresses concerning
Nature, Song, Love aud Religion. 1t
was, in fact, written for that purpose,
or rs we heretofore expressed it, to give
expression to our love of Nature, our
love Of Song, our love Of Love, our love
of God. In short, the poem is the eN-
preston Of our inner and spiritual life,
while the ADVANCE, which is SO much
misrepresrnted and misunderstood, is
the expression of our outward, every
day, battlt-ax life. One is just as true
as the other, but their missions are diff
fcrcnt. We want 10 other religion,
shall seek no other, shall help to propa-
gate 10 other, than is expressed in the
poem, and which we knoW to be true be-
cause it is the Religion Of Nature and
is universal.
AM! now, behold the beauty Of this
Natural Religion! All those who have
read the poem, whether orthodox or in
fiuel, whether church devotee or church
enemy, whether iuolator or iconoclast,
all admire the sentiment Of the poem
and say they can endorse it. What does
this prove? That ut heart, that in Gods
own religion, we harmoniZc, we all a.
gree. Our differences, our bitterness.
our blood splling, OUR religious wars.
all grow out Of man-male cresds and
are melted and encouraged by the creed
mongcrs. AS (; learned Chinese priest
said, no two men ai4d no two nations
ever luvrrtleu and fought about God.
The Quarrel and the fight have always
Been about the prophets Of the contend
ingparti2s, each claiming that hisp ropl-
TT WAS the true prophet Of God.
We answer our clerical friend in the
language Of the poem to which lie al
luleS:
80 loving G"d OF Nature! who through all
HIS never yet betrayed me to Il fall.
While, following crecdS of men, went astray
And in distressing maZes lost ny way;
But turning back to Thee, found Thre true,
And sweet as wolnans love and fresh rs dew!
lienccforth on Thee, and Thee alone, Irest
Nor warning sects shall tear me from Thy
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