The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-14

that ireliglon was IN q large degree
q matter of faith, and that it's chief
Office was the improvement and
consolation of men. 1t was open
to aII, adapted to the wants OF al,
and in its practical teachings with
in the comprehension Of all. In a
word the surest guide for direc-
ton in this world, and Of Salvation
in the next. The Christian rei-
gion was supposed to have accom-
plishcd these objects. The meta
physical religion of all sensible
men, is beyond the reach Of all ex-
cept such men. What is the rest
Of the world to do? | beg you to
observe that | have no idea Of
agitating the question between
science and religion. | bow with
reverence to the theologians; and
| am very much afraid Of the
scientists and metaphysicians.
But whenI think Of metaphysics,
especially in its sublime reaches,
where it seeks to penetrate the
mysteries Of Deity and define the
essence of the soul and the like.
in spite Of my great admiration
Of the science aud It's professors,
the definition which tho OLD
Scotchman gives it Gas we'll as l
remember) in the 'Noctes Ambro-
siana' porpetually obtrudes itself
upon me. He said, when he that
is spoken to dinna ken what he
that speaks means; and when be
that speaks diuua ken what he
means himselt-that IS metaphy-
sie.' But of course this was the
crude thought of an illiterate per-
sons. However all this may be,
it seems TO me more wise to stand
by and cherish a system, under
whose influence the civilized world
has improved and fourished amaz-
ingIy for nearly nineteen hun
dred years rather than fly to
some other of which we know
nothing. l can not express my
ideas on this subject better, than
in the lines used by Mr.. Burke to
illustrate his views when speaking
of some theories Of Thomas Paine,
"But though the treacherous tapster Thomas,
Hangs new angel two doors from US,
AS fine as daubers hands can make it,
In hopes that strangers may mistake it,
We think it, both shame and sin
To quit the good old Angel Inn"
Ny object at present, ho" ever,
as have already indicated, is not
to express opinions but merely
to direct your views to the rest
less, uneasy and fuctuating con-
dition of public thought.
Ifsuch opinions meet considera-
ton, and in some quarters find
favor upon the most momentous
of all subjects it is not surprising
that a similar skepticism should
prevail in all other departments
of intellectual activity. Let US
turn our stops for q few moments
into the political field, and see how
things stand on that line. For
many centuries the world worked
its way, under the belief Of the
divine right of Kings. The ideas
of loyalty to God and the King
were twin principles. Religion
universally recognized sanctifed
the political relation Of monarch
and subject. Treason to the King
was blasphemy against God. The
French revolution Of 1871 burst
like tornado among the nations
our own orderly philosophlc
revelation Of '76 led the way. In
France religion was dethroned
and ridiculed. The Head of the
most Christian King he who
occupied the throne Of Saint Louis
fell at the foot Of the guilotlne,
amid the derisive shouts of a howl
ing.mob The Beautiful Queen
whom Mr.. Burke describes as
'glittering like morning star, full
of life and splendor and joy. He
says: * x | saw her just above
the horizon decorating and cheer
ing the elevated sphere she just
began to move in-aud surely
never lighted on this orb which
she hardly seemed to touch, a
more delightful vision. This
Queen innocent, young, gentle,
helpless, was beheadei like felon.
Liberty, fraternity and equality,
were plastered over the threshold
Of every qoor. The mad revelry
Of unbridled and unorganlzed H.
cense held sway for few years
and then wound up rs it always