The Baltimore County union., 1881-11-26
CoFTssposdeHee Baiiiaoye County JMioM.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
Tho Sects- Civilization Money. Making
Atheism and Universal fraternity.
cA1oSsyt,,y Novemh.r Ola, 1851


cAToSsvILLE. November 2lst, 1851.
Every person who has any knowledge Of the
early history VI the various sects knows that both
In Europe and this country their feelings toward
one another were generally Of the bitter kind
and that they never pretended 20 associate 20.
gether. OF late years II has been noticed that the
sects not only have borne no bitter feelings 90.
ward one another, unless In some exceptionable
cases. but that they have not hesitacd 10 call one
another brothers and 10 associate both socially aud
religiously.
One Of the last rather extreme instances Of this
endeavor toward fraternity was narrated In the
Baltimore SHR Of the 18th inst. A correspondent
sent extract from the letter Of Scotch Prcsby.
terian minister 10 n Catholic priest, In which he
stated that Il was not the time for Christians 10
enlarge on their little differences while atheism
and loose opinions In their most repulsive forms
were spreading ON every hand but that they
should disniss ungenerOus distrust aud Join hands
in maintaining the holy religion dear 10 both
The letter in the main contained regrets that he
was prevented from attending the dedication of
new Catholic church. The Ssas correspondent
viewed all this of course, in the popular light of
n refreshing Christian charity.
In comparing this present disposition 10 good
feeling With that which existed In earlier days, IL
is natural far US TO look around 90 sec IL We can
find what Il Is that has brought about this state Of
things. Each sect has held TO its own doctrine
and form Of worship apparently. aud there seems
TO be nothing In the religious view Of the case,
further than the mere say of charity. that tends
these brotherly feelings. So if We see no demon.
stratiVe answer 20 the question In the Tcli gious
view. we must look outside tor something. In
looking outside We must look for some power
or influence that all these sects allow theta-
selves 20 be subjected TO. Some one or more in.
huenees must be brought 10 bear upon all 10 pro-
duee the growing harmony from the past diseord.
To what shall look for the cause! In fact
nothing can be the that does not alike affect
all men and all sects in all civilized countries
What then !. the one thing 10 which all civilized
countries look or looking. to assist them tnost
in their development! l. Il not to the enlighten-
ment OF intelligence sPringing from popular eiu-
cation .
Six days Of the week, a. Herbert Spencer say,
are given 20 education and matters pertaining 10
IT, and day Of the week l. set aside for
duties. L. IL not therefore prcsumable that edu-
cation aud matters pertaining 10 livelihood should
exercise greater weight Ia forming the inclina-
tions Of men when six days of each week are de-
voted 20 them against one day devoted 90 rel sion
Thus IL IL that men being thrown so pTomiscuous
ly together. when young in schools and when old
IN their business pursuits. they naturally acquire
n fellow feeling, which, even they wished, could
hardly be prevented. Their thoughts are ON the
practical affairs of life. aud they 50 acquire the
habit Of yielding 10 or opposing one another only
In the pursuit Of liyelhOods that their relations
come naturally 10 be governed entirely by these
ends. Thus u ~, ''Onc touch OF this kind Of a
ture makes the whole world kim.
Catholics might here say that they try 10 pre-
vent the mixed education of their children With
those of other sccts by sending them TO their own
schools. Granting the isolation from contact With
other seets in such eases. the substantial icndrn-
ces Of the schools the Certain beliefs and
forms may be assentcd To IA connection Herewith,
but the bottom uf the matier-eiucation's ultima
tum-the spirit Of material progrcss-of dollar
getting-is fixed all the same. and the scholars
ushercl into life with the same stimulations as
others. and the same inclinatiOns 20 yield or op.
pose only where the bread and butter advantage.
concerned. Like the Quaker. the Presbyte.
Tian. the Episcopalian. they can pay now and
then their little homage 90 their shrincs BY the
waysiic but the steps So taken count nothing
against those of the long race Of life in which
every nerVe IL stretched O. press with Vigor on.-
Therefore. II men come 60 any sort of agreement
In these practical matters Of daily life IL j. easy
for them 10 transfer the same agreement 60 the
seventh day phase oi their Lives. and 6nl that IL
they lived comparatively harmonious during the
heavy laboTs of sx days Of the week iLey can live
the same in the lighter duties Of the one day re-
naming. From this We mus, necessarily see that
any good feeling that l. growing among the sects
Is due TO n greater degree @: companionship and
enlightenment brought about by civilized progress
sion through the insirumentality Of education.
lfh IL argued that purcr Christianity l. oper-
aiing more toward this good feeling than edaea.
tlob. VIC nave blt 10 refer 10 tue IN itfidual soT
rows Of heart and ills. sins in disguise that are
not at all dismissed they should be IL Christian
iiy were at work. Above all this, the increasing
body Of atheists led on by scientists and philoso-
phers. are Wanting precisely the sort of ed
ucationai progress and the same fraternal results
for its showing. Certainly Christianity j. not
progressing when IL can boast of nothing in ts re-
suits superior 10 atheism. In n back number Of
the Contemporary RsrieE one Of the scientific
evoiutionisis exPaiates rapiurou.ly on the growth
Of religious liberty. progress and fraternity. and
SUNS NJ with the lines u the poet
'come. kingdom Of our God
And make the broad earth thine:
Stretch Ger her land and isles the Z.
That aoxers with grace divine.
soon may all land. be blc.t
With fruit from iife's glad tree:
And in it, shade like brother rest,
sons Of one family
There may be some good people Hho Inay be
shocked at the idea Of Chri,tianity AMI atheism
tending TO the same end but IL il So. Facts are
facts, no matter what little side show veTbiage
may proclaim. Instead Of travelling. a. l. sup
posed, divergent roads a. separate goais they are
travelling parallel roais to the zane goal-that Of
civilized progression and money making and
both are near enough and ready enough 10 unite
in opposing or accepting any common enemy or
friend O. these ends. For some six ten years
the conflict. such n. IL Il. has been going on be-
tween religion and science. or atheism: but IL
amounts TO nothing more than a passing amuse-
ment for an idle hour % both writers and readers.
Thus IL will continue. and eanwhile the inhu-
tnces Of facts in daily life wiIl continue 20 iormu
late over Il and bring atheists sneonscously 20
brotheriy relationship with the sects the seets
are Themselves now arriving at.
IL may here be said that according to thi. show
ing Christianity and atheism are tending both %
the same results. which is that of merely helping
men along toward making living aud hopping
along over moral and deeper questions ~ best they
may. Yes. this h just the state Of the case pre-
cisely and such matters as God, religion, soul in
any operative sense, will be either oblitered from
anything more than a still slighter passing reeog-
milton than at present, else forthcoming man.
iiestation, far above all present eoneeptions
be made for their greater development.
3. u. LivEEEr.
Thu Maddhar AH,nrsiar raaa