Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-08
A SIGNIFICANT ADMISSION.
A FREE RELIoiosIsT ADAsDoss MS PHEAcI

The Rev. o. B. rockingham was
for long while the leading represen-
tative in this country of free religious
thought and for years the president of
the Free Religious Association. Two
years ago he resigned his pastorate in
this city and went TO Europe. Since
his return he has been residing in BOs-
ton, engaged in literary work and does
not intend 10 go back to the pulpit.
The Euening Post publishes a remar-
kable interview with him. which shows
that he recognizes the growing strength
Of Christian faith in the world, and
is himself retreating from his radical
ground.
We give briefly an abstract of Mr..
Frothingham's views. After speaking
Of the personal kindness he met from
several evangelical preachers, he says
that bis work here as preacher was
full of discouragements. He could sec
that he was doing good TO a large con-
gregation of intelligent men, in show.
ing them how a man could do without
some of the beliefs often held essential
TO righ living; but he could not see
that any successors were rising to take
bis place. Mr.. Chadwick might be
mentioned, but his appears to be neg
ative faith, with which he has no sym
pathy. Then he found that, as n radi-
cal lecturer, he was brought into re.
lations with radicals whose nonsense
he despised. The free.thought lea.
ders were destroyers, not builders.
They were running into dead mate
rialism which he abhorred, and there
was no limit to their destructive mania.
At the same time, Evangelical relig-
ion was stronger, the churches were
better filled. there was more of the re-
ligious spirit abroad" than when he
began his work, twenty years before.
Here we quote an important para
graph, which perfectly accords with
our own observation
"As TO the fact that revealed relig-
ion, as we called it, is stronger to-day
than it was twenty years ago ] have
no doubt. Ii is stronger here and in
Europe, notwithstanding the much
talked-of German materialism and
the religion Of to-day is all the strong.
er than that of twenty years ago,
in that il is throwing Of the secre
tions of ignorance and presents
fewer features incompatible with good
sense and charity, Looking back
over the last twenty years. no careful
student of such matters can deny this
healthful process. aud who have
stood aloof from all revealed religion
during that time, canuot but acknowl-
edge that its opponents have made no
headway whatever" There has been
this amelioraiion in Orthodoxy, lei
who will deny it; and with il we have
been in the fullest sympathy, holding
in constant view the end of making
revealed religion the stronger by the
operation.
But Mr.. rockingham goes on to
speak of his own personal convictions.
lie says that he could not now consci.
entiously take up the work he laid
down. He confesses that he is becom.
ing more conservative in faith or, at
least, less assured to his radicalism.
/ He says:
81 am unsettled in my own mind
concerning matters about which was
not in doubt ten or even FIVE years ago,
but doubt more. And yet | do not
know that | regret my past work here,
for there is much that needs 20 be re-
formed about all systems Of revealed
religion, even admitting the founda
tion 10 be sound. Poisonous vines and
parasites need to be torn away from
the trunk of truth. Neither would |
say stop to the scientist bent on prob.
ing religion TO the core. Truth can
do no harm. But looking back over
the the history of the last centu-
ry, with the conviction that no head
way whatever has been made, with the
conviction that unbridled free thought
only leads TO dreary negation, called
materialism, there has been q growing
suspicion in me that there might be
something behind or below what we
call revealed religion of which the
scientific thinkers of our time are he.
ginning vaguely TO distinguish as an
influence that cannot be accounted for
at present, but which. nevertheless,
exists. said n moment ago LET sci
entifc investigation 20 on, by all
means. Not only il can do no harm,
but am sure that the further il goes
the more clearly will scientific men re.
cognize = power not yet defined. but
distinctly felt by some of the ablest Of
them. This question has presented
itself to me many times In the last few
years. What is the power behind
these ignorant men who find dignity
and comfort in religion 7 Last sum.
mer, when in Rome, | was much in
terested In observing the behavior of