The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-27
For the Free Trader
Science and Religion.

; fore God has spoken and in dialect that few
nored reason and sprouted all the issues o.
$ life in miraculous fountain, Embedded in the
: fetish of idOlatrous worship that took interes
in God through fear and trembling, never
dreaming that God could come to the world
with the spirit of lite and love much easier
than with the spirit of darkness and doubt
Science IS speaking today and the thinking
minds are watching the effect with curious
/, eyes of unconcern. Science, henceforth, mus,
be the watchful eye to guard the citidal
of godly honor, and science is asking to-day
in a pointed way what the world has been do
ing with the religion called from the crown of
the Apostolic God. Has the woud-be Chris
tian world used 1t as were the loaves and fish.
es, TO feed the multitude? used it as love
mantle TO cover the naked? used it as a pana-
cea of mercy to soothe the spirit to forgiveness
and crown the sinner with hope? Has the
world done the best it could have done with
the religion based on forms and the unsound
doctrlnal faith attached to creeds? Il SO, if the
result from personal god religion, after eigh-
teen hundred years appeal, could have been
no better than what we see in the world today,
then 1t Is time tor a new dlspensalOn, time
that religion should do what its name repre-
sents IN principles, and time that scicuCe and
Il Christ acknowledge their relative positions to
God and humanity, and time for Christ to in
quire If he taught the religion that Is practical
today in such open.handed show, with so lit
tie of the spirit that actuated the movements
of the good Samaritan. 1t is time humanity,
and time, for science aided by humanity TO ask
what is to be done with our religion that needs
such a broad philanthroplc airing? What is
to be done with all this preaching and pray
ing that cost the world SO much? Is 1t to be
made available as helping security, as it is,
/ like a pufI.ball filled with the smoke of de-
caying substance that floats in air without
purpose or am? The time is coming when
religion must assert her power, not by any
placard show of church or steeple as banded
ligature of functional merit, but by and
through her righteousness IN Christ, her truth
in science, that says as plainly ADO unto 9th.
ers as we would that others should do unto
you"
Religion in It's practical uses is the holy of
holies, the evening and the morning star that
shines into everybody's face leaving the light
of reflected duty in some act of loving inter
est that cheers the heart Of the recipient. Re
ligion the word Is mighty IN Its impart of IN
dustrlal design. The word signifies grand
eur of soul IN approaching the Deity OF caus-
ality, and in rendering tribute by ovatons of
love that flood the soul with glory and light
up all the benevolent institutions of the heart,
that should not wilt when God seems altar Oft /
and the worlds claims are so near and bind
ing on US, as garlands of hope to try the SOULS
fitness for heaven. Religion should be one {
mighty caress of God and humanity, an i'm S
pulse and movement to work for humanity ,
not let one half the Deliic plan of human life I
90 hungry and naked while the other half dis '
plays the glittering finish that might create in !
ignorant minds a belief IN Gods partial love 5
and protection. Religion is for man, not God q
for God lives and acts In its principle of love '
daily. Christy love Is alone based on the di- 5
vnlty of unselfishness in the principle of all I
natural designs Christ was in harmony with '
the principle of love, in harmony with the l
spiritud aura of heaven, and lived with God 9
in the fundamental precept that all nature and &
It's resultant effects were to be cared for in the
bond Of brotherly and sisterly unity. Y
Christ had life lease of love, and he used it a
10 dstl harmony and to call out the finer feel. l
ngs OF the soul that radlate in the all progress
I'VE law OF DatureS design, ana must bring f
nan to the salvation seat Of glorious Goodness, a
which in common parlance signifies glori- ii
JUS and perfect goodness. When the world h
IAN do without Christ 1t will have assumed the a
religion of Christ, ana the practical effects OF C
owe will be seen and felt In the uprising of r.
and the glorious march of the spirit d
hat can mlnge with God when 1t becomes I,
ike God. Old things are passing away, and h
ruth denotes the tall Of empires, the lashing n
If truth against error, new dominant powers il
% meet the want and expectation of the people h
md new forces to war against the giant ortho- |
ioxy that rIpplcs its creeda forms through So Il
,iety, causing earth to appear bankrupt IN ev. d
,rythlng but show. r.
The new era bctokcns a new birth of relig. u
on that will not cramp the soul hut lend
sight to the blind, strength to the halt and "
anne, sound to the deaf and loves bridal robe t,
% all that IN the wedding of Christ Jesus c
with the spirit of love and charity, that the n
world may witness the divine tavors to man, d
md witness that the minds analysis of science ST
brings true religion to the comprehension OF a
all, and the great unknown becomes the stud. Il
ed and the known. What but grace, which u
IS knowledge, could have builded Socrates for ii
Inc authority Of his reigng What but know. ri