New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-07

ColhpilSh ny discussing IN pubic religious ques-
ions before an audience, the greater part OF
which would in all likelihood be composed of
people assembled, not with the intention OF
Welghlng-even if they were capable of doing
s0-the arguments presented and proiiting by
them, but chiefly TO enjoy what would certainly
have degenerated into a show.
UNIVERSAL AND NATIONAL RELGIoNs.-Dr.
Abraham kucnen, Professor OF Theology at
Ieyden, began "a course of lectures at Oxford
England. on April p, the subject treated berg
universal religion, as compared with national re-
hglons, and the light she'd thus on the origin OF
religion in general. Which we're the Universal
hellglons the lecturer asked. some would
admit Buddhism and Christianity only to the
title, while Others added Islam q third lt
could hardly he a mere question of millions, al
though Islam had bur l7J, 900 900 adherents,
against ChristcndOms 4OO, 900, 900 and Budd-
! hlsm 4jOOOO,OOO. The ground of the differ
encc OF opinion lay deeper-namely, III the
double sense of the term universal religion, TO
signify either a fact or n quality. In the sense
OF spreading over many ana diverse nations and
races SemItes, Aryans, 1arters, Malays
| Negroes-wlth is grip on two continents and
fOoth0d IN the third. Islam was indlsputaDy
universal, or, at least, an international re-
| hgon But it was no less undeniable that the
character OF "A religion could not be determined
by Its outward successes alone, and the causes
CT Islam cOnQuests unquesuOLably demanded
investigation, since II by 10 means followed
that they lay in its uniycTsalIstic nature. The
problem before them was to estimate eau
tousiy, but also with freedom, in the light OF
history, the connection between the universal
and the national religions as furnishing the eX-
PLANTATION and the measure of their universal
lsm. As cOntrasted with the cloud Overshadow-
Ing the rise OF Buddhism and Christianity
Remains reference to Islam. rs "that strange
spectacle of religion coming INTO being IN the
clear lght Of day was III every mouth. The
authenticity of the Koran, with a few tritiiug
exceptions, was above suspicion. And by the
side of MahOmcd preaching therein preserved
Wc had the traditions about his person anthem
| ticated by testimony gong back To his own m
mediate surroundings. The biography OF the
Prophet was later, but still was relatively an
cicnt, resting upon materials yet Older DIAN IT.
self, and, above all, II could be tested by Tue
authentic documents. knowing milch, However
the thirst for certainty made them long 10
know more. And the fact was that their IN
formation was most defective just at the very
points were x would be most valuable. lie
tradition was colCrrd throughout by the dog
matte convictions of the first believers, and was
often open 10 the graveot suspicion. ANA me
Koran Spreugcr had called 1t d" Il book with
seven seals rs showing what Islam l., II
might leave nothing 10 be desired III point OF
cledrnesS and might even suffer ron over lul-
ness; but 80 soon a. they tired To i0Ho" the
Prophet ~ his dcN clOpmcnt, the COniu> mass
of revelation was ever failing Us. This or that
saving would give us the light We wanted, bUt
We did not know where TO place 1t. Behlnd
this or that passage an importan Tact obviously
lurkcd but who should unNtI III LOT us M"uo-
med preached the one Allah, and IN 50 dong
comhatcd the pClvhcism Oi the great majority
OF his people. 30 tar OF couise all was Gear.
But no sooner did they pass beyond tins Scner-
ality than rhev were assaulted by dOubt, and
found wide diversity Of opinion even among
the historians of Mabomcd. The remainder oi
the lecture was devoted to critical lhNtetS "a
ton of the Prophets own religious develop
mcnt as we'll ~ OF tie profound notifications
a
down 10 its Thoroughly honest reformation on
il, native Arabian soil in the m0mentous W an
habite movement dating from the middle OF
the last century.
The National Conference of Unitarian and
Free Christian Chambers ut Liverpool has
brought to light the fact that our OF ZJ9 MN
>ter> IN active duty, - have Ntpends below
goo, and jG stipends ranging from GOO 10
ESQ one minister after - years service,
had only E26 per anuum, and tWO others go
each. AL the three were alumni o. we'll
known college. Another, an MA: or scotch
university, received "a salary of OnlyEJO. The
announcement of these unpleasant facts was
followed by the Inauguration OF >ustentation
Fund.
4 meeting Of the committee for the erection
of "a monument on the Thames Emuankmcnt
in memory Of William Iyndale, who ur-t
translated the New Testament into English,
WAS held in London in the last week oil March,
Wien 10 was agreed tIdt J' l. Io'Hh 9""'1!'
prcpare and place bronze statue ten feet m
height upon "a granite pedestal, on site
granted for the purpose west OF Cmrlng-cro-''
The expense OF the monument Will be =, 4'0
toward which EI.2OO have already been suIr-
aHtccd by subscribers
\ great controversy upon me ImihdciHatt
Conception of the Virgin Mary has been carried
Oh IN the religious journal, Of France ever since
the anniversary iete. which was ieid OH lItceiI-
l.. - Ia- A.. sln n.
\. +. Plcanon, OF }IiiclaguaE' mas toId Jhe
showed how the protest, OF The present day are
in accord with those OF htrhaili oil OiAlrNalN'