The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
SOME NEW hooks.


e hris'l MIR. {. IL. BRNCE, ilkc HloSt ol MS pro-
iSccssors in the field OF Christian opologctics.
paints the usual hidcous picture of the vices |
and horrors OF antiquity. and contrasts them
with the most advanced reforms Of the modern
world Formerly this simple method was rrac- |
sod In the great generic name OF Christianity |
"a opposed to Pagansm. but since the light OF
rhilosophic criticism has been flung upon |
ecclesiastical history this process is no longer |
possible in view Of readers endowed with ordi-
nary culture. Mr. Brace. therefore, constructs
hi, book upon the following ingenious plan:
Christianity and the Church must not be con-
founded: the Church encourages friRhtful re-
ligious wars Opposes liberty Of thought ana
tho Investigations OF science: its skirts arc
stained with he blood Of the In1uisition. and
vet with the tears Of millions of victims OF the
slave trade. it is often only an emblem OF
rover and lust and ambition. Still in every
,.e wore simple men and women not, perhaps.
known to history whose souls and
lives wcrc filed with the principles OF the new
faith. These have been inspired by
christ. The victories they have won
AFRO really the Gestd ClJ'isti-the achievements
Of Christ" The author then proceeds to ex-
amino tho religious and social institutions OF
the Roman world ard to compare them with
those silent individual struggles toward u
higher life. which according to his own state
under the express condemnation Of organized
,Christendom. He does not pit against these
simple mon and women inspired by the new
faith" the simple men and women inspired by
the ancient faith. Would he have us believe
that such persons did not exist before the birth
OF Jesus or would not spirit Of ordinary fair
moss rather suggest that institutions be COM
pared with institutions, men with mon? 1t Is
true he occasionally audes in an incidental
way tn the exalted morality Of the Stoics but
only to fall back upon tho assertion that these
philosophers were exceptions and exercised
no general influence while at the same time he
builds up on exceptional cases his whole argu-
'ment in favor of Christianity.
As We take it, Christianity is either u divine
revelation, to be accepted with unuuestioning
faith or it is moral code and system subject
to critical examination. All candid minds VII!
admit that in the latter case 1t must be judged
according to the same canons which we apply
to all other religious and social institutions
Eas Brahmanism. Islamism. Helcnism. the Ro-
man law the Mosaic code Judged. not
according 20 the capricous Interpretation and
.casuisticul hairsplitting of individual minds.
but rs it stands forth. bold massive. and dis
tinct. IA huge moral and political force in his
tory. :" BY their fruits ye shall know them"
Good men and women. to the eternal honor Of
humanity. have existed in every age and
slime. both before the advent Of Christianity
and outside of its pale since it has nourished
and no creed has the right to arrogate to
itself the exclusive power of inspiring
ana stimulating the followers Of truth and JUS
tce We are forced therefore. in obedience to
tho principles of true historic criticism, to re-
iect Mr. Braces postuate. If we would rightly
estimate Christianity's share in the reforma-
ton of the world.
First. in regard to slavery: According 10 NJ.
Ernest Havet. one Of the most eminent iy-
ing students of the Bible, There is perhaps.
no greater example Of the illusions which
believers can create for themselves than their
obstinacy in accrediting Christianity and the
Church with tho honor of nbolishing slavery.
when it is certain that antique slavery sub
sisted in the Christian empire as in the Pagan
empire: that it lasted far on into the middle
ages; that serfdom existed in France till tho
ave OF the Revolution; that negro slavery was
established under the rule Of the Church. and
continues to this day in two States. and that
those States are Catholic; that 1t only began to
decline in the eighteenth century, that Is to
say. since the churches are threatened
with ruin and that at this very moment the
Papacy. which condemns SO readily and rashly
80 many things. has not yet been able to re-
solve upon its condemnation. The Church has
reigncd eighteen hundred years. and slavery.
other inipuities have subsisted all this time.
with the consent OF the Church and in the
Church. Liberal philosophy only reigncd one
day. toward the close OF the eighteenth CEN
fury. ana it swept away all these things with
one stroke" christianity and its Origins. -
vol l., preface
But says Mr.. Brace. the men who abolished
slavery in tho United States We're Christians.
and inspired by Christian principles. Yes. We
reply. and tho men who supported slavery were
Christians and inspired by Christian principle,
indeed most Of their arguments in its favor
were based upon Christian texts. and a Chris
tian slave was said TO be better of than
free heather. And when emancipation
Wa finally proclaimed. how had it been accom-
pli,hcd: By the convincing doctrine Of the
Gospel. No but after both parties had waded
through sea Of blood the Christian slave
holder was persuaded ut the edge of the sword
by the Christian uboitionist to enfranchi5e
hi, slaves. SO much for the force Of the Gospel
OF Pcn,e after nearly nineteen hundred years
OF dissemination. Now lot Us listen to a be-
l!cyer in the antique faith. They are not
s-iya-. said Seneca they are men; thoy are
not saves. they ara humble friends Do
You not think that he whom you call Il slave i
formed Of the same elements, that he secs the
same sky. breathes the same air, lives like
y,l and will die like you. The soul is
tree. We have not ALWAYS the right to COM
mand and they have not always tho duty 10
obey. We all serve one and the same Father
uamsly. Heaven" These are not the words Of
Christian saint but Of Il Roman philosopher,
aal We need scarcely say they are not
t. Dc found in Mr.. Braces book. That such
sentiments had some effect upon legislation
/, proved by the fact that in the reign OF
Cauiiu, il was ordained if Il master killed his
slave he should be- tried for murder; and in the
reign II Nero Il Court Of Slagi5tracy was estab-
leh"d to investigate. and punish, the wrongs
Indicted by masters upon their slaves. Con-
crrnn. the 'duty Uf the rich to the poor re-
gard for the weakest and poorest. humanity
toward the chiL the prisoner, the brute. -
Mr. Brace repeit- tho lon8-eXplolel theories
T. the effect thar they were all revealed " aud
iricopcl by Christianity. Christ in his
.mAu rotations belonged to tho workn.
ia ,'e5.' and thus taught Us to revere the
Aumbc laborcr. This bait held out to the
working c!ns,rs j. ucrpptiye. The claim OF