New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-14
pASTEUR AT THE ACADEMY.

HIS ADDRESS on RELIGION-SKETCH OF
Ills PERSON AND CAREER.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRInUNE.i
PARIS, April %.
The reception of NJ. Pasteur at the Academy has
almost conceded with the funeral of Darwin at
Westminster Abbey. NJ. Renan was appointed to
welcome the new Academician. The author OF
"The Life of Jesus" Is a sceptical theologian. lie
does not hold to any re gous dogma, yet he thinks
of nothing but religions, past, present and to come
and nobody talks of them with greater
emotion to pious-minded folk. His style is
bland harmonious and seductive. fester-
day it had tho piquancy which delicate
irony gives He amused as we'll as charmed by the
lightncss and brightness Of his criticism OF the spir
tualstic confession of faith onunciatcd by the new
Acadenican. The defunct Immortal whom they
both met to eulogizo was NJ. LittTe. lie was can
onized by them and was proclaimed lay SAINT NJ
Pasteur is a steadfast believer in Spiritualistn. lie
was not ashamed to say that in his estimation there
WINS nothing positive In the PositiyiSt doctrines OF
Comte The central fact of the universe, namely,
InGniy was he continued, overlooked by the Posi-
twists whose forecasts political and social time had
ehown to be wrong. They wero only In the truth
when they accepted tho conclusion of Littre
to the effect that without spiritual link the hui
man family would fall TO pieces and nations become
as mere hordes. Bnt they fell into the error of
placinr this bond in sort of religion, proceeding
from humanity, and inferior to 1t. Religious faith
must rest on tho notion of something above humani-
ty. and be associated with that mystery of the uni
verse. Ininity The Comtist religion is founded OH
ideas that repOse very superficial evil
dence, which would net bear any scientific
test Tho grandeur of human actions
is to be measured by the inspiration from which
they are derived Happy is the man whose heart,
al ,uf nd ele cd i,trfh
scntment of Infinity lie thirsts for what is ideal
for the ideal of virtue beauty, science, goodness
This sentiment Of the Infinite which the intellect
cannot take hold of is the source of grandose
tons and of noble and benefccnt thoughts The In
fin t. is not clearly manifested to us, but it lights up
everything when once we feel it. The Greeks felt
its mysterious power which underlies and permcates
creation. They bequeathed TO ms one of the most
beautiful words of our language, IN which they
tried to explain this mysterious power which Is hid
den from the eyes Of the understanding. This word
Is enthusiasm, or en- Theos-God working in man as
lie works throughout the universe.
NJ Pasteur is a native of the Jura, President
Grevy's department, and is short, angular,
powerfully built and shows In his counte-
nance his humble origin One sees that he
has issued from Woodworking race, and
has himself led IA lab0rious life. People who have
graceful turns to their phraseoogy. This is seen in
NJ. Rcnan NJ. Pastcur goes straight TO the point.
lie speaks in IA clear voice. is n close reasoner
phasizes TO make his hearers well retain what he
says, aud not to charm their ears, aud uses abrupt,
quick gestures which if not elegant are
telling. Ono sees that he is Vail
ant-for-Truth NJ. Paul Bert and Gam
beta were opposite to him when he speaking.
The former obtained from the Versailles Assembly
a grant for him Of II 600 francs year, to enable
him to pursue his microscopic studies and both
his intimate friends. Gambetta in a celebrated
speech at the Sorbonne last year said that Augusta
Comic was the master mind of the century. Never
theless, NJ Pasteur did not shrink from affirming
that Positvism had no positive basis and that no
philosophy worth the namo could, therefore. be
reared upon it. NJ Pasteur has u thick head
of brown hair slightly streaked with silver. His
beard is gray in tho middle and dark ut the sides.
The face has a depleted, but not emaciated look,
and tho eyes, which have taken cognzance through
the microscope Of the Infinitely small, have dead