New-York tribune., 1882-02-20
AN ADDRESS BY MIR. MILN.
THE ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS IMPULSE.
HOW THE CHURCH CAME TO BE FORMED-TIIE

THE ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS IMPULSE.
HOW THE CHURCH CANE TO BE FORMED-TiiE
CHURCH OF THE FUTURE.
| George C.. Min, of Chicago, addressed the
Society for Ethical Culture, yesterday, at Chickerng
Hall, the subject Of The Past Present and Future
| OF the Church." The hall well filled. mainly with
members OF the Society From the first it was apparent
that the audience in thorough Sympathy with the
speaker for frequently interrupted him with the clap
ping of hands, heads nodded in approval at his
| most liberal declarations. Mr.. Min Is below medium
height with large wellformed head set thick neck.
Were his shoulders OF good breadth there would be
a marked dsproportIon between his massive head and
short body He has brown hair rather long and wayy,
forehead unusually high and prominent, gray eyes,
pale complexion and finely cut features In general his
face which Is clean shaven is somewhat suggestive OF
that OF a refined and scholarly Irish priest. He read
from manuscript neither fast slow, with pleasant,
distinct utterance, aud then rising to higher level
to declaim some sentiment, when he became dramatic
| In introducing the speaker Felix Adler said
| that he welcomed him guest.
What Mr. Min had just done at Chicago required great
courage and while he did than his duty yet it
difficult for in his conditions to do his duty. 1t
might be said that such not fit to be religious
teacher but religious teaching teaching the truth,
who could be lit than who had peried his po-
stion for the sake OF his conyctionsl When Mr.. Min
advanced TO the reading desk he greeted with
tinued applause His remarks in substance fol
| lows:
I purpose to glance at the history of the social
institution known the church. to ascertain by what
process reached its present condition and to forecast
tie future My is If is needed that in the
progress Of thought the church divine institution is
called into question Is it an institution dvinely organ
lied for the propagation OF malignant views OF the Deity
or was it instituted by himselfl should say that
primitive man, being brought into contact with nature,
| saw power in natural phenomena not possessed by
himself. He must have cause cOmpTehendng all
causes. In this we believe that we have the origin
OF the feeling known religious impulse. Man has
| sought for what he never found TheOOgans call it
God and make IL more mysterious than ever We must
confess, one and all that We know nothing about these
prctcndng that they know. lAppIuse.J The received
doctrine is thai the church was let down from heaven
a bride adorned but see her let down IA newborn and
hid nnd & beantif primye T man sn e
primitive force superior to ALL first made attempt to
| propitate it; to avert it's injuries from himself.
| turn abruptly to make some remarks on the present
condition Of the church Its authority is not only less
than it was, but it is not able to begt enthusiasm
Robert g. Ingerso has said, thousands OF good people
avoid the church 1t il losing its power because the prO
pie are growing. Churches that once were crowded
now hall empty Ti, true OF Fres9yterals, and ne
only way they can i'll their churches is TO blot out the
Westminster tatechsln. III rs true also OF Methodist
churches ana OF other denominations A. I3r me lpsco
pal churches. the aendInce l. so small that the most
| ingenious usher can't distribute their audience so
the Roman Catholic, which wieis autOcIatic sway
lbtqrns nt[g Is the m but II is should not be %Roy
attributed to decline Of religion many literary plr-
| ,O.eniug OF its grip Oh men is thr III in cause.
There Is muuunc Of fs,ct' separated by small dis
tinctions all cirgug TO supernatural views of religion
The Bible Is viewed aS an inspired work they believe IN
The mystery Of he mnacnlae conception and OF phys
| IN clement ol strength, but 10 many also AZ an
element of weakness Tie csseutia weakness in the
| cHurcn is IFS attempt TO unite pure cihics with
| the supernatural The UnttaTiaus are furthest
MAYED from superuatraI religion Yet they cling to some
of The old teacugs. The time will come when viii
reason on ptfey natural ba Is hd Will take ethical
culture AID experience Tor their religion. In !, gard TO
VIII be in 1t an entire sence oi rPecuatye belief as
basis of agr cmcnt S0ue oi tne beliefs that may be dis
carried WI b. belief in hell IN Inspiration, personal
God individual Immortality. Til" idea of hell of py steal
torture uas alrrad, been largely abandoEed What OF
| the Eibcl Us II as you do any other ok, getting
god you out Of II. WnIlo individuals may be
| onstratiou, and should not b. required in
the churcn Of the future. Also belief ia Immortality
-L0uld nos be required have closed The eyes OF The
dead. and Tcpt at tho bedside ui the dying, and nope
uny nDt be- charged vi LEX o. feeling. If c0ud be-
live IN future me- the genie John himself would not
beat the ar win n9fe eager WnSs But there seems to
that for each thought iherc Il change IN the roccu-
mr arrangement of the BRAIN; so thought depends
brain action, now Is tHoneht TO 20 on "ncn the am
ceases its task Another feature Forms must Dc abtn-
OOueG Prayer assumes power cnauge the course Of
cea.cd to Offer petitions, ana hayr closed my eyes IN
communion with my own lender and best thoughts The
be goodncss-l by goodness course of condIct
| thai Will biid up and make happy the individual.
There ID De necessity of gong heaven OF hell for
n The rst m0Iiye VIII De fOuud ia experience,
and III second the future OF the Il it worth
Surviving for, besides contributing to your happiness
10 make the world more hababcl Tho churcn OI tue
] future VIII be the centre Of phanthrOWC and
social IL viii say to the young BE happy, but be
| true. But above all ii VIII have educational and
formative force teachlg men to thnk for Themselves
The minister, though he may be called by another name
viii br whom every lad ana lass VIII come for
counsel aud guOancc Where do such condition exist
may search wide world over They yet to be
Mr Milu said to reporter, after his address, that hc
had 10 dcfiie pln the future. HIS connection
with his church In chicago suddenly broken that
he had Lad no time to laJ Out a future course.
Did you anticipate the acuOn OF your cOn6rc-
| CATION g.
Nol az all when made known my intention 10 re-
sigh, large committee called upon me and pressed me
to withdraw III! resignation. They asked c my reasons
These did moi give at rst, because dd not think II
necessary Finally told tne4n tnat views were very
liberal and that would be- best for me to give up my
position. committee OF three aitelwafd called
| Lpun me. 1Aey siid that the cOngres satIon
also liberal and Insisted
manning IN the pulpit. But believe now there must
have come misunderstanding"
did you aterward preach your sermons setting forth
our belief !"
Yes. cOngr, Catioual meeting called sun
day night for The following Monday evening was
asked decide in about twenty MINUTES whether my
professional reor MAS 10 be cut la tWO or not"
you icCi tuat you were UNJUST y treAtSu T.
1ney refused to reasons Tor their action, al
though they required me 10 give nine. hemater ceud
have bCcn adjust ted quietly" -
" men dI adopt your present system OF belief :"
Thai II II dinicut question 10 answer. have been
reading SprnceI's philosophy for years man doesn't
jump system belief 10 another IL has been
wth a gradual Ouu"u.'
When no you tah leave Of your congregation 2"
:" preach the last time In Jnty Church week
from sunday"
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LAYING The BLAME ON PRIEST.