New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-16
CURRENT RELIGIOUS OPINION

Natural Religion and Natural Christianity
as the author of "Ecce HOmO' describes them,
seem 10 us 10 be yItaliy deficient IN tie power 10
excite any SOFT of emotion of trnst,-wlthout which
you may excite. no doubt, any amount of JuStlhabe
awe, admiration and sef-depreciaiion, but IN our
view at least cannot excite any genuine religious
feeliag We do not differ from this able writer IN
thinking that there such a thing az natural re-
Lyon" but do differ from him, when he asserts
that there such thing for one who declines, or Is
unable discover the universe traces OF super
physical. We should rather say. than supeTnat-
uraL Power.-tDat Is. traces OF power 10 mould
and modify that III nature which Ii py slcal, IN he
direction and for the purposes OF that III nature
which is not physical but mental aud moral. There
is no end of natural religion" in the mere dscov-
cry of human tree-will. Tor that Is the discovery
that the adamantne chain of physical necessity has
been and is interrupted by lie VIII OF man ITSELF
a discovery utterly inconsistent with the favoute
scientific view. There IS no end OF " natural re
lgion in the discovery OF conscience That there Is
moral obligation On ms To 90 TINS rather than that
an Obligation from which 10 Is simply impossible
TO escape, without bringing on ourselves an unap-
peasabe reinOrse,a sense OF conscious unWOrtbl-
ness from whichit is impossible 10 dssOcae the con-
yiction OF invisible condemnation and dlspleasufe
There is no end natural Christianity IA the as
coyery that Christ Is ideal Infinitely and nope
lessly above and beyond US, and yet iull OF power
10 draw us upward, If VIII, toward himself.
But there L. to our minds, nothing worthy OF the
name of natural religion natural Christianity at
all, that does 10 promise US guidance, anu excite
IN us trust Again, though We can quite recognize
a natural rellqOn.-SuCh as thar 81 the jews
winch il 20 profoundly occupied with Gods guId-
eyea for centuries, no question as to the sthVe OF
man after death, can hardly recognize one
which when the question had once Deeh RAISED
could admit that the same power and love when
had excited so genuine a trust IN THIS me, WOuiu
feel no concern 10 carry onward our edue1ilon pc
yCud the point ut which TINS world leaves IL Inc
author OF "Ecce Homo seems TO US content 10
find natural religion that which Is neither nat
ur. nor rel glOus-nOt natural Decauke. IN Eple Oh
the paradox II is the highest sense natural 10 naD
to lean OH something beyond Nature not religious
because Religion means some thlDg winch ID oinu-
ing some hing which We cannot IN our hearts uely
and We can IN our hearts defy any power which
only threatens US with extinction and does not
threaten US with Neutrality-suspicious. remorSe.-i ne
London Spectator.
What appears TO be certain is, that these summer
schools meet "a really earnest intellectual craving OF
the time They are patronZeu because lhey are
vented And they are wanted because they under
take to bring forward the very best wlch the most
thoughtful aud scholarly men OF the time nave 10
say in no small degree they give the results OF me
most extensive reading the widest research anu .s
far and wide to DO what they may IN shaping the
intellectual life of the people. surely THIS rs no IN,
meaning sign of the best splrit OF tine Lfne ana
country and bears xness 10 anything rather than
a vain desire of doubtful pleasure seeking and trl-
yoliiy.-lIhe Churchman-
Sunday newspapers and excursions ON the Lords
Nav in the patronage which they receive from
Christian people are two of the most unto~ard and
dangerous signs oil the Tunes as related TO the pro-
gress and power OF the gospel hest ana moial and
spiritual culture with devotion are the real oolects
10 be sought and the more there Is 81 Sunday ex-
eursons and Sunday papers the less chance there L.
As a rule TO secure these endsg and IN saying this
We arc by means saying that excursions and sun
dav newspapers always show al immoral SIDE.
though We have 10 doubt whateyertn their gen
era Influence tends strongly 10 secuiaTize the SAD
bath aud take away It's spiritual power-ll he Con-
grcgationaiisk