The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-11

of some kind is a necessity to human existence.
1t is the aggregate of those forces which most Z
clearly distinguish man from the brutes. 1t IS
the law of the soul as much as gravitation is the
law of matter Whatever forms it may assume,
under whatever aspect it may appear so long as
man is man. religious sentiment must endure
1t contains elements of truth that are eternal
They were true when the stars sang together at
the birth of creation. They will be true when
the last man stands on "this bank and shoal OF
timep
and uncertain aspect, but keener vision and
steadier gaze will reveal a harmonious unity.
This is the eternal truth of which science and re-
ligon are but the infnitesimal fragment From
this stand point all petty conflicts and disputes
fade into mere nothingness. The spectra OF
human prejudice is removed and the pure,
white light of God is revealed. In this faith we
hope and believe that those forces which at
times seem antagonistic are in reality the beau
tifully adjusted parts of great whole, and that
| all human wisdom, science and philosophy Will
| yet be grouped in a harmonious, benefcient
unity. Somewhere their must be border
land, yet dim and uncertain, where
science is religion ard religion science; and
where both unite to form a colossal eminence
from which man may, with some philosophy
survey the highway of existence, stretching from
the present to the limitless future. Here is the
pyramid which neither faith nor science can
build unaided, but which both may raise to form
the highest excellence of human wisdom. Here
at last the unity of truth will, in some degree
unfold itself to mortal sight.
| When not science, or philosophy, or anything
else but truth, shall be the polestar Of thought
full men; when science philosophy and revela-
ton shall move in converging lines; when scien-
fists shall be theologians and theologians scien-
| tlSts-when all sects may pitch their tents IN
harmony on the broad field of a generous philos-
| ophy-then will the destiny eff the human race
be fulfilled and the grand epic of civilization
| completed.
The next speaker was L. C. Breeden of Butler
University, his subject 1.-THE New Science
Esthetics." His concluding words were: There
is the poet. the painter, the sculptor, the archi-
tect and the orator Each in his way is ever
striving to present under ineligible forms the
idea of more perfect loneliness. 1t is here that
Jesus of Nazareth steps in upon the artistic
| plain. He did not paint nor carve, but he APP
pealed to the human soul, embodying higher
| purity and loneliness than the world has ever
actualized And it will always be the momen-
tum and glory of Christianity that it places be-
| force the eyes of mankind character always at
once the most beautiful. Preserve the
beauty of the story of the
cross analyze the occasion for it,
and you have struck the point where
beauty eliminates. Strain that self-sacrifce
! through colors into picture. pass it through
harmony with music and it is art, the highest,
because IL moves IL from the center But Ike the
words grace and glory, the word beauty has had
! an evolution. From representing matter and
| physical exce1lences, it has been carried over
| into the realm of moral qualities and made to do
service in the higher heart life We contemplate
with admiration the artists picture where he
| portrays it upon the canvass beautiful figure;
! but we look upon him an artist of greater
| power and diviner skill, for he can place upon
| the pure and spotless canvas all his character
the highest conception of shameless, blameless
life. Character preparation is the highest
beauty, and that which shines out of it the high
est art. 1t is the beauty of the incorruptible,
| the beauty Of disinterested love, the beauty of
holy life, in the dazzling radiance of which we
all may shine.
c. F. Remy of Franklin College, was the next
| speaker, his theme being Our National Idea"
His enunciation was clear and his delivery good,
.and like each of the other orators, both as he
began and as he concluded he was heartily ap-'
plauded.
The next speaker was Nathan Powell, of Han
over, whose subject was political Anglo Mania
in America" Comparing this country with Eng
land, he said:
America and England What flood of recol-
! lections these two names recall! History never
| seemed SO dear until its pages recorded the
victory of American independence over English
| tyranny Let US look at some recent measures
of English reform. In 1882 the British Parlia-
ment passed bill by which emancipation was
granted to the Catholics Thus large and in
telligent class of people, who had for years been
deprived of their rights, were again to have
their existence noticed And how was this
measure passed? Did the just and righteous
indignation of an injured people lead to the
passing of this actl No; far from it, Such ac-
| ton would not have been in accordance with
| English principles After long and continued
argument in its behalf it was finally enacted,
lest civil war should ensue Another act which,
no doubt has brought England into notice,
has been the reform in the system of
educational laws Burning under the shame
which that system justly deserved, and writhing
saTsv
| all sides, the English Parliament granted
a wider extension of the laws which provided
education for the masses. At the same time the
franchise qualifications were made lighter, and
greater liberties granted in this respect
Truly these are marvellous changes to justify any
| one holding up England to America as an exam
pie of progressive government.
Catholic emancipation! they would cry. / ask
when, in the history of the United States
did we ever restrict the Catholic people, or any
! other religious Sect from their privilegesl
| Never since we have been separated from the
mother country has such condition of affairs
| existed.
Education for the masses! England granted
| this reluctantly from motive of state policy
In America popular education by the state is
regarded as a natural right, inherent in the peo-
pie.
If defeated in this, they would turn to the
seemingly plausible arguments of the extension
| Of the franchise. Again, l say the comparison
only reveals our superiority AS well question
| the rights of independence as question the
rights of franchise amongst u.s. A work recently
published in this county on the progress of De-
mocracy in America" has brought out some
| startling remarks from eminent English critics
The words ''Tammany Hall" and John Kelly"
occurring in the criticisms upon the government
of several of our cities these English philanthro-
pists, with true English stupidity, announced the
fact that the entire United States is governed by
few men, and at the same time they congratu-
lated themselves upon the absence of such an
evil at home. Thus from reports concerning
the government of two or three of our large
cities, these sages conclude that the is true
of our entire population. Marvellous indeed
such statements, and coming from such source.
| A true knowledge of our country would soon re-
move all such objections. And have these English
! critics good reasons for congratulatng them