The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03
editorial 8rtets.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, DID.
Canton, N. Y.

NEITHER the New York Sun nor the
mayor of Albany has achieved national
reputation for zeal in behalf of the things
that are pure and lovely and Of good re-
port. We are all the more glad, there
fore, to credit and commend both OF them
for the efforts they are now making, ably
seconded by other papers and magis.
trates, to correct the fragrant indecency
of the pictures much used in recent years
to advertise cigars, tobacco and spirits
The immunity which the advertisers Of
these articles have enjoyed has led to the
adoption of a similar means of advertis-
ing by several other branches of business.
The course of Mayor Thatcher should
be followed in every city and village.
Let these offenses against decency and
aids to corruption be banished from pub
lie sight
The remark Of Abraham Lincoln, in
reply to the suggestion that God thinks
of common people-"He must think a
great deal of common people or he would
not have made SO many of EN-" comes
to us whenever we note the great prepon-
derance of average and mediocre quality
in every class and pursuit. Not many
wise, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called to any work or profession.
They are not here to call. Yet it is sur
prising how much sense and resource
and real power common man or wo-
man will discover in the school of trial.
There is no such chasm between the COM
mon mind and the mind of the illustrious
as eulogists would persuade us. Very or
binary men are all the while mounting to
the pedestal of heroes. We shall all
think more of common people when we
observe how capable they are OF be-
coming uncommon people.
"A wholesome discourse, sound in
theory, judicial in statement, calculated
to arrest the attention of the thoughtful,
and conclusive in its reasoning, was
preached in Kings Chapel, Boston, by
the Rev. Edward J. Young, the Sunday
following anniversary week, and is now
printed as tract, by request of some
who heard it. Mr.. Young considers
some of the Substitutes for religion"
which it is the fashion to adopt. Sunday
recreation and amusement, mental cult
ure and ethical culture, are the particu-
lar substitutes Mr.. Young examines. He
shows their inadequacy and brings solid
reasons to the conclusion that since re-
ligion is demanded religion must be sup
piled.
In note Mr.. Young quotes the
weighty words of historical discourse
spoken by Ralph Waldo Emerson to the
citizens of Concord: "Let not the solemn
shadows of two hundred years, this day,
fall over usin vain. believe this town to
have been the dwelling place in all times
since its planting, of pious and excel
lent persons, who walked meekly through
the paths ofcommon life, who served God
and loved man and never let go the hope
of Immortality. The benediction OF their
pray ers and their principles fingers around
us. The acknowledgement Of the Supreme
Being exalts the history of this people.
1t brought the fathers higher. In war
of principle it delivered their sons. And
SO long as a spark of this faith survives
among the children's children, SO long
shall the name of Concord be honest and
venerable"
The relation of Christianity to the
improvement of the social state is a
branch of study that should be parsued
in connection with the study of econo-
mics and political science. 1t has not
been supposed that this could be done.
But there is certainly no greater obiec-
ton to introducing such study, than in
making a college course include natural
theology or Buffers Analogy. 1t has
the great merit of being one Of the most
practical subjects to which attention can
be given. Either Christianity sustains
the intimate reia1On 10 bhe improvements
of society claimed for it by Christian
moralists and reformers, or it does not.
The direct and scientific study of the sub
ject in the college and university would
soon determine the point.
The prevalent tone of the press
and of publicists is, that politics, labor,
finance and all similar questions are
entirely independent of religion. But if
religion have no relation to these things
and no effect on them. it is plain that it's
hope of ever having dominion over the
life of the world is delusive. Nor should
we be content with acknowledging that