New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-10
AUTHOR AND REFORMER.
LAURENCE ELEPHANTS LATEST IDEA.

TALKING OF HIS SECLUDED LIFE IN SYRIA AND
HIS PLANS HERE
There interesting personalities among the
authors OF the present day than that OF Laurence Ophan
who has been staying quietly in this city for the last
week. Al traveller dipomatst, newspaper correspond
ent satrist social reforner, phianhropt and novelist
Mr. Olphant has been almost equally distinguished lie
was born IN England In 1920, and though he became
bsrrister soon devoted himself to travel In 1882 he
published "A Journey to Katmaridhu" 1.-THE capital OF
Nepaul). This was followed the next year by The
Russian Shores OF the Black Sea- and two years later
by Minnesota and the Far West"
He served on Lord Egins mission to China. and was
subsequently, made charge aaires at Pekin, office
he compelled to resign In consequence OF WOUNDS
received in attack made upon him by native assassns
In the negotiations for the Reciprocity Treaty made with
the United States by Lord Egin, Mr.. ophan, was OF
great his distinguished chief One Of his many
visits TO country resulted in his Joining the social
community started by Thomas Luke Harris in Chauauoua
County, in this State. There Mr. Ollphant worked for
time farmer but finding tho scheme was not carried
accordance with his ideas Of what was right and
originally intended he returned 10 Europe For three
years prior this experience he had represented the
Stirling Burghs In the British Parliament
In HPccadily" Mr.. Oliphant wrote brilliant
upon English life though this surpassed by the
American sketch Irene McGlicuddy' the authorship
Of which long concealed but acknowledged by
him. Some years Mr.. Olphant with his wife took
up his abode at afa in Syria and soon after put forth
scheme for the colonization OF Palestine by distressed
Jews from Russia and other countries where they were
III treated. In 1885 he published "sympneumata, or
Evolutionary Forces Now Active in Man" 1t is an cx
tension Of this idea that Mr. Ophan offers to tho
world as q faith and practices which affords cure
the evils under which suffers in the presen. state
If civilization. This book, which is called Scientin;
Religion" published In England little more than
fortnight ago. the day Mr. Olphant sailed for this
| county
In personal appearance Mr.. Oliphant is not unified to
play the role Of oriental patriarch lie is nearly six
|
beard Of imposing dimensions His expression is kindly
and the HIGH dome-shaped forehead, above which the
hair is little thin, is reminiscent Of the portraits Of
Shakespeare. Mr.. Oiphant received reporter very
kindly and chatted with him for time He
here so often that the American interviewer has few
terrors for him.
az a very bad person to interview at the present
time" said he, for out o. touch with the civilized
world. For years 1 have living Syria occupied
with writing. in which wife, who died two years ago,
largely my assistant. Indeed, both seemed to
actusted by the thoughts and purposes and the
Aid She has not ceased with her DEATH In win
live at the foot OF Mt. Carmel and In the
top My life there OF the simplest Thore is Eng.
lishman within long distance of Occasionally
books sent but have much time for reading
and almost ignorant OF current literature. Any
who Is interested in learning about my Syrian life Will
find full account in my book 'Hafa" which has been
| reprinted here
| VIII you tell something OF the scope OF your now
| book. Mr.. OlphantT
1t would be simply impossible to do so in any time
at our command. Just impossible as 1t was for mo
to answer some who asked me the other day IL 1
believed in revealed religion. Let come to q
definite UNDERSTANDING replied as TO what is meant
by revealed religion OF could not do this
in any short tno and probably should not have agreed
no matter how long had taken the discussion.
All religions claim be revealed but they have been
revealed through man. II he had asked Did be-
lieye in the New Testament" should have asked him
whether he thoroughly knew origin Of that work 1t
not till three hundred and twenty years after the
death Of Christ that 1t assumed present form Then
| the Nicene Council met and put lot OF books at the
foot Of altar, and prayed that the right might be
raised to the top OF tho table. The book have
now, is the result OF that prayer None the people
who wrote supposed to have written the different
narratives made any claim divine Inspiration, with the
exception Of Paul, whose remarks the point
and vague
"Now. I believe in Inspiration You could not cit
here and talk without being inspired. and inspiration
ceases only with life. There are though kinds and
! degrees OF inspiration. My book is called Scientific
Religion, or Higher Possibilities Of Life and Practice
through the Operation Of Natural Forces' There
got to come end to the present false system of cvza
ton under which the struggle for life Is being
carried on. The Christianity Of to-day is far away
froL the teachings OF Christ There a substitution
almost Immediately after Christs death OF desire for
personal salvation In lieu Of the practice OF daily life
inculcated by him. Can turn the other cheek
the smiter and yet live Religions have them now
now are extracted from the husk instead OF the kernel
Of revelation. We all striving ourselves
both morally and physically the expense OF neigh
bOrs. 1t is Of senshness Our religion is the
seiAshness Of striving salvation. and civilization
is the sehshhess OF the striving for wealth Both Will
have TO be wiped out"
"Wil your book be republished herc?7
II wish you would find a publisher. Those
have seen afraid OF the thoroughness Of the reforms
advocate. find that when hold mans close to
the simple truths and teachings OF Christianity he sdurms
and wants 10 get away and declares am destructonis
Still, think the publishers would put their preudces
ono SIDE II they money In the transaction. but
they do not / noticed that one Of the papers called
religious enthusiast Now that Is piece OF un-
necessary auology. No man be religious without
being an enthusiast Religion has stirred the 1ercest
passions OF man. There must always be passion In
disputes where argument is based feeling instead of
and whore there provable facts on which
TO base distinct hypothesis"
8" Are you u believer In spIrituaiismT
"Not rs 1t Is generally understood and practised
would sweep away the whole OF so-calcd mediums
But believe there communicated between the
and tic unseen and that these ginpses into the invisible
depend on the moral state OF the observer sub
division Of one OF my chapters is tho interocng Of the
invisible atoms Of the seen and unseen wordsa single
syssem Of animated natu. AL these curious phenomena