The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-02
4 SUNDAY SERMON.
Civilization. what is it.

Civilization, what is it:
1.-The act of civilizing, or the state OF
being civilized; refinement; culture. y
Uebster.
"Cur manners, our civilization and all
the good things connected with manners /
and with civilization have, in this Euro
pean world OF ours, depended for ages upon /
two principles. mean the spirit of gen
tlenlan and the spirit of religion, Burke.
The question of civilization becomes the
more interesting as we study its different
phases; from the definitions as given
above and from the results as found in the
customs Of modern society. we may hope
to fully understand the meaning OF civil
cation. Webster presents the action or
effort to civilize, which he defines as refine
nent and culture Burke gives broader
view: and attributes all good connected
with civilization to two rinciples-gentle-
manly department and the influence of re
ligious principles. If we may be permitted
to make closer analysis, we might be per
suaded that religion must be the primeval
principle, the first great force in the civil
ization OF man. This principle began with
man, and led him to recognize higher and
more perfect being ia the person of God,
who is the true exponent of perfect civili-
cation. The eastern and western ciyiliza
ton are distinct. both in character and
origin; the present generation of men
Claiming identity with western civilization
and participation in the Christian system,
deny the eastern civilization as being adj
mlrabe either in religion or morals. 1t is
a question as to the justice of such posi-
ton, as we can find very much to admire
among eastern nations that would compare
very fayorably with the highest concep-
tions of modern Christians. 1t might be
well to ask, What has been the nature of
education in all the past ages! There are
two distinct systems held up before the
minds of men. The first was of divine
origin and presented i full and complete
revelation of God and man, and the nature
and constitution of the visible universe.
In this revelation was inserted laws for
the perpetuation and proper development
OF the physical and spiritual nature of man,
and might properly be called the positive
system.
The other system was of human origin
and presented the views and ideal notions
and speculative doctrines of men in refer
ence TO God and the nature of the physical
universe ard the rights of man to indulge
in passions that were destructive to his
mental and physical constitution. 1t is bi.t
natural, therefore, 10 suppose that man,
when left to his own reflections, would
make many grave mistakes.
The two civilizations have come down to
us in antagonism TO each other through all
time, and there appears as wide a gulf be
tween the two to-day, if not wider, than
h1c 81 Il l,..fN
TEN held the doctrine of unity to be para
mount and above all else the human system
held the doctrine of schism and divided
interest and the necessity of shedding
blood to maintain supremacy The posi-
tive system advocated peace and equality:
the human system established discord and
class distinction. The first used moral
suasion, the other physical force. 1t is
evident that there are two forces running
parallel with each other through all ages,
and in order to rightly understand the ma
ture of each force we must follow the evil
dence as we find it in the history of the
world. A large majority of men have
Striven to prove their own theories and to
establish the doctrine of supremacy with
out supreme being, which is impossible
Where there is no positive law to direct
and control the mind and thoughts of men
they wander in doubt, and frequently in
despair.
The two civilizations show distinct de-
sign. The first maintains unity, equality
and fraternity, and in the system is to be
found all that is essential for mans good.
1t demands love to God and obedience to
the law linked with love to man and devo-
ton to the interest of others and the main
tainance of just balance in all the affairs
of life. These qualities must predominant
if man reaches his high destiny. which is to
be like God in nature and attributes.
Let us follow history with a view to as
certain facts, so that we may arrive at Just
conclusions. 1t is often charged that the
advocates Of the divine system have been
arbitrary and cruel in their demands and
have striven to force men to adopt sys-
tenn against their will. Unfortunately this
has always led to a rejection of principle
through the imbecility of those that have
! hid behind divinity and advocated divine
right to do evil The trouble has been, and
is now, tsat men claim to be inspired, and
| Justify their acts by claiming authority
: from God, and that they are not response
J Bile to men for what they do. This is the
position of all Christendom and of all gov
ernments.
But what of our American civilization
Is there such thing outside the constitu
1 ton and lawsl Men are beginning to show
the cloven foot and to break loose from
to themselves If the foundation of oul
government was laid upon the principles Of
equity and justice, it must have Joined
issue with the divine government in resist
ing everything in opposition to the genera
good We look upon modern civilization
as sort OF refined barbarism.
Ancient Egypt, with her mystic rites an(
claims to dtvineiorigin, forced upon her de
pendents a system of slavery which, wher
Cp will 10 Of
are bound hand and foot by the presen
European governments, must be considered
= humane Barbarisr, as it existed amonl
the ancents, is supposed to have been th(
:, result of ignorance, which enable thos,
who maintained the ascendency over thu
J. masses to carry their designs and passion.
, | to excess Yet with all the supDosef
ignorance there was a moral force Whicl
Z struck at and against usurpation and ;
lust for power that is not surpassed b.
q modern society After the introduction O
the Christian system an excuse was founl
for the formation of governments tina
seemed TO bear the marks of divine appro
baton. We frankly admit that govern
ment might find some excuse in declarins
that morality was necessary for the publi
Il good, but the. enforcement of moralit,
never went beyond the convenience of tn
d rulers of the people. Morality at the yer,
d best has never extended beyond publ
opinion. 1t derived no force from tn
. divine law or principe, so that the evil
= that existed under barbarian customs be
:, came strengthened by organizations and
, corrupt Christianity What is the statu
Of the governments of the earth in refer
IS enee to civilization! Do not the so-calle
I Christian nations represent condition i
> direct opposition to peace and universe
brotherhood We maintain that the cond
& ton Of the world iustifies the belief tina
$ barbarism as it existed among the ancient
L. III,