The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
BERNARD O'REILLY.
QUESTIONS OF TIE DA,
Viewed from the Standpoint OF Universal
Theology.

Viewed from the Standpoint OF UniversaI
Theology.
We have now in this series OF papers re-
viewed several OF the chief religious question:
which agitate society at this moment
Never In the history OF religious thought have
there been so many at one time and all of then
brought to the constant notice OF the public BY
the magnificent machinery OF the press. the
telegraph, and the magazine.
In old times It took long for news to travel
A church synod could sit and pass its resolu.
lions. and these might become immortalized
in history. But it required many weeks for the
talk OF Rome to reach distant England. and
many months for the spiritual troubles OF By
zantium to wake echoes in Burgoa
Now We read at our breakfast table and dis
cuss the doinRs OF the day before. whether the
doings were done In Saratoga or Rome Stock
holm or Tasmania.
The whole world waited daily on the last
Ecumenical Council. The whole world read on
the morrow OF the recent Baltimore Conven-
ton the speeches Of the day before. The mem
bers OF the last weeks Convention at Saratoga
were not in bed before their speeches of that
very morning were read by hundreds OF thou
sands far away Just as to-day war will be
moro deadly than ever since the days OF fight
spiritual matters Is far more dangerous
than ever 1t has been since it made the
streets OF Constantinople wake to the cries
OF the victims. or since old Alexandria
hoard the death shrek of Hypatia- The con-
test Is not simply about doctrine. The conflict
wages In every homo almost, as to the loyalty
which religion demands and which should
be paid to 1t by the individual. There
are few who have not observed with regret
the drifting away of tho young from thoughts
which once were entertained as matter OF
course by their elders. The Church does not
attract as it used to do. Good preachers
preach to empty pews, and fashionable preach
ers. often their interiors. alone attract. Re-
ligion is too much matter OF fashion. It has
not the hold It ought to have on a vast num-
Der. Its enemios point out how religion
may be considered q distinct failure. be-
cause even among the educated and the
refined it does not set aside the necessity OF
binding parties to contract with every posi-
BILE precaution: because 1t does not set aside
1t has not diminished the necessity for prisons
and ref0rmRtories; because. IN short. It has
not eradtcated the wrong instincts in man.
Every lawyer 10 thus by the mere fact Of his ex-
stence proof the failure OF religion. If relig-
lon were q constant force. mans word would
be sufficient without the drawing up OF deeds.
Every soldier. every policeman. is similarly a
proof OF the Same. For II cabinet were i'm
be adjusted without the frightfui and wicked
test q war. that survival Of our sayaRery. And
II religion were fact with men. there would
lie no educated embeZZlers. no graduates OF
universities branded as thieves on bank records
or police records.
To sum up. 1t may be said that thanks to the
agencies Of modern days. the whole world ia
ant tb close and spiritual con;
among business men, proved by the way In
which they fence transactions with precau-
thorough: the fear of having to resist an un-
righteous war; the constant factor OF criminal
ne In society. from the vice which wrecks a
pank or robs store to the vice which wrecks
health. such as drink or gambling: all these
things are religious questions which are daily
gether with the doubts as to this or that doe
trine, present pitifu sight for the criticism OF
rss n' of p 9s9an when ne shall sum Te tho
iigion ny work. with the whole world for It's
stage OF action.
by the, names OF the writer's thereon. An In:
sset s detisg the sGathing denHnGiat0ns q
ence and thought to the world. Tarrar. Ike
IN adr1 Aehiles. gains doughty name ~ personal
FOLLOW. such AS Huxley. Kuehnen. Renan and
heGel. show how intense Is the exercise oil the
%RSt sR @,nd 6 % the eynd2 Accommodation of
AL religion Its gradual decline and break
I!p A repetition o. the error OF trying to shape
We think not. rneLc Is deep Inherent thought |
IN the human mind that religion cannot be dis
Densed with. Men may quarrel about doc
through stained windows. Some people are |
,0lor blind. totally or partially. some are az |
llcled with strabismns. or, IN plain Engllsh. |
they snuint. But conduct. not doctrine is the |
essence. OF religion. and We need no Arnold to |
preach to so inform us.
II Il sometimes tho plan Of church leaders
|" bait r the hoGk OF religion With amuse,
get hold Of some kind ON the young. They
lopo tho hold will lend to other and bet
'ften succeed Lot such leaders try their own
Let them come together for tho
conservation OF energy in charitable or eiuca.
lnglos They Will see whcrS they can 1T TO- to-
;ether. They will interest the many. They
TllI make leiGIon al actual inct in tho lives OF
animation devoutly wished Tor by 90 many is
ound IN the interest with which an ideal book
deSonred. be tia Bulwer's Coming Lace" or
! IellNnN + Looking Back ward
That dogma. TINT religion will prove to he the
ittest ana will deserve 10 survive which first
H. Is Out on tlis path inying e. codnerpti n
20 forgotten in the first and mot pressing
luty OF religionizine. That Is ihe lront relix-
orS question OF to-day and OF all days.
AN only say that Catholic and Protestant, Jew
md infdel. should commence to solve tho
question by meettnE on what comno4 ground
VII lend 70 another. One thing Accomplished
yil show the next thing to be done
Tine ne jewish ,S, n2nnentio9 OF his Inst week
'tews ns 10 doctrine can Ond common work rn
To- We haye learned the Ten g mmn ailments
ION the Hetrsws ami we sing their ,rsa Inns.
rom them. Let there be union OF Catholic
md Protestant and jew In bumani1ing effort
This Is the end We seek 1t Is the great re-
lgIous question TO be solved kADBIEIcvs. |