The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-26
An INTROsPECIIVE AGE.
Paths OF Endeavor I'm Former Ages Now
Carefully Stunned.
tFor The Times.l

never before men are questioning the verify OF
every impulse Inspirations and convictions. OF
their natures Theories of life accepted for
ages are being tried anew. Answers TO the
momentous question: Whence and whittier!
consecrated by the piety and research of the
past fail to satisfy the thoughts and conscience
Of our times. Paths of endeavor along winch
the energies of former days have been wont
TO press are oft Stunned by men with all the
ardour for action. yet they pause, bafiied by the
doubts which confront them in the way.
The supreme longing for light. the asplra-
ton 70 know and master the forces about us,
the desire 10 find and follow better way
these are some of the sources whence springs
this profound spirit of introspection. while
the enuuiring mind. unsatlsied. returns from
its search TO begin anew the train OF reflection
which first sent it faith in quest OF light.
Such are some of the features which be-
token the spirit Of introspectlon, and suggest
the characteristics of an age strongly affected
by its influence.
From thinkers not n few the opinion is
often heard that this spirit is at war with pro-
gress; that when the thoughts and conscience
of the times are unsettled the energies essen
tial to progress move with hating step; that
action is the child of conviction, and the SEN
timent Of the great poet that THE native hue
Of resolution is sicklied DER with tho pale
cast of the night" is as true OF the world to-
day MS a the Moody Prince who gave 1t utter
anCe.
To our mind. however. there Is no more in
teresting or attractive thought than the re-
Fiction that while this is an interpretive age
yet for all that. it's trend is upward and on
ward, and that foremost among its progressive
forces is this spirit Of introspection.
The desire for greater light-the conscience
which demands surer foundations upon which
10 erect the temple of its spiritual life. the
spirit of criticism and research-all these are
nrousng and stimulating humanity. The age
seems thrilling with the pulsatlons OF new lie
and the signs Of progress may be witnessed
along every line Of religious, scientific and in
tellecual activity.
As we look upon the status of the religious
thought of our times we can but be in-
pressed with the earnest activity which per-
vades it, True it is that the foundations OF
old beliefs are being scrutinized and the au-
thentcity Of revelations which for centuries
have stood unquestioned are being subjected
10 every test which literary research and tho
crucible OF science can bring 10 bear upon
them.
But these conditions, which may seem
fraught with danger, are evidences of life and
bring assurances OF ultimate good. Honest
scepticism and the demand for light, which
1t engenders is a sign of awakening to the
paramount importance of spiritual concerns.
The spirit OF enquiry is no more indicative on
the decadence Of genuine religion than IL the
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authority an assurance Of spiritual life.
The tOrpidity which marked the middle
ages would hardly be cited as an evidence OF
Christianity although the scepticism OF Satan
which broke the long nights, and the results
which followed are often pointed n ms among
the most potential factors in the propagation
of Christianity and the elevation of man;
We know that the track of history Is lined
with the wrecks Of exploded theories and cast
of dogmas. whose acceptance was once re-
garded as essential 10 salvation.
The power of truth 10 evolve itself, no mat
ter what may be its environments. and to ulti-
mately triumph, has been demonstrated on
thousand fields Of religious, scientific and in
tellectual controversy. And though the fires
of the conflict may have destroyed many con-
ceptions which were mistaken at the time by
the multitude for truth itself. yet 1t IN iact
has stripped her form of alien trappings and
left her free and unmarried in all her lair
proportions.
Another blessing which will ultimately come
to the cause of Christianity from the agitation
and chances Of which | speak is the dissipa-
| ton of the popular conception that science IS
at war with religion and this intellectually
and faith cannot walk agreed
For the prevalence OF these opinions both
the friends and tho enemies of Christianity
are in a measure responsible.
With laudable but mistaken zeal the expo
nents of Christianity have oft closed the doors
upon scientific research and stifed the prompt
ings TO Investigation. lest their imperfect reye-
latioDs, being at variance with the system Of
orthodox truth. might weaken the faith of its
followers, while many so-called scientists
have prosecuted their labOrs, not with n
heayen-inspired zeal TO know the truth. but
rather 70 store their arsenals with supposed
weapons with which 20 assault the citadel OF
revealed religion,
The spirit Of tho times is ut variance with
| ..A of g
champions Of religion to-day welcome honest
enquiries seeking proof of its divine origin,
while many If the worthiest disciples Of
science are animated with much of the spirit
Of controversy rs by laudable desire to find
and proclaim the truth.
Another fallacv which Is gradually passing
away is the idea that intellectually and
spiritual development cannot go hand IN
hand.
The practice. which 80 often formerly pre-
vailed sought 10 develop faith and spiritual life
by commanding unquestioning obedience OF
the intellect. or by ostrauging the one from the
other The domains Of these attributes may
be separate. but the debssement Of the intel
lectual !. not essential to the elevation of the
.mritual man Christianity should portray
man with all his great attributes fully devel-
oped, each performing its allotted part and
moving with unquestoned sovereignty In us
respective sphere. Their arrangement may
Is verify OF God.
In the incompatible triumphs Of science
which mark our times, we may witness
another illustration Of the activity and pro-
gress Of which we speak.
The restless spirit of the age carries its
track into every fastness. where for centuries
nature has held nyiOlate the secrets OF her
life and laws With each new discovery. with
every advance achieved. mans unquenchAble
thirst for knowledge hos urged on anew the
search for light. To one standing at the
beginning Of the nineteenth century and re-
garding the discoveries and achievments
which marked that era. the thought might
well have come that here science would pause
in her onward march. and that TO the triumphs
Of the past the future could make but few adj
ditions Such, however. is not the testimony
of experience Phenomena before which the
human intellect Of former ages stood in super
stitutious awe have been stripped Of their
mysterious draperies and forces beyond the
grasp Of human ken, have been made our min-
istering servants
As man unrayels the secrets of nature. he
realizes moro ard more the supremacy OK his
intellectualover the physical forces about HIM.
Ignorance stands shiyering at the storm. regard,
ing its destructive fury as the sign OF offended
Deity; science proclaims that great laws, the
statutes OF intnity. govern the forces. IgnO-
rance looks not beyond this physical phenome-
ma: science questions their origin and dlscerns
the hand Of Divinity in the land, in the sea. IN
the stars.
Conscious of his supremacy, there has
been uuickened in man bold and inquisitiye
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