The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-06
A NEW pASrHE1s11c EvTKRPRrsE,
A. Explained and Defended ny Its Truly
Enthusinstlc Author.

~ EXPLAINED hnu lbercuNe0 ~ 50 AEssy
Enthusiastic Author.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: Your very
able editorial upon the new Society for Radical
Religious and Social Reform somewhat miscon-
ceives tho purpose Of the society in assuming
that II Is founded wholly upon negations
Personally my own position Is distinctively
Affirmative and positive. I recognize the fu-
tility OF mere negnt!on. But the intellectual
forco which will initinlly hold together great
concourse OF people possessing divergent
views must necessarily be primarily negative
and antsgonistic.
All religions were founded in revolt against
antecedent established religions. In other
words. all historical religions were primarily
founded in antagonism. in denial-thnt is. in
inndclty ag ainst accepted authority. 1twould
seem that enthusiasm must be the offspring
of contention and warfare: that the mind can
not grow heated and diffused with new
illumination until II has first risen to throw of
ancient conceptions and superstitions which
srS Sas lea %n We have rst " basted
JESUS JESUS was Na rst anti.FhasisaIs before
avatar: Buddha. must first flee the courts
Of Brahmanistie tyranny and delusion before or.
benign DO tree. Luther must first, slny the
Harriet of Romo" before he can embrace the
world 0yf ws hc fhR o .sa he s t sas
for ages been but revolt against established
s1IeEstiti9n and corrmp,i;3,n' The battle cry
under one flag must therefore be negative and
contentious. But when tho forces nre assem-
phases ct work may be developed. '"S'' '"''''
thank you that in commenting upon the
bread and general ptinritIes which ! ennH-
are not surprised that Col. lngersol is among
the supporters Of the movement. pr Briggs
and DR.. Lyman Abbott might a. so join Wi hout
doing yiolencc to their PRINCIPLES carried out
logically" That is exactly tho purpose Of
e "S cs"mds Of Union SO aSs o
hensiyc that all schools o. untram..
mcileh thinkers. who ARE revolving against
will be able consistently to Join us without sur;
rendering or doing violence to their personal
ha Ne f"Sa n sSt side ISS" "nr inc ne
sts IN b 81 n Ms at n tn If %ap
sistent. .pervasve ethical energy OF the uni
@ In ns If q" Soy of
nns1o S o, n nsturs S1s SS
divine potsntiutie The XII Potential is
W bnt an nna SSWor6ng thh%nEh all
not Claim to T% fl" fny |" but
its scientific manifestations we cnn study and
utili%e. Therefore the purpose OF our Ehiloso;
With the same. Herein We ilnd our worship in
WV SuhllLleSl luculS. lilb lDlJieSC hopes, tnB
toward which cur .h natures are upliIted, do
the lofticst ideals which are. expressed in the
processes of the universe. which are the out
ascend in the higher indictments OF exist
ence. Nature involves the supreme ideal ever
Man is tho highest evolution OF nature be-.
cause the expression Of its Hottest ideal: hut
that is not saving that necessarily man is tho
n N inn
We, touch tho region Of the unknown.
Hence We may Justly say We. too have our
not unsSicntiiic: nevertheless Col. which We
n may call ill tho Supreme Ideal involving all
ing: nothing less than the divine Good. which
we perce i've is the purpose of the universe
G6rGnnesyn Is the ultimate Of al
mean the manifest inherent tendency Of the
universe to ultimate perfection and harmony
is the potency which melluws human existence
and balances worlds in symmetrical rcla-
tons. To recognize and extract from the uni
ship. and the possession OF the most assuring
because the, most scientific God 1t is around
the great discoyyeries of science and the in
to congreGate and enthuse.
,o Put we shall DEPEND for our association and
race must still iusist that 5erciesiasticatpr-
CARNATIONS are sustained because Of this
Ts p thu s saf sy S S dss e
Of the modern Protestant Church is what is
held together by the social instinct. What
common faith is there among the Unitarians.
Presbyterians. which can be. said to be free
from diversity and dispute? Notwithstanding
this notorious fact especially emphasized in
recent events these great bodies cling to-
gether in their respective organizations.
Let me say in closing that the initial meet
ing OF the new society proved overwhelmingly
successful. in point OF attendance. and MANY
hundreds were turned away from Hurdman
Hall unable to secure entrance.
HENRY FRAME.
LECTURER to tn" Society Of Human Progress.
NEW YORK. Jan. 30.