San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-11-19
For the LIGHT
THE PROVIDENCE OF MAN.
BY NJ. 1. MANOwITZ.

BY NJ. 1. MANOwITZ.
Tt must be conceded by all as fact
that nature is the supreme factor of
providence in the economy of the unit
verse. Without her worlds would be
but spheres of desolation void of life
and would-in utter chaos-thus find
their Oblivion. 1t is natural law that
sways and stays the universe, and
every world and every star that
swings In space infinite pays homage
to natures mystic shrine. Each
star and planet in its proper element
does move, and moving ever thus re-
mains In harmony with myriads of
its kind. The providence which
does confine each stellar world
to its allotted cline, is also mani-
fest in man. Man is a fac
tor of providence in humsnity's
vast realm. In short, man is the
providence of man. Persons of the
orthodox persuasion may pronounce
this declaration the grOssest of here
sizes, and apply to me the iuharmont-
GUS appelation, hereto, but be that as
it may,I do not propose to pose as
caterer to the caprices of orthodoxy.
Ii In this dissertation [ should tread
on the sacred ground of orthodoxy,
let 1t be remembered that | do not do
so with feelings of animosity. or course
if.I were TO view orthodoxy through
the smoked classes Of theology, it
will naturally appear to me as an OBJ
ject of conservation. Being endowed
with sound sight, do not propose to
fall in the footsteps of men, whose
vision to the physically and intellec'
tuslly.is impaired; men who have
theOlog ical notes ia their eyes.
look not toward the intellectually
blind for guidance. Having chal-
lenged orthodoxy by asserting, that
man Is the providence of man, it de-
wolves upon me to substan tiate the
claim; let me then see in how far L
am OF being right, or, in how near
am of being wrong. Facts will show
and truth decide. L will begin by
addressing myself to the character
1stics OF the primitive man, and mis-
crude conception of providence. Ignor-
snce aud fear were the first priests
that forced man to his knees, the first
voices that bid him worship some
thing. Even in the age of savagery
the mind of man did frame its golden
calf" The savage had to have his
fetch, for without 1t he deemed him
self unsafe.
Now these fetiches were anything
in nature to which, in his delusion,
he was won't to ascribe q magical
power. In the course of time, how
ever, he mustered enough courage
and a suffi cheney of ingenuity to coll
struct u tetich according to his own
particular fancy. Then seeing, that
IG lay in his power To construct, he
deemed 1t within the scope of his
power TO also destroy. When these
Ietiches no longer appeared to crafty
his capriciOus desires. he forthwith
melted out chastisement to them, and
even went 80 far as to demolish them
completely. Thus did the savages
throne and dethrone the object of his
worship. 1t will readily De seen by
this. that the providence of the primi-
tive man was the creation of his own
crude mind. 1t reflects not only
the cruel and ohangeable nature
of the man, but also the
age of barbarian In which he lived.
But Graded In the msnger of ignOr-
ance and nurtured in the laps of
fear, could anything better nave
been expected of him. Let us there
fore, not judge HIM harshly, for had
we lived in that remote age we would
undoubte have been engaged in
the "fetlch-making" business our
selves. 1t were q needless task to
enter into u detail description and
account of the many and varied forms
of worship, which have sprung up
since the age of fetiohism, all of
them SAVIOR more or less of super
uatursIism. Even in this age of en-
. lightment and progress, We find many
people, who exhibit to a remarkable
degree the nature and Characters
tics of the savage. These instiuc-
tive traits of disposition, have
become so .delproOted In them,
that it will require generation upon
generation perhaps TO entirely ettace
them. The religiOusly inclined msu
of today believes implicitly In the |
providence of man. but places behind |
every coincident or ocCurrauCe of an |
inexplioaOle nature the hand and |
will of piety. He reasons in this