Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-28
The NATURAL HISTORY OF RELIGION
A Fine Address Before the Social Dnio"
he p,ofas.or Masop Of Washington.

n fInr aOuEtts btfOFt hh"
by Professor Mason, Of Wsshington'
The entertainment given ty the Baptist Social
Union at Beyidere Hall last night in Tue w
torest Of the Randolph-Street church WAS =
most delightful affair from every point OF wow wow
The attendance was much larger tlan on Suir W.
lar occasions Of the same character, elnons ~ -
gathering being n noticoably large number %
ladies. The various Baptist churches OF theclS
were represented by both pastors ana ihel'I. Iesn
and DR.. j. William Jones, OF Atlanssi, hVn. .,n vv
T. Massey, and others we're among the NlHlts NlHlto.s-
pleasant hour was spent In social Hay' a!.oI
which the guests hled into the oanque. nan ~, ~
spirited march by Irenors Orcaestra. iue
menu consisted Of all tue delicacies of the seas"o
spread upon two immsnse tables. :.
After the banquet Professor OTIS i. Mason oa
the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, ". y,
was introduced by President T.. ID. Starke as me
speaker Of the evening. His subject sas nssi ,Sa6
raj History Of Religion" Mr. Mason thankea
the union very heartily for their cordial lhsea-
ton, and expressed his pleasure NJ peins -
h ynoTed. lie dehned the Word truth, ana auuSS 'ls
tnnt there was not a man OF woman IN the Noiiu
who was capable OF telling the truth from
strictly scientific point OF view. Ihere ~ "a pioau
line Of demarcatiOn between what Is ana what Is
said, because every one has personal equasl.n' q.
OF. N Otner words, an incapacity oteu the 'run'
Toe speaker explained the imp rtance OF sepa-
rating things according 70 their dihciehces, IN,
GLIDING structures ana iunctiOus whlch ne neiu
10 lie AZ the foundation of oil scientific nVesu-
gallon. Grantation and physical lorces gene
rally were all In full operation, aud Nhiie these
are all easily understood in the laboratory luo
forces behind these are from an analytical poih'
of view inexplcable.
BY transition at once easy and graceiul tho
speaker traced these underlying Iorces 70 ne
power OF the Creator. lie asked the GuestNh
"Can We apply these studies TO religion" Inc
subloct-matter Of reliZion.is the fplr WOiin'
and denotes what men think OF the spirit WorIo,
and thor conduct as Influenced by their views
on this subject. After clear and logical eA pa
nation Of religion as viewed by men at large, tue
speaker referred TO the various forms oi religion
throughout the world, AMI made strong argn-
ment in favor OF the close connection between
scientific phenomena and Divine power
Tho address was delivered IN simple anu
logical, though effective manner, and the CLOS
attention which the speaker received nom me
entire audience was strong evidence of hls
hold on his hearers.
Sir. j. Is. Montgomery then offered the fouoW-
ing resolutions, which we're adopted:
We have noted with pleasure the remarkapiy
rapid growth Of ksndOlph-Street church. anu
believe that II appeals most strongly 70 the SYM
pathy and aid Of our denomination. InereiOie
Cei 1T,
Aesolrcd 1. That the union give tnis struggling
church its hearty encouragement and Influences
2 That tho president be Authorized 10 ap-
point such committees "a in sis judgment may Ds
necessary to carry out the foregoing resolutionS'