Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-15

The human mind, inspired by the heart,
shapes in the future an ideal that survives
the decay of dogmas He who disbelieves
in the worlds supernatural direction uslI-
ally transfers it to some natural providence,
which will cause right and truth to tri-
umph. Even the peSsimist believes that in
world organically bad his philosophy is an
exception, and that when it prevails there
is just good enough in the world for thatl
things will be better.
our modern optimism buds on an old
tree. An oriental poet reminds us that
when thOrns are green and tender the
camel may browse on them, but when old
and hard they tear his lips Consoling and
nourishing at first was the ancient pious
doctrine that men should regard their lot rs
divinely appointed and be cOntented there
! with, but it hardened into the sanction of
expressions and thorns for those who tried
20 improve the lot of the poor. And if the
present optimistic sentiments should pass
from poetry to practice benevolent effort
must be chilled.
For why should we do work which the
process of the suns" is doing for US? If hu-
mainly is progressing by dynamic destiny
along providential or other purposed
grooves our reforming efforts are superser-
| knowledge. But what we witness is the
unprecedented increase of reforming and
! Humanitarian efforts. While it has become
a heresy even in cultured Christian circles
| to believe in devil, the instruction of hui
| man hearts against the worlds tares shows
n deep belief that the tares are permitted
| by no providence. AN enemy hath done
| this"
This separation between heart and head,
| between practical and theoretical religion,
| is the pregnant phenomenon. The discov.
| cry of evolution has revealed that we are in
n predatory and cruel world, while increas-
ing refinement has made the human heart
more sympathetic. The earth has become
conscious of its agonies. Sectarian parti.
tons, originated by extinct issues, yield
| before the humanitarian enthusiasm, which
! is graphing with evil as if it were satanic,
| just as theology has reached the conclusion
that satan does not exist, and that evil is
| good in the making"
Thus the only feryid and vital religion of
our time in its crusade against evils pro-
nounced 'provdential" by theology, is left
without any creed corresponding to its hui
manitarian zeal. Science has taken away
its devil; common sense has discredited a
deity permitting evil while professedly
/ lttAlHS II, anu bilt ltlltsIONtS diltClIOuS can
find no shelter Under an unknowable which
IS necessarily ENJOYABLE.
y new theology must arise Whatever
traditional dogmas it may preserve, it will
surrender those that imply divine sanction
Of Biblical cruelties and of the like in ma
ture Humanitarian religion is an incar-
nation like that which once led the suffer
ing world TO worhsip goodness and love on
| Il cross, rather n loYeleSs omnipOtence The
new plan of salvation" means the human
ization of the world, including its dogmas
and deitics, When religion and theology
reunite there will be born, believe, some
successor to the ancient Ioroastrian philoso-
ply of "a good mind contending with, and
through mans cooperation steadily sub
DUNG inorganic and unconscious forces CT
nature which it never created, and for
whose Instructions to human development
It is in nowise responsible.
MONCURE d. CONWAY, L. ii. ID.