Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-19
xeaears ID. Conway ON the Coming The
eieKy.

Measure u. Conway ON the Coming The
eieKy.
The human. mind. inspired by the heart
shapes In the future al ideal that survives
the decay OF dogrnas He who disbelieyes
In the worlds supernatural direction usu
ally transfers 10 To some natural providence.
which will cause night and truth to tn
umph Even the pessinist believes that In
a world orxanieally bad hts philosophy j. an
exceptson. and that when IL prevails there
is Just god enough in the world for that
things will bc better.
Our modern optimism buds on a old
tire. An oriental poet reminds us that
when thorns are green aud tender the
camel may browse on them. but when old
and hard they tear his lips. Consoling and
nonrishing ~ first was the ancient pious
doctrine that men should regard their lot ~
divinely appointed and be- eontsnted there
with, but II hardened into the sanction Of
expressions and thorns for those who tried
to improve the lot Of the poor And II the
present optimistic sentiments should pas
from poetry to practice benevolent effort
must be chilled
For why should we do work which tho
process Of the suns" In doing for us, II hu-
along providenflal or other purposed
grooves, our reforming efforts are superser
viccable and must decline with increase OF
knowledge But what we witness II the
unprecedented increase OF reforming and
humanitarian effors While It has become
q heresy even In cultured Christian circles
20 believe In devil. the insurrection OF hu-
man hearts against the worlds tares shows
q 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
a predatory aud cruel world, while increas-
Ing refinement has made the human heart
more sympathetic. The earth has become
conscious Of its agpnies. Sectarian parti-
tions. originated by extinct issues. yield
before the humanitarian enthusiasm. which
Is graphing with evil as II 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 fervid and vital religion OF
our time. in its crusade against evils pro-
nounced "provi6ential' by theology. IL left
without any creed corresponding to its hu-
manitarian zeal Science has taken away
its devil; common sense has discredited q
deity permitting evil while professedly
hating IL, and the religious affections can
find no shelter under an unknowable which
Is necessarily unlovsble
A new theology must arise Whatever
traditional dogmas ID may preserve, IL will
surrender those that imply divine sanction
OF Biblical crueltics and Of the like In ma
tur-. Humanitarian religion Is an incar~
nation like that which once led the suffer
ing world TO worhsip goodness and love on
n cross rather . loveless omnipotence. The
new plan Of salvation" means the human
izatiou OF the world. including its doglnas
and deitics When religion and theology
reunite there will be born, believe. some
successor 10 the ancient Zoroas.rian philoso-
ply Of . good mind contending with. and
through mans cooperation steadily sub
DUNG. inorganic and unconscious forces Of
nature which II never created. and for
whose distractions to human development
&c Is In nowise responsible
MOSCURE ID. CONWAY. l. IL d.