Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-03-31
Richard Harding Davis Declines.
Please excuse me from answering any Of
the questions you suggest. They are too
solemn. Sincerely yours.
s1oncure n. Conway on the Coming Tho.


The human mimi, inspired by the heart.
shapes in the future an ideal that survives
the decay of dogrnas He who ,isbeiieves
in the worlds supernatural direction lls,l-
ally transfers it to some natural providence,
which will cause right and truth to tri-
umph. Even the pessimist believes that In
aworld organically bad his philosophy isalL
exception, and that when it prevails tthers
is just good enough in the world for that
things will he 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 OH them, but when old
and hard they tear his lips. Consoling and
noursh!ng ut first WAS the ancient pious
doctrine that men should regard their lot AZ
divinely appointed and be contented there
with, but it hardened into the sanction Of
expressions and thorns for those who tried
to improve the lot of the poor. And if tho
present optimistic sentiments should pass
from poetry to practice benevolent effort
must he chilled.
For why should we do work which s'the
process of the SUNS" is doing for uss II hu-
manity is progressing by dynamic destiny
along providential or other purposed
grooves, our reforming efforts are superser.
viccable and must decline with increase OF
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 II devil, the insurrection of hu-
man hearts against the worlds tares shows
u deep belief that the tires are permitted
by no providence. IAN 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
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
tions, originated by extinct issues, yield
before the humanitarian enthusiasm, which
is graphing with evil AS il it were satanic.
just as theology has reached the conclusion
that satan does not exist, and that 'evil n
good in the making"
Thus the only fervid and vital religion of
our time, i'll its crusade against evils pro
nouncel "providential" by theology. il left
without any creed corresponding to it's hui
manitarian zeal. Science has taken away
its devil: common sense has discretlitesl u
deity permitting evil while professptllv
hating it, and the religious affections can
find no shelter under an ,;n&nowab!e which
is necessarily unloyable
A 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
q cross, rather IL loveless omnipotence. The
new "plan of salvation means the human
ization of the world. including it's dogmas
and deities. When religion and theology
reunite there will be born, 1 believe, some
successor to the ancient Zoroastrian philoso.
ply of Il good mind contending with, and
through mans cooperation steadily sub
DUNG, inorganic and unconscious forces OF
nature which it never created. and for
whose Instructions to human Developments
it is in nowise responsible.
MONCCRE d. CONWAY. L. Fl. D.