New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-09
A LITERARY MANS RELIGION.
THE RELIGION OF 4 IITEEAR;y MAE o.

THE RELIGION or y LITERARY MAN Cle-
Ugio ScrptOrs). By Richard lie GIlliennc No'
pp. xi. ll9. q. J. Putnaus sons
In spite Of the Galciem Of Mr.. 1n Galliennes
name he is thorough Enclishman IN his processes
OF thinking. There l.. indeed. a suggestion OF
French daintiness and lucllty in his style as. for
instance when he says that Catholicism Is simply
average humanity I'm surpice or where ne de-
corps that cur brave forofathcTs went to battle
with stoutcr hearts than W. take to the dentist
But the value Of the book lies not so much In It's
really delightful style rs In It's thought. which u
stimulating. where it Is not convincing inc
author attempts NJ elaborate analyses Of religion,
but contents himself simply with defining the more
or loss indennable religion OF the literary man.
or course It il not meant that all literary men hold
formally to the same views Of religion. bur that
literature may give q distinctive "tone-color 10
religion lust as do ccclcsiastcism and science. All
that Mr. lie Caffeine tres to DO Is 10 Reproduce
that "tone-color" II he has not altogether sue
cecdcd in doing this. h. has at lcas; produced
readable lIt,le book. which expresses the half
formed thoughts % many educated people.
Religion. according To- the author. no longer
stands or falls with the Hebrew Eblea loose state
mcnt. by the way. for he undoubtedly means 10
include the New Testament which was written In
Greek The question for our forefathcrs WAS
Pilates question What is Truth? That We may
be said f. have answered relatively. We might
say that Truth Is the host possible condition In a
given set OF circumstances Relatively speaking
We have answered ii; ultimately speaking We have
given it up
Personal existence after death Is. in the opinion
Of the author. not very much to be- desired
our clinsne to persona, identity f. an Illusion
We 10 not really cherish i 90 much as We imagine
What do cherish j. living and what matter II
W. live again IN eur pg'I.nj i"nN usS ~. Know
the difference. That We shah i've son""h"rr II
slnc continuation of qualities ana forces. is err
tain: much OF immortality Is AZ least assured w.
What tho author has to say about Christianity is
suggestive. Organized Christianity. he thinks his
done more 70 rctard the IDEAS of Christ than any
other agency in the world. T. has done 50 by ma
tcrallzng His ralian; ntu!tons into opaque dog
mas. in order that they might be Compensated by
average people
The history or Christianity ha7 very h,tie 70 %
with the teaching ~ Christ ana any deductions
drawn from j.. against that teaching. ar" entirely
irleI The Go.pe! Of chris; ana found !, wanting.
70 that the answer ie simple Tn" world has never
century Of the so-cal!ed Christian Era 1t has yet
to begin.
But the truths onshrincd In Chrisrs teachings
cannot die. THE spring Of new cr.i s In IN" air
an era % faith. The prophe-iei Walpurgls night
Is already behind us. and except in the Imagination
of a handful OF ili-condtipnci writer's artists and
thinkers who have written and painted anl
thought for each other. II never had even any
potential existence. Shall ~e despair % mans
soul because. f,rsooth Lombroso cannot find II;
liglon and law because mad poet fires his lIttlc
pistol at Westminster? | think not. What are al
these men but dirty children building their mud
pies? And soon oblivion. Ike an indignant mother,
shall send them all 20 bed"
We must clo@e by quoting vigorous protest
against the modern craving for something new:
The censors Of modern literature are continually
crying aloud for new mcssag". Whef" l. the new
prophet VINO viii give peace - our souls. y very
short time ago UroWnings was the now message
t'ITlrlf'f. ltlgklu'g
sons. Was agr more rich In prophets and
In great messages But wnat have We done win
them Have realized them in our lives. quite
used mp every available particle Of their Wis iom;
And yet here are hungry and clamOrinS again /
The truth ~ that the men who cry out Tor new
messages mean, rather. sensations Oi doubt
II is not peace they want. but new p"rpcxity. II
seems childish 10 our cultivated intrigc To-
say Love God and love one another. The old
prophets babDcd That long ago. Yes. and the /
prophets to come VIII but repeat the same message
IN other forms. Truth always comes ~ Christ /
came. In the garb OF ahsOiut" simplicity. -" seems
1 child or pleasant person. The learned doc +
tors will have none OF him. Love God and love /
Dne another Is that all? That have We known I
from youth UP. Yet Is there nothing else 10
say!