The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-19
WHAT IS THE CONSCIENCE |?
SERMON BY THE NEW PASTOR OF
 THE OH URCH OF THE MESSIAH.

 Dickerman, the new pastor of the Church of the Messiah, would begin his ministratIons at the church Sunday drew large audiences yesterday morning and evening. Both discourses were able and instructive. and the speaker held the undivided attention of his hearers. The morning theme was: What Is Con- science" Following is some of the features of the discourse:
 Conscience is very generally believed to be the highest faculty of the soul. It is called the voice of God in man; and Is supposed to be the supreme rul- ing power in mans spiritual nature. To have "a conscience void of offense toward God and man" is regarded as a high state of character.
 The common definition of conscience would be that faculty in man which de- cides what is right and what Is wrong.
 Conscience is something more than self-consciousness. We may be con- scious of a conscience, that Is a moral sense. We do not regard the conscience as a high spiritual faculty. We doubt that it is an original faculty of the mind at all. It is rather a state or feel ing of the mind brought about by some antecedent mental operations. As an absolute independent single faculty of the mind has no existence. The ordinary faculties of the mind-reason and judg- ment-bring in certain findings and at once feeling of pleasure or offense arises in the soul which we call con- science. Now that feeling of pleasure, or the reverse, will be strong or weak in exact proportion to the enlighten- ment of the original faculties, and the sociaa customs among which these facul- ties have been trained.
 There are two great theories of the origin of moral ideas. The first Is that man has an intuitive moral sense, an independent conscience faculty. The second is that moral ideas are based upon the well-being of man, and are the product of experience. No writer has argued so forcibly against the ex- istence of innate moral principles, as Lock in his work on the understanding. He holds that there are no principles universally received among men. That moral rules require reason to be given for them, which ought not to be neces- say if they are innate; that virtue is generally approved of not because in nate, but because profitable; that in. :, ,S,,Aro 1,1e e,sSt-rnt nt%,as bo%t,. hk,,, ,,x ticed in various countries without even causing remorse; that the moral rules of some countries are flatly contra dicted by others; that no one has ever been able to tell what the innate rules are; that we do not find children pos sessed of any moral rules.
 The. original faculties, reason, judg- ment, understanding, imagination, are recognized the world over by their uniform operations. But this is not true of the conscience, 1t varies with every nation, religion, age and circum- stance. It is the creature of education and is powerless to make itself good or bad, weak or strong. It does just what the intellect tells 1t to. It cannot be shown that we are born with any such thing as a conscience. There are in our constitution certain primitive i'm pulses that 50 far coincide with what is our duty, and therefore contribute to the formation of conscience. The child is first taught obedience by pen alties and Is made to associate pain with forbidden actions. This Is the germ of conscience. Habits of avoid ing what Is prohibited under penalties are gradually formed and the sense of law and authority Is thereby &C., ouired. When the.'powers of observa- tion and reason come to maturity the individual sees why the restrictions of duty have been imposed, and is then ready of his own accord, and apart from the fear of punishment to behave rightly. The conscience grounded on fear then becomes the conscience on spontaneous approval. Conscience thus follows, and does not precede, the experience of human authority.
 The, conscience Is very accommo- dating affair. It will serve the Catholic, Protestant, Mohammedan, Jew and Mormon equally we'll. The religious judgment of each only has to say a thing is right and the. conscience an- swers amen. If a Catholic should eat meat on Friday, the Mohammedan drink wine, or some Protestants go to a ball, the heavens would turn black to them, hut some other Protestants could do all these and the heavens would remain se- rene. And neither of these can see how the other can be conscientious.
 A Boston scientist puts love and con- science as follows: Conscience is anoth- CT tower of Babel, and sends forth many tones and voices of discord. See what crimes have plotted the pages of t history, insti- gated by conscience alone! By it the Quakers were hanged By it Roger Will Hams was sent into exile. By 1t the Covenanters were burned, Bunyan put into prison. a.t rt3@.t-
 Now love speaks a universal language. What it says to one 1t says to all It Is the reflection of the divine conscience in which are purity, peace, Joy, life and spiritual intelligence. What conscience does ts to stand under heavy burden and attempt to.itft 1t, while love bends down. from above and enables man to carry it easily. Conscience is sallow. dyspeptic and lean. Love is strong, buoyant and full of life and hope. Conscience performs duty because 1t feels that 1t must. Love does 1t because it delights in 1t. Conscience is afraid of consequences. To love all things are pure. Conscience Is afraid 1t will go to . .as L A.xo haa m fan. nf he'll hana ,,xa