New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-07-31

ueal only with nature. Religion points
to the future life and attempts to expound
its mysteries. Science can see only as
far as the grave. Religion makes it's ap-
peal to inspired authority. Science takes
nothing for granted, but weighs all evi-
dence, acknowledging no ''authority."
Let us, in reply to these objections,
make clear what we mean by a rational
religion. 1t is religion which rests up
on observed or ascertained truths instead
Of assumed dogmas or legends. 1t is a
religion which proceeds step by step,
from inference to inference. If satisfac-
tory ground for an opinion can he shown
it IS accepted. Otherwise not. Dogmatic
religion Is that which proceeds blindly,
having committed itself to the charge Of
tradition A rational religion must be
content to stop and wait patiently when
1t reaches the boundary of veritiable
truth. It must answer honestly, "Be-
yond this, do not know Further
progress must be distinctly marked as
speculation. Dogmatic religion is equal
ly certain of its apocalypses of the fu-
ture.
Now both the traditionalist, the mvs-
| tic and the secularist stand ready to de-
clare that religion cannot be established
upon such rational basis. All will
probably admit. however, that the mob
Ter sentiments in man, his sense Of NOR
al obligation, or at least his sense of pru-
dence might establish thus a code of
morals The secularst will admit this
but no more.
Well, what more do we need to make
our rational religiOn:
am going to be d-fashioned, and
place reverence awe, as the first distinct
ly religious sentiment. But that rever-
ence need not depend upon supernatur-
al religion, with its myths and miracles,
its Bible and creed, and its sacrifcial
cult. Nature herself teaches man rever-
ence in the face of the actual facts of the
universe with which he is brought face
to face.
Go out into the woods OF by sea shore
forget all the old traditions. and look at
the world, if you can, through new eyes,
and you will find your soul flooded with
awe.
Reverence does not depend upon some
ancient seer's vision Or priests command.
It is not irrational. 1t is rational and
natural. Thought and reflection does
not decrease it, tut multjplies it thou
sand fold. He who has not reverenU
heart has blind eyes.
AS the next column in the structure
would place confidence in the intelli-
gence and goodness of the power which
directs the world. We need no Bible
text as our authority for this. When
men knew but little of nature they dis
trusted her. The more they learn, the
more unshaken their confidence. And
the evolutionary story has greatly multi
piled mems confidence in the working of
intelligent power. Ask today what
mems strongest groundl for believing in
the intelligence of the creator, and they
will turr to the Great Bible of Nature
for their texts.
Yes, but the goodness, the love of this
Power, how can you prove that without
the Bible? Turn to the world of human
life about you. Read the record OF its
triumphs of sword-but the tri-
umphs of love, of heroism, of faithful
ness of devotion to truth. Then tell me,
what shall we say of the Power, the In
telligence, who conceived such beings
and developed them out Of the very dust
of the ground. Can he be less noble,
less true, less good than this race which
is the product of his thought? There
are noble. loving men. There must be a
nobler, more loving God. And in this
have we exceeded the limits of rational
thought2 Have we been forced to call
to our assistance tradition or superna-
turallsm? Have we not rather carried
out the logical conclusion of the facts of
everyday observation?
And finally I would put into the struc-
ture the bringing into life of a noble, un-
selfish purpose to serve mankind. Reli-
gion must or ought to include this. And
again, say, close your Bible; we do not
need It's authority to prove our PROPOSE
ton. Evolution shows how the world
has advanced leach generation giving
more to the generation follow,
ing. We have received the accumulated
store of the treasures of an unknown past
We should be willing to add something