The herald., 1895-11-10
WHAT IS OUR RELIGION /?
BY LADY COOK. NEE TENNESSEE c.
CHAPLIN

We have a patriotic pride in many
things. We are proud Of our freedom, of
Magma Ohafta. our laws, manufactures.
commerce, and national wealth. But
above all We are proud Of our religion.
We contribute handsomely to its support
at home. and spend our millions and our
missionaries In propagatng it abroad.
We contrast it with other religions, and
always to their disadvantage. We say
the Christian religion is the only true
one, and Professionalism Is its purest sorm.
We are Protestants, therefore ours 10 the
right religion. Ministers Of all our two
or three hundred seets, from arch bishops
TO dissenting local preachers, hold 1t up
as a panacea for the worlds evil.
Build u.s." they cry, more churches
and chapels, endow more livings, give
s,ore literally to the canse, pay tithes of
all 70 possess, and then Coos will will
be done on earth as IL is in heaven
All this NAY be true. 1t is not for us
to dogmatise. We have no authority tor
this; but we claim the right of free in.
quiry and of observation. Let US see
what religion means, and what ours
really is.
Religion comes from the Latin "relig.
TO-" and this is supposed to have been
derived from "religando." 1t expressed
emphatlcally the reciprocal bond, or Oh
legation, oil man to man. This undoubt-
eddy was Its primary meaning, but when
men had subsequently invented gods, II
also expressed their Obligation or duty
to those divinitles. Later still, 1t was
applied in the same way by Christians to
their Deity. The Romans also used their
word "pius" in very different sense from
ours. "Pius' meant dutful, especially
to parents or supenois; bearing tender
affection and natural love to ones coun.
try and relations; just. loving, kind
hearted, good natured. The highest
quality awarded to the dnad on their
Oldest inscriptions-and it frequently o.
curs-is "pientissimus'-very pious. But
when wealth and luxury Slapped til cir
pristine virtue. and vice was added to
vice; when generous hospitality gave way
to selfish ness; when each fought merci-
fessly for his own aggrandiseme nt. and
had no compassion for his struggling
brother; when heirs beGame i'm patient
for their fathers death. or discounted
their reversinns; whsh reversnce Was
Knocked and duty sighted, ali thought
full Romans grievsd the loss OF piety, and
foTesaw the doom which shattered their
beloved country.
The religion of Christ, which we pro.
fsss. was a creedless one. The Great
Founder LAID down no formulas. pre-
scribed no churches, wrote no book. de.
sired no ceremonies. He wsu an timer.
ant ,ay preacher. neither himself pr,est
nor prom otter Of priesthood. Ecclssias-
teal caste was to him an atominntion.
He poured His sarCa,ms and His bitter
est scorn on the class who laid heavy
burdens on other men which they them.
selves refused to touch with one OF their
hngers. He restored the old meaning Of
religion, the word which we owe to the
Romans, but its sentiment to humanity.
DO unto others as ye would that others
should do unto you" ''There is none
other commandment greater than these, =
he said, and they are alike-"Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart
and with all thy soul ana with all thy