The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-01

it is likely to acquire an appetite for them
and to feel wronged if they are not fur
nished. A press that eaters" to an un-
educated or a depraved taste; or still
worse, a press that creates this, is a
blight on civilization.
A fact not always appreciated is,
that "the new learning" in every in
stance relates to the knowledge of what
is old. When the Humanists in Italy,
Germany. France and England in the
fourteenth century started the wave OF
intellectual enthusiasm that spread
over Europe, and the effects of which
are still registered in the course OF
study of the universities and colleges OF
the modern world, the topics of what
was named "the new learning" were
centuries old. They were the literature
of Greece and Rome, the art of Phidias
and Praxitiles, the laws and customs of
the Augustan age. In it's incidental
effects the same rule was followed. In
theology it took the form of the study of
the original Scriptures and the writings
of the fathers. In philosophy it aimed
to restore Plato, Aristotle. Longinus,
Philo. We have observed the same
thing in our own time in the studies
named Egyptology. Assyriology, Eth
nology. Biblical criticism is an Inquiry
into the oldest history. Even our --latest
science" deals with facts which have
been ever of old. Our knowledge is
recent, our methods are new, our fash
ion is late; but the subject matter Of
our study is always ancient. There is
nothing new under the sun.
A hopeful symptom in the South is
the promptness and the unanimity with
which the press condemns acts of out
rage committed in their section. This
is a comparatively recent departure.
Formerly it was more the habit to de-
fend outrages. 1t is especially encour-
aging to note this indication of sound
sentiment with reference to outrages
upon negroes. 1t is true that the acts
of violence continue. but it is also true
that they awaken horror and protest A
just sentiment is growing. Barbarism
in all it's forms yields slowly; but when
the recognized leaders of opinion ac-
quire the right views and the courage to
express them, the reign of violence
draws to its doom.
Whether the desirable human and
social unity can be obtained by dividing
society into SO many parts as is now the
fashion, admits of question. The only
thing we all belong to in these days is
the human species es-and on the solidarity
Of that some unsettled doubts are cast.
A family of ten will probably have men,
bership in twenty organizations, not in
Guiding membership in society or citi-
zenship. To give the time, the thought,
the money and the worry demanded by
active interests in 80 many societies,
guilds. clubs. schools, circles, leaves no
time and no place, if it leaves any money
and energy, for the great common inter
est, the home. And if family should
bravely make the effort to reserve some
thing for it's own culture, life and Joy,
the chances are many to one that it
would be condemned on a score of
tongues as selfish"
To the inquiry. Since the last fifty
years has seen the "most magnificent
revelation any age has ever had" and
this revelation is largely utilized in the
Unitarianism of to-day, why does not
the world seem to be moving on our
lines? DR.. Edward E. Hale has an in
genious answer. He says it is an erro-
neous view to think that the evidence Of
the grander revelation and the worlds
reception of it should be looked for in
the growth of Unitarian churches. 1t
is the growth of the new thought and
the new philanthropy in all the world
that is to be taken as proof of the Uni
tartan contention. DR.. Hale lifts up his
eyes and beholds the great and noble
things done for human well-being in
this time, and he just sets up claim
for it all in the name of Unitarianism.
It would be audacious il it were taken
in sincerity; but viewed as variation
of the old device long known in human
annals as whistling to keep ones cour-
age up, it is adroit and exbilarating.
CANTON THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.