The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08

ulVlne right TO exercise authority.
What is republicanism? The right
of the individual to exercise his po-
litical freedom-to make laws for
himself. What is Professionalism? It
is republicanism in religion. 1t is
the restoration of the individual to
all his religious rights-to be his
own priest, to pray for himself the
prayers arising in his heart, to think
for himself with the brain God has
given him. In our day we see that
God has given us two inspirations
and has established them permanent
ly-the inspiration which has exalted
the unit of society into law making
citizen and the inspiration which has
made man his own priest and proph-
ct. The past never can ascend its
former throne of glory. The mon
archial spirit in religion, with its
creeds and ecclesiastics. is doomed.
Just as the Sultan shoulders upon
tottering throne a constitution is
blooming in the hearts of his pro-
gressive subjects. 1t is observed that
in nature no extinct species ever re-
appear. Neither do the diminishing
ones gain their former glory. 1t is
exactly the same in human affairs.
The dead never return. There
is but one Greece, one Rome, one
race of Egyptians with their ODE
lisks and pyramids, one race of
mound builders for America and
there will not be another. History
does not repeat itself God gives
the race higher vision, and for
coming man the horizon of thought
is widened.
The ecclesiastical spirit has in the
past arrayed itself against freedom
in thought. Instead of charging
the spiritual vision an effort has
been made to hinder its growth.
Rationalism is a word that has
been many times communicated.
We are frequently told by the relig
ious teacher that the enlightened
understanding" can form no aid to a
man who is working out his salvation.
Is this doctrine worthy of the nine
teenth century or not? Are we to
use the minds God has given us, or
are we to accept all teaching upon
the slender evidences of authority?
Is it possible longer for the religious
teacher to promulgate his doctrines
as divine mysteries which admit OF
no possible explanation9 Are we to
continue to tell man to have faith
and discard his reasons These
things were once easily done but the
day is passing, and we do not think
less of duty, love Christ and his
teaching less, or have emotions of
less intensity because education is
more prevalent than formerly. An
enlightened mind and a religious
heart are not opposed. Education
fits man to be searcher after truth,
a better teacher of his brethren, and
above all, to have self-control. We
do not properly estimate the last
named advantage. 1t is not common
among the lower branches of the
race to practice self-control. They
rush into wars and commit nameless
cruelties without reflection. Even to-
day we see how easily civilized men
follow the leader of a mob with bar
barous instinct, and how a whole ma
ton may be aroused to war, and in
the face of the fact that it will prove
death to thousands of its citizens, who
will fall by violence and exposure.
Had all men enlightened under
standings such things would be less
frequent. 1t is a mistake to teach
that there is any natural antagonism
between learning and religion. If
one is afraid to turn the searchlight
of investigation upon his creed he
betrays skepticism concerning what
he teaches.
God is pleased with the transpar-
emit mind. Do we think that he is
pleased with those who have sealed
up their minds to every ray of knowl
edge, fearing to find some fact that
may unhinge some ancestral belief,
and at the same time displeased with
those fearless investigators whose
hearts have yearned for the secrets
of nature, and who have launched in
to unknown seas to explore their
shores and mark the islands upon
the chart of knowledge' 1 have no
doubt he is pleased with the work of
those critics who have studiously
sought to find the true Bible amid
the thousand accumulated manu-
scripts of years. have no doubt he
is pleased with the work of Lyell and
Darwin and scores of others who
have sought to penetrate the secrets