New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-10
THE PURPOSE or RELIGION.
BuRcHAM HARDING SAYS IT PROVIDES THE So
CIAL INSTINCT.

CIAL INSTINCT.
Burcham Harding. lecturer for the Philosophical
Society In America gave another Of the series Of
lectures upon modern social problems last night at
the H. p b. Hall No. l42 West One-hundred and
twenty-ffth-st. The subject was THE Purpose
of Religion" Mr.. Harding said in part: Some
look upon religion insurance fund against
going to hell; others think II is TO provide a salary
for pastor: others to enable people to meet TO
have n good time Human society has definite
principle Of life upon which ii depends for it,
growth Religion provides a super-rational sane
ton for conduct 1t has to induce man TO perform
actions which are contrary to the guidance Of his
lower nature and therefore has 10 provide basis
for conduct founded upon that which cannot be-
cornized by the reason itself. Instinct tells a man
that he should get all that he can FOR himsef that
he should indulge all his animal appeutes. But
religion steps I'm with It's authoritative mandate TO
curb the indulgence of these things. In order TO
exercise its authority religion has always appealed
TO a supernatural basis belief which cannot be
corroborated By human reason The earliest re-
Npions were based upon the fear OF supernatural
spirits ghosts and the worship of IN" dead Re
lgions make their appeal TO the heart rather than
10 the intellect The more dogmatc the religion
the greater the number Of its adhcronts. Re
uclon relies upon faith. whereas philosophy ap-
meals 10 reason The idea OF sacrifice in religion
has grown from the giving up Of the individual
desires I'm favor Of the social interests. Religion
is the principle Of lie in the growth Of human
society II f. the migrating force which builds, in
contradistinction 10 the disintesrating impulse
brought aiout by The selfish conduct OF its indiVid-
uals.
Humanity is one great organism. Every organ
ism f. subject to a great law cycle. All things
proceed from the one great Being, and after a
period Of existence return once more into II. The
teaching Of the seven principles explains how this
growth takes place All nature all humanity
spring from the source. and IN their true
natures inseparabe. The animal. as represented
in mans body, IL being Spirltualized The soul OF
man IS the agent conducting the spirituallZlns
process. The old Eastern teachings say that nearly
nineteen million years ago this stage oil spiritual
evolution commenced and humanity Is an
gagged In us gradual developments me spiritual
soul is gradually conquering the animal Instinct
and nature The soul gives a ray from itself,
providing man with mind working through the
brain, by which he gains experience acquires ltnow
edge and is enabled 10 hand II down 10 future gen
erations by the law OF reincarnaton he VIII re-
turn again 10 this world many times and partci-
pate in the results OF what he has done In former
hves. The purpose OF religion Is to bind back or
merge the mind of the personal into the
soul itself. Thus only can man become immortal.
Faith must be founded upon knowledge which
appeals to the mind. whore physical proof is alb
sent The theologian applies faith in the meaning
OF blind credulity,' basing II upon ignorance OF
the mind well as absence OF physical proof
Right and wrong have thus'bccn put forward with
out any rational basis, but rather divine com
some other human ruler Theosophy removes
this anomaly by restoring once more the basic
laws which govern right and wrong and making
them appeal to mans reason. religion - essen
tial for the progress stability and growth OF races
nations and humanity but II must become Il living
power IN the lives Of individuals ThcOsOphy IS
endeaVorug to give religion It's true place ia human
society for II provides the social instinct We
must have religion or disintegrate Thcosophy Will
10 make individuals obey It's suggestion without
giving any valid reason for doing So"