New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-06
"SECTLAR FAITH" DISCU SSED.
MRS HOCGHTONS EIGHTH LECTURE DEAl-l
WITH JOB, PROVERBS AND ECCLE-
SIASTES-HER REASONING
FOR BEING ILL"


Secular Faith" the title OF Mrs Houshton's
ooh,b Iecure on THE Literary Study Of the Bibe.
given Yesterday ut the home Of Mrs John H. Mac
Arthur No GAG Yves, Elgh,y-fourth-st. The subject
was the Wisdom Books" Under this head MIS-
Houghton classed Proverbs Ecclesastes and Joo nut
she only considered yesterday the frst Two IN DETAIL
Job being left for another lecture.
The title Secular Faith chosen because these
books deal WITH worldly morality-the relations be-
tween man and man, not between man ana God-out
the usual distinction between sacred and secular was
unknown. the lecturer said. among the Hebrews
Their secular wisdom stands on a sacred Dasts
she added land in respect reaches higher level
than that OF any other nation. There is no place
IN II for agnostcism To the Hebrew sage the search
after wisdom sure 10 he a SUCCESSFUL one
THE Book OF Proverbs is a book OF practical NOR
atty and for that reason does not appeal to the hgh-
est motives II teaches It Is true tina; goodness Is
ALWAYS rewarded in this world. and wickedness al
WAYS punished but that was the universal bere' OF
the Hebrew nation They were firmly convinced that
cod rrled the world and ruled It right; and out OF
this grew the conviction that righteousness was al
wavs accompanied by temporal prosperity and wrong
doing by adversely. II s mistake. however 10 ac-
cuse the writer of the Proverbs OF advising people to
be good because pays; his purpose Is fa er 70 sho"
that there can be no worldly advantage without
righteousness.
THE book gives a valuable insight into the do
mesc life of the time. particularly regarding the
women 1t has been thought by some that the
prominence given the contentious woman Indicates
that the sex regarded with contempt, but !; APP
pears TO me 10 imply just the contrary, for We would
NOT find even a suggestion In any other Eastern
literature that Il made any difference whether women
were good or bad. From the Mirror for Wives in the
last chapter f, appears that the Hebrew woman was
independent 10 a remarkable degree. The woman
pictured here clingng vine strength and honor
are her clothing and she considereth field and
buyeth it, apparently without even consulting her
husband"
Mrs. Ioughton says that this book suffers more
than any other book OF the Bible from the present
division into verses and the lack OF titles. and she
thinks tina: II Emersons essays were similarly
treated they would be .ess ineligible than Proverbs
II consists she says OF five books. all having titles
bu, the first bnt there is indication OF this in the
authorized version. The first nine verses the
The Praise OF Wisdom the second, beginning a,
rho tenth chapter. collection OF the Proverbs OF
SerSa of the twentysccond chapter entitled The
Words OF the Wise. the fourth. beginning with the
on social pests kings and fools and concludes with
bcauifu little sonnet on husbandry: and the Nth
GOoss of and hG s yfE Mirror ' for
The Book OF Eccesasies. which was next taken
I'm is OF quite a different character. The lecturer
sa ar,o writer ~ II wants something more than the
wisdom excels folly darkness does Eight. Yet. as
the wise man dies TIE fo9 d IS n ana he cannot see
lie has become conscious OF the nexorableness OF
Low and this has such depressing effect on him
that ali things. even wisdom, seem TO be vanity to
Rim Everything in nature. including mans destiny
80 as xed as fate: The ariseth and the sun goeih
down The wind goeth toward the south and turn
eth again to the north. Everything goes round IN
cirrle without progress. according 10 fixed nexor
able law The thing that hath been is that which
sbnu no and that which Is done "a that which hath
been done and there is no new thing under the
Tie wants 10 know what is the OF II all. VIVA.
s the chief good and the Book OF Eccesases Ia the
account OF his search for that knowledge; He tests
oil ,he things that men consider good-wealth. power
wisdom, pleasure and lahorLand hnds them all
,ic;inn that in some way IL must he well with the
rjrhteous and i'll with the wicked. Life without God
&c vanity but with Him. even though he cannot
understand il. f. is full OF joy